Letter: Cystic fibrosis.

In 1972 May, Herrick, and Thompson questioned the classical hypothesis of cystic 
fibrosis (C.F.) and suggested that C.F. children are in fact abnormally 
susceptible fo any respiratory pathogen from birth. It is perhaps a 
bit premature to change the classical hypothesis for the bacteriology of 
C.F. Since the predominant flora of hospital nurseries is not now 
Staph. aureus but rather gram-negative bacteria, it may be that the 
initial exposure of C.F. patients is to an organism other than 
Staph. aureus. In addition, other organisms are becoming as resistant to 
antibodies as Ps. aeruginosa, so other organisms could perhaps be present 
in terminal sputum flora - which agrees with our data. 