Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A sign of cystic fibrosis in young adults with chronic pulmonary disease?

Abstract

Two adult patients with cystic fibrosis had late onset of symptoms with principal involvement only of the lungs. The absence of other typical features of cystic fibrosis confused the diagnosis. Recovery of mucoid P. aeruginosa from sputum cultures helped to establish the diagnosis in these patients, because these mucoid isolates are rarely obtained from subjects who do not have cystic fibrosis. Recent findings identified the mucoid isolates as predominantly a single strain of P. aeruginosa and documented its widespread carriage in the USA by patients with cystic fibrosis. An interesting epidemiologic relationship between this bacterium and this disease is noted.