Families and Cross-Infections

[Guest guest]

Hello there =))

My extended family includes 4 CFer's - 3 cousins (ages 18, 15 and 14) and

myself (21 yo). All 4 of us seem to have distinctly different infection

patterns despite spending lots-n-lots of time together while growing up,

until my family moved to Iowa 3 years ago. I don't know how usual or unusual

our particular experience has been. I am the oldest, so my 3 younger cousins

were exposed to my CF-related infections from the start. I first cultured

pseudo at 11 months old and my oldest cousin has since 14 mo's old. But her

younger brother did not develop pseudo until 9 yrs old - and my other cousin

did culture it at 4 yrs, but it did not show up again until he was 11 yrs. -

3 of us have mucoid and non-mucoid stains, 1 with only non-mucoid strains.

The colonized infection scoreboard is......

- All 4 of us have Pseudomonas

-Myself and 1 cousin have Staph A. - but his sister does not.

- I have colonized Serretia M but my 3 cousins do not.

-1 cousin has colonized S. Malto and I've cultured it occasionally.

-1 cousin has Aspergillus but not the rest of us - but her brother does not

-3 of the 4 have cultured H. flu at times.

(The only bacteria my (brother/sister) cousins share in common is

Pseudomonas, with the exception of each having a single positive culture for

H. flu.)

There is a big difference in the resistance/sensitivity patterns in the

different pseudo strains, even for my cousins who are siblings. But its hard

to tell exactly which strains would be the same or similar because resistance

characteristics change so quickly and because we all have multiple strains

(which is not unusual). I hope others with multiple CFer's in a family will

have similar luck. Jennie, I am very glad that so far they don't seem to be

sharing too much. I hope that will continue - better yet I hope the bugs will

stay away completely!! I hope you and your family is have a happy and

restful weekend - you've earned it!!!

Love~