Within-patient diversity of Mycobacterium abscessus within cystic fibrosis patients

Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) can develop severe life-threatening infections of Mycobacterium abscessus. These present a significant clinical challenge, particularly when the strains involved are resistant to antibiotics. Recent evidence of within-patient subclones of M. abscessus in adults with CF suggests the possibility that within-patient diversity may be relevant for the treatment of pediatric CF patients. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) on 32 isolates of M. abscessus for two patients with CF undergoing treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK, in 2015. Samples were taken from multiple body sites, including sputum, lung samples, chest wounds, and pleural fluid.