Editorials Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in cystic fibrosis

A number of treatments for cystic fibrosis have evolved over the past four decades, based on the experience of cli-nicians involved in the care of these patients. Some of these treatments were developed without the benefit of large randomised controlled trials which would have been diY-cult to perform at the time. The value of prophylactic anti-biotic treatment against Staphylococcus aureus in the management of infants and children is an example of a logical practice which has developed on the basis of experi-ence, but which requires careful review as to its eYcacy and potential deleterious eVects. Pulmonary infection with S aureus is a frequent problem in patients with cystic fibrosis, particularly during the first decade of life.1 Cross sectional studies show that in this age group, 25−30 % of patients culture S aureus from sputum.