Cystic fibrosis pathogens survive for extended periods within cough-generated droplet nuclei.

The airborne route is a potential pathway in the person-to-person transmission of bacterial strains among cystic fibrosis (CF) populations. In this cross-sectional study, we investigate the physical properties and survival of common non- Pseudomonas aeruginosa CF pathogens generated during coughing. We conclude that Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus are aerosolised during coughing, can travel up to 4 m and remain viable within droplet nuclei for up to 45 min. These results suggest that airborne person-to-person transmission is plausible for the CF pathogens we measured.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: During conduct of the study: SCB reports grants from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, USA, and The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation and outside of the submitted work, travel support to attend conferences from Novartis and Gilead and meetings for clinical trials sponsored by Vertex, Abbvie, Raptor. LDK reports grants from the NHMRC during the conduct of the study. GRJ reports grants from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, USA, and The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation during the conduct of the study. CEW reports outside of the submitted work: research grant from Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals; honorarium fees as speaker for Vertex, DKBmed; honorarium for consulting work (BMJ, Vertex), advisory board (Vertex); to present at conference (Novartis), attendance at meetings (University of Miami), Associate Editor duties (Thorax) and travel support to attend meetings for clinical trials sponsored by Vertex. CEW is Associate Editor Thorax and Associate Editor Respirology. MEW reports outside of submitted work: travel support to attend clinical trial meetings sponsored by Vertex and Galapagos.
(© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2019. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)