A 22-year-old man with cystic fibrosis presents with fever and increasing dyspnea. A Gram-negative organism is found in unusually high numbers in the pulmonary mucus. Which virulence factor is most important in colonization and maintenance of the organism in the lungs?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two primary pulmonary colonizers that cause pneumonia in patients with cystic fibrosis. (Staphylococcus is usually only in young CF patients.) Of the two, Pseudomonas is Gram-negative. Its slime material (alginate) produces the resistance to phagocytic killing and poor penetration of antibiotics to the site, which, in conjunction with the antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas, make these serious infections.

A 22-Year-Old Man with Cystic Fibrosis Presents with Fever and Increasing