A 16-year-old male with cystic fibrosis is admitted to the inpatient pulmonary unit. He has been hospitalized several times in the past year with respiratory infections, including Pseudomonas and H. influenza. Because of his thick mucous, airway inflammation, and immobile mucosal cilia, microorganisms are unable to be effectively cleared from his lungs. He is supposed to perform vigorous airway mucous clearance measures at home with a vibrating vest and IPV (intrapulmonary percussive ventilation) device. However, the patient states that his treatment takes hours and he does not always feel sick. He estimates his compliance with home airway clearance regimen to be less than 50%.
-If the patient's cilia are unable to clear his lungs of mucus,which line of host defense is breached?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cilia are part of the first line of defense, which includes physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes that prevent pathogens from entering the body.

A 16-Year-Old Male with Cystic Fibrosis Is Admitted to the Inpatient