Cystic Fibrosis Patients Have More Bacteria—Good and Bad—In the Lungs

Individuals with cystic fibrosis are frequently prescribed antibiotics in an attempt to prevent lung infections, though the new study suggests that this may have an adverse effect on their overall health. McColley writes that “we use a lot of antibiotics to treat CF lung disease, which can reduce the number and diversity of normal bacteria in the lung.  We do not know whether this decreased bacterial diversity contributes to lung disease in cystic fibrosis or is just a side effect of treatment.”