Background: Data from the Wisconsin newborn screening (NBS) study show that neonatally diagnosed infants are at risk of early Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) acquisition. We have had NBS since 1981 and in 2003, introduced PsA-free 'segregation' from older patients for children < or =5. This study investigated the effect of simple 'segregation' on acquisition of respiratory pathogens.
Methods: Sputum culture results (n=2814) and details of antibiotic use before (1999-2002) and after (2004-2007) 'segregation' were collected.
Results: Each year each child provided an average of 4.6 samples for culture. There was a significant decrease (p< or =0.001 Chi(2)) in the acquisition of mucoid (from 5.9% of children to 1.0%) but not non-mucoid PsA (22.3% and 22.7%, respectively) after 'segregation'. There was no significant change in other respiratory pathogens.
Conclusions: Young children with CF diagnosed via NBS can be protected from the acquisition of mucoid PsA by 'segregation' and the acquisition of non-mucoid PsA is likely to be from environmental sources outside the hospital.