S. Vrielynck

Pain in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Comparative Study

Pain is a potential complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), but its consequences in daily life and other issues of pain management are not yet clearly understood. We undertook a comparative study of children and adults with CF to assess the prevalence of pain symptoms, their characteristics and treatment, their impact on daily quality of life, and the occurrence of procedural pain. The study included 73 children (1-18 years) and 110 adults (18-52 years); 59% of the children and 89% of the adults reported at least one episode of pain during the previous month. Pain was significantly more intense and lasted significantly longer among adults, but its rate and recurrence did not differ significantly between the two populations and were not related to the severity of CF. The most prevalent locations were the abdomen for children, and the back, head, and chest for adults. Although pain significantly limited physical activity, only 15% of patients reported that it caused absenteeism, and 27% reported that it negatively affected their family life. The mean pain intensity rates on a visual analog scale for the episode that had caused the greatest pain during the past month were 4.9 (2) (mean [SD]) for children and 6 (2) for adults; however, only 40% and 50%, respectively, of those with pain reported the use of analgesic treatment, mainly paracetamol (acetaminophen). At least one episode of procedural pain during the previous month was reported by 85% of children and 78% of adults. Our study demonstrates the high incidence of undertreated pain in CF patients throughout their lives.

Bacterial contamination in the environment of hospitalised children with cystic fibrosis

Pathogenic bacterial colonisation in Cystic Fibrosis patients is associated with a poor prognosis; thus, protective measures need to be taken to prevent their transmission. We studied the extent of contamination in the environment of hospitalised children with cystic fibrosis (CF) associated with specific activities. We assessed the levels of bacterial contamination in 432 air and surface samples collected from various locations in our CF centre over a three-month period: the bedrooms, corridor, communal showers, school, leisure centre and the respiratory functional explorations (RFE) unit. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains found in bedrooms and the RFE were compared with those found in patient expectorations using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. In all sampling locations, there were high levels of airborne contamination just after the presence of patients or nursing staff. In the bedrooms, the amount of S. aureus or P. aeruginosa in the air, at wake-up and after physiotherapy, were significantly higher than that after the bedroom had been cleaned. For P. aeruginosa, 33% of isolates were multiresistant to antibiotics; 50% of the colonised patients had the same P. aeruginosa strain in their sputum as in air taken from their bedroom. P. aeruginosa was detected in 23% of samples taken from the surfaces in the showers after patient washing. Very low levels of pathogenic bacteria were found in samples from the other locations. Overall, activities with the highest risk of contamination in the CF ward are physiotherapy and washing in the communal shower room. We therefore recommend to open windows after physiotherapy and to implement a strong decontamination after showers.