P166 TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF POLYMICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT OF PATIENTS WITH

Objectives The aim of the present study was to determine whether adult CF patients with pulmonary NTM infection have worse clinical outcomes, when compared to a matched group of CF patients who have never had NTM isolated. Additionally, the study also aims to determine what proportion of the overall bacterial community is NTM compared to other bacteria. Method Clinical data were collected from 12 spontaneously expec-torating CF patients who cultured M abscessus in the sputum since they were first infected with M abscessus, and 24 matched controls who have CF, but never been infected with M abscessus. Student unpaired t-test was used to compare the mean forced expiratory volume (FEV1) per year between the two groups. Results Data from 36 individuals were studied. Cases and controls were well matched. Mean absolute decline in FEV1 was 100 ml/year (SD60.19) in cases and 79 ml/year (SD60.19) in controls. Student unpaired t-test was not significant (0.73). Mean absolute percentage predicted decline in FEV1 was 3.85 % (SD65.62) in cases and 2.78% (SD66.58) in controls. Student unpaired t-test was not significant (0.62). Conclusion These results indicate that there is a small decline inmean FEV1 per year between the two groups;M abscessus and the controls, but the difference is statistically and clinically insignificant