ABSTRACT
Since its introduction, antibiotic therapy to treat chronic bacterial airway infections in cystic brosis (CF) has had a dramatic impact on patient longevity. However, in order that treatment is targeted, antibiotic selection must be guided by an understanding of what bacterial species are present at the site of infection. A range of analytical techniques have been devised to characterize the bacterial content of airway samples, with the most appropriate approach determined by the type of information that is required.
