Screening for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic autosomal recessive disease caused by CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations, which encodes the CFTR protein. Impaired function of this protein leads to increased mucus thickness with subsequent chronic infections. The fungal biota in CF is dominated by Aspergillus and Candida species (spp).