Microbial culture underestimates lung pathogen detection and surveillance in cystic fibrosis

Respiratory samples taken from 20 paediatric and 20 adult CF patients over a period of 3 years retrospectively analysed. This allowed a comprehensive comparison the diagnostic microbiological culture with targeted quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) for detection of two emblematic pathogens of CF, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are understood to be readily culturable pathogens.