We compared bacterial yield from IS and BAL in 11 non-expectorating CF children, aged 3 to 7.4 years. IS samples were obtained in 10/11 cases.
Eight out of ten had the same predominant bacteria cultured from IS and BAL: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , Staphylococcus aureus , and upper respiratory tract flora . In one, Serratia marcescens and Haemophilus parainfluenzae were cultured from IS alone, whereas in one, non-group B Haemophilus influenzae was cultured from BAL alone.
As proof of principle, IS samples showed good bacteriologic correlation with BAL. Larger studies are recommended to confirm IS as a clinically valuable tool and measure for early intervention studies in young CF children.