**An Overview of Infections in Cystic Fibrosis Airways and the Role of Environmental Conditions on** *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* **Biofilm Formation and Viability**

Cameron T. McDaniel, Warunya Panmanee and Daniel J. Hassett

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/60897

#### **Abstract**

In this chapter, the authors review a major complication associated with cystic fibrosis (CF), problematic bacterial infections of the lungs. Infection by organisms such as *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Burkholderia cepacia* complex, and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* (a major player in CF related infections) results in complications due to increased inflammation and production of virulence factors produced by the bacteria. In addition to these more canonical organisms associated with CF infection, emerging‐ bacterial species have been found in the CF, including anaerobes that have only within the past 5-10 years have been reported to exist in the lungs. *P. aeruginosa* has long been a cause of devastating infections, and is often seen as the"hallmark"organism associated with the disease. The authors describe the *P. aeruginosa* infection, including its conversion to a mucoid phenotype, as well as its ability to utilize the thicker airway surface layer associated with CF to grow in "mode two biofilms." Finally, the authors discuss treatments for bacterial infections, and some of the new advances that offerhope for treatment of CF symptoms and infections by multi-drug resistant organisms. Among these new treatments is the application of acidified nitrite, a nonantibiotic treatment that has been found to be effective at killing nonmucoid and mucoid variants of *P. aeruginosa*.

**Keywords:** Cystic Fibrosis, Infections, Bacteria, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, Biofilm, Acidified Nitrite

© 2015 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
