Background:Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection impairs respiratory muscle function in adolescents with cystic fibrosis, but its impact on adult patients has not been characterised. Objectives: To investigate respiratory muscle function in adult cystic fibrosis patients according to P. aeruginosa status (repetitive samples over 12 months). Methods: The pressure-time index of the respiratory muscles (PTI_mus), a measure of their efficiency, served as the primary outcome. In addition, respiratory load and maximal respiratory muscle strength were assessed. Results: In 51 patients examined (65% female; median age 32 years, IQR 24-40), a median of 3.0 (IQR 2-4) different pathogens was found in each patient. The PTI_mus was 0.113 and 0.126 in Pseudomonas-positive (n = 33) and -negative (n = 18) patients, respectively (p = 0.53). Univariate analysis showed a lower PTI_mus in male than in female patients (p = 0.006). Respiratory muscle load and strength were otherwise comparable, with the exception of higher nasal sniff pressures in Pseudomonas-positive patients who were chronically infected (>50% of positive samples). Quality of Life (according to the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised) was higher if both respiratory load and the PTI_mus were low (high respiratory muscle efficiency). Conclusions: Chronic P. aeruginosa infection does not influence respiratory muscle efficiency in adult cystic fibrosis patients with otherwise multiple co-infections. In addition, patients with reduced respiratory muscle efficiency had worse Quality of Life.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal-recessive genetic disease affecting approximately 8000 people in Germany. The disease is caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene leading to dysfunction of CFTR, a transmembrane chloride channel. This defect causes insufficient hydration of the epithelial lining fluid which leads to chronic inflammation of the airways. Recurrent infections of the airways as well as pulmonary exacerbations aggravate chronic inflammation, lead to pulmonary fibrosis and tissue destruction up to global respiratory insufficiency, which is responsible for the mortality in over 90 % of patients. The main aim of pulmonary treatment in CF is to reduce pulmonary inflammation and chronic infection. () is the most relevant pathogen in the course of CF lung disease. Colonization and chronic infection are leading to additional loss of pulmonary function. There are many possibilities to treat -infection. This is a S3-clinical guideline which implements a definition for chronic-infection and demonstrates evidence-based diagnostic methods and medical treatment for -infection in order to give guidance for individual treatment options.

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ObjectiveFibrosing colonopathy (FC) is a rare entity associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). Until now, patients with stricturing FC have usually been treated surgically. In this instance, we aimed at avoiding surgery by applying a new conservative approach.MethodsCase report on an adult with CF who developed persistent abdominal pain due to a non-passable stricture in the right transverse colon. Histology confirmed fibrosing colonopathy.ResultsInitially we treated the patient with prednisolone pulse therapy and additive antibiotic therapy. For maintenance therapy we administered budesonide. The patient underwent clinical, laboratory and endoscopic follow-up over a three-year period. The stricture healed and was easy to pass. A relapse in the cecum at the ileocecal valve again improved under steroid and antibiotic therapy.ConclusionsWe present a novel therapeutic approach for advanced stricturing FC in an adult patient which successfully avoided surgery (right hemicolectomy) over a three year follow up.