In Cystic Fibrosis, respiratory infections increase inflammation leading to lung damage and lower lung function. Certain infections (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa) lead to a steeper decline in lung function, more severe lung function, and higher mortality. It is not known if Latino people with CF are more likely to acquire infections or acquire infections earlier than white patients. It is not known if a difference in infections are causing the worse lung function and increased mortality in Latino people with CF. 

We are using the CF Patient Registry to examine ethnic differences in how infections are acquired and how this affects lung function by ethnicity. In addition, we examine ethnic differences in pulmonary microbiome in people with CF using metagenomic next generation sequencing, a culture-independent technique.

Publications:

Ethnic differences in staphylococcus aureus acquisition in cystic fibrosis.

Early acquisition and conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Hispanic youth with cystic fibrosis in the United States