RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Rhinovirus infections in the upper and lower airways of young Australian children with cystic fibrosis JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P1210 VO 44 IS Suppl 58 A1 Sacha Stelzer-Braid A1 Russell D'Cunha A1 Christiana Willenborg A1 Michael Doumit A1 Yvonne Belessis A1 Euan Tovey A1 Adam Jaffe A1 William Rawlinson YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1210.abstract AB Aims. Nearly all patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) acquire chronic bacterial infections which cause pulmonary damage and ultimately may end in respiratory failure. Recent data suggests that viral infections perturb the lung microbiome, facilitating bacterial damage and exacerbating symptoms. However the prevalence of such viruses within regions of the respiratory tract of stable subjects has not yet been characterised. Also the extent that such viruses are aerosolised during routine respiratory investigations is unclear.Methods.Samples (nasal swabs (NS), oropharyngeal suction (OPS), and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)), were collected from 50 children (5mths-5 years old) with CF undergoing annual review and surveillance BAL during an 18 month period. Barrier DAR filters in the ventilation circuit during bronchoscopy and air samples from the procedure room and outpatient clinics were also collected. Samples (n=245) were tested using real time PCR for human rhinovirus (hRV).Results. Overall, 20% of samples (27% of NS, 31% of OPS, 10% of BAL) were positive for hRV. hRV was present in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of participants and viruses were aerosolised during the BAL procedure (19% of Barrier filters were hRV positive). Viral particles were not detected in the room air.Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that hRV is not uncommon in both the upper and lower airways of children with CF who are otherwise well. These viruses are aerosolised during routine procedures. Detection is the first step in better understanding of the importance of viral infections in patients with CF, particularly as new diagnostics, and antivirals become available.