Cystic Fibrosis Microbiome-determined Antibiotic Therapy Trial in Exacerbations: Results Stratified
brief summary
Antimicrobial resistance is a significant challenge facing global healthcare. The unnecessary use of antibiotics is a key driver in the development of antibiotic resistance. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) represents a unique disease model to study bacterial resistance and to explore therapeutic strategies for same, as chronic lung infection overlaps with acute lung exacerbation's caused by a multitude of organisms. With time, chronic polymicrobial infection develops, with the most dominant infecting organism being Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In acute CF infections, empiric intravenous antibiotics are usually given for two weeks. Recurrent infections and treatments result in increasing antimicrobial resistance, and alterations in pathogen host interactions in the lung and gut flora. Next-generation DNA sequencing technology now offers DNA-based personalised diagnostics and treatment strategies. Enhancing our knowledge of the microbiome allows the use of stratified targeted antibacterial therapy that can be compared with standard empirical antibacterial therapy currently used. Cystic Fibrosis Microbiome-determined Antimicrobial Therapy Trial in Exacerbations: Results Stratified (CFMATTERS) will provide a randomized multi-centre controlled trial of microbiome-derived antimicrobial treatments versus current empirical therapy.