Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is well documented. Aspergillus fumigatus is the causative agent of ABPA, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa particularly the mucoid variety has been frequently isolated from the sputum of patients with CF. This study investigates the cellular and humoral immune response to both A fumigatus and P aeruginosa antigens in patients with...

Arguably, the most significant event in the life of a person with cystic fibrosis (CF) is the acquisition of chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It heralds, in many cases, more hospitalisations, a more rapid decline in pulmonary function and a shorter life expectancy. Paeruginosa has the ability to form biofilms which are composed of nonmotile organisms embedded in an exopo...

IMP-type metallo-lactamases (MBLs) were the first acquired MBLs detected in Gram-negative pathogens, in the early 1990s, and are among the most relevant due to their worldwide distribution (12, 18). Several IMP-type variants have been described (3). IMP-13 was first detected in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Italy (16), where IMP-13 has become a widespread carbapenem resistanc...

Avariety of metallo-lactamase (M L) enzymes have been reported from Gram-negative organisms collected in Italy, including VIM-1, the second acquired M L to be reported; IMP-13; VIM-2; IMP-19; and FIM-1 (1–6). A survey conducted from September to December of 2004 in 12 Italian cities demonstrated a low overall prevalence of carbapenemase-producing organisms, but these strains were widespread acr...