Activity of N -Acetylcysteine Alone and in Combination with Colistin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms and Transcriptomic Response to N -Acetylcysteine Exposure

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm-related chronic lung colonization contributes to cystic fibrosis (CF) disease progression. Colistin is often a last-resort antibiotic for the treatment of such P. aeruginosa infections, and it has been increasingly used in CF, especially by nebulization. N -acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic agent with antioxidant activity, commonly administered with antibiotics for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections.