Nasal irrigation as an alternate method to monitor airway microbiology in cystic fibrosis

103 paired samples were collected. Nasal irrigation had a sensitivity and specificity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa of 84 % (95 % CI, 70.9-91.4 %) and 91 % (95 % CI, 80.1-95.6 %), respectively, and for Staphylococcus aureus of 79 % (95 % CI, 61.6-90.2 %) and 85 % (95 % CI, 75.3-91.5 %), respectively. Nasal irrigation demonstrated poor diagnostic accuracy for detecting fungal pathogens [Sensitivity, 0.4 % (95 % CI, 0.08-2.27); Specificity, 99 % (95 % CI, 93.8-99.8)] CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial pathogens common in pwCF can be isolated from nasal irrigation samples, indicating nasal irrigation as a potential alternative diagnostic tool to sputum samples in those suspected of having CRS. Nasal irrigation was not an accurate method to diagnose lower respiratory tract fungal infections. Further research is needed to determine the diagnosis yield of nasal irrigation sampling in pwCF who are asymptomatic for CRS and in a paediatric CF population.