Cystic Fibrosis in the United States

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, about 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year (around 1 in every 3,500 births). Additionally, 10 million people (about 1 in every 31 Americans) are symptomless carriers for CF. More than 75% of these diagnoses are in patients under the age of 2 years. Currently in the US, about 40% of the CF population is age 18 or older. Right now, it is estimated that 30,000 people in the United States suffer from cystic fibrosis. This statistic makes it the most common lethal genetic disorder among the Caucasian population. The median age of predicted survival of those with CF is in the early 40s.  Half of the population with CF no liver longer than 28 years.

The bacteria most commonly involved in respiratory tract infections in those with CF is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 52.5% of patients with CF contained P. aeurginosa in their sputum.  The group of patients infected with P. auerginosa includes those age 1 and younger and those between the ages of 2 and 5. P auerginosa is also one of the most deadly strains of bacteria that those with CF can become infected with. Initial signs of infection can be intermittent and multiple other strains may be involved. However, the P. auerginosa will dominate and chronic infection will occur. Once this happens, the complete eradication of the pulmonary infection is usually impossible.

References:
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Home. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2015, from http://www.cff.org/

Genes and human disease. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2015, from http://www.who.int/genomics/public/geneticdiseases/en/index2.html#CF

Lipuma, J. (2010). The Changing Microbial Epidemiology in Cystic Fibrosis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 23, 299-323. Retrieved January 18, 2015.

Folkesson, A., Jelsbak, L., Yang, L., Johansen, H., Ciofu, O., Høiby, N., & Molin, S. (2012). Adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the cystic fibrosis airway: An evolutionary perspective. Nature Reviews Microbiology,841-851. Retrieved January 24, 2015.