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, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, which are understood to be readily culturable pathogens.