Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The prevalence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in cystic fibrosis patients has increased since the early 1980s, reaching 30% in some centres. The reasons for this are uncertain but may be related to increased reporting, better culture techniques, and the selective pressure of anti-pseudomonal antibiotics. There is no evidence of epidemic spread within units. Although descriptions have been given of putative virulence factors – such as extracellular enzyme production and the existence of mucoid phenotypes – their role in vivo is unknown. The clinical significance of S. maltophilia colonization is disputed but evidence is emerging of a gradual deterioration in lung function in those patients persistently colonized with bacterial counts of ≥105 cfu ml-1 over several years. Treatment is limited by widespread resistance to many antibiotics, but susceptibility data suggest that cotrimoxazole may be useful.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: