The problem of timely diagnosis and proper management of patients with cystic fibrosis is crucial not only in our country, but throughout the world. Experts of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia have considered various issues of etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this genetic disease in a modern light. Particular attention was paid to screening methods for early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The principles of complex therapy were justified, including rational use of antibacterial and mucolytic drugs and enzyme replacement therapy that significantly determine the disease prognosis.

A method has been proposed for creating an operationally durable copper coating with antimicrobial properties for the buttons of electrical switches based on the gas dynamic spray deposition of copper on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. It is shown that during the coating process, a polymer film is formed on top of the copper layer. Comparative in situ studies of microbial contamination have shown that the copper-coated buttons have a significant antimicrobial effect compared to standard buttons. Analysis of swabs over a 22-week study in a hospital environment showed that the frequency of contamination for a copper-coated button with various microorganisms was 2.7 times lower than that of a control button. The presented results allow us to consider the developed copper coating for plastic switches an effective alternative method in the fight against healthcare-associated infections.

The main cause of death in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is infectious process in the lungs, in particular, chronic lung infections caused by various pathogens, most often a combination of bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Data on mixed bacterial and viral-bacterial infections from domestic and foreign sources are fragmentary and sparse. The dominant associations of bacterial and viral pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis have not been studied properly, and data on their epidemiological significance are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of bacterial and viral infections in patients with cystic fibrosis and to substantiate the need for the development of virological monitoring. Methods. Biomaterials from the respiratory tract of CF patients (409 children and 160 adults with CF) examined from 2006 to 2022 were used. The study was carried out using bacteriological methods, molecular genetic methods (RT-PCR) and MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry. Results. Microflora of the respiratory tract was shown to be mixed in 2/3 patients with CF. The microflora of the lungs of children with CF is a dynamic community of microorganisms with high diversity and variability. In adult patients, associations of microorganisms are more common than in children, but the composition of associations is less diverse. We isolated about 40 species of bacteria from adult patients and more than 85 species from children in our sample. NFMO prevailed, including Burkholderia cepacia complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Achromobacter ruhlandii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp. Real-time PCR showed the presence of rhinovirus RNA in 10% of samples obtained from children and 12.9% from adults with cystic fibrosis. Conclusion. Our results indicate the need for continuous monitoring of the lung microflora in patients with CF, including testing for viruses.