Dennis Wat

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/60905

### **Abstract**

Life expectancy in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has improved dramatically in the last few decades; this is very much due to the emergence of disease-modifying treatments, optimisation of nutritional status and the inception of specialist CF units. However, progressive obstructive lung disease characterised by chronic inflammation, bacterial colonisation and recurrent infections of the lung, resulting in irreversible pulmonary damage, remains the major cause of mortality in individuals with CF. Historically, bacterial infections are the major pathogens accounting for clinical deterioration in CF. More recently, there has been emerging evidence to support respiratory viruses being accountable for the colonisation of bacteria and progression of lung disease in CF. This chapter sought to provide an overview on the impact of respiratory viruses in CF lung disease, the interaction between viruses and bacteria, the preventative and therapeutic measures that are currently available for the management of viral lung disease in CF.

**Keywords:** Cystic fibrosis, respiratory virus, bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
