Intermittent colonisation with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal aureus can be eradicated from the Airways of Adults with Cystic Fibrosis.

The airways of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) are chronically colonised with different pathogens. With recent interest in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), we have recently examined the rates of MRSA colonisation in different groups within our CF Service. This paper now examines the effectiveness of eradication strategies to clear the MRSA colonisation.

Risk of anastomotic dehiscence in patients with pulmonary fibrosis transplanted while receiving anti-fibrotics: Experience of the Australian Lung Transplant Collaborative.

BACKGROUND: The new anti-fibrotics pirfenidone and nintedanib are now in widespread use for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but they may have an adverse impact on pathways involved in wound-healing. This study aimed to establish the safety of anti-fibrotic therapy in the peri-transplant period, particularly with regard to healing of the bronchial anastomosis. METHODS: In this work we assessed a retrospective cohort of patients who had undergone lung transplantation with a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis between January 2012 and December 2017. Pre-transplant use of pirfenidone and nintedanib was identified. Anastomotic dehiscence of any extent was determined at bronchoscopy. Known risk factors for anastomotic dehiscence were evaluated in both anti-fibrotic and control groups. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-six patients (160 males; mean age 59.7 ± 7.8 years) underwent transplantation in Australia for pulmonary fibrosis during the study period. Forty (17.7%) were receiving anti-fibrotics at the time of transplantation (29 with pirfenidone and 11 with nintedanib). There were 7 anastomotic dehiscence events, with overall incidence rates of 7.5% and 2.2% in the anti-fibrotic and control groups, respectively (p = 0.08). All episodes of dehiscence in the anti-fibrotic group and 2 of 4 in the comparator group occurred <6 weeks post-transplant. Survival at 30days was 100% and 96% (p = 0.21) and at 1 year was 93% and 88% (p = 0.01) in the anti-fibrotic and comparator groups, respectively. Two patients with dehiscence died. The other 5 anastomotic defects resolved, with 1 requiring stent insertion. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of bronchial dehiscence after transplantation for IPF is low and is not significantly higher in patients receiving anti-fibrotic therapy at the time of transplantation.