Furthering our understanding of pathogen transmission in cystic fibrosis
- Correspondence to Dr L Saiman, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, 633 West 168th Street, New York, NY10032, USA; ls5{at}columbia.edu
The source of pathogens for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is often unknown. Potential sources include the natural environment, the healthcare environment and other patients with CF.1 The relative contribution of these different sources is unknown, but the routes of transmission include direct and indirect contact with infected respiratory tract secretions and infectious respiratory droplets.1 2 Notably, airborne transmission—defined as dissemination of either airborne nuclei or small particles of respirable size—containing infectious agents (eg, Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and remaining infectious over time and distance has not been proved to be a route of transmission between patients with CF.2
Infection control strategies to minimise the spread of potential pathogens are tailored to different modes of transmission.2 When caring for patients harbouring pathogens transmitted by contact with infectious secretions, staff perform hand hygiene before and after touching patients, patient care equipment or horizontal surfaces in patients’ rooms and don gowns and gloves to prevent contamination of their clothing and hands. When caring for patients harbouring pathogens transmitted by infectious droplets, staff perform hand hygiene and don surgical masks. In …
