Prevalence and impact on FEV₁ decline of chronic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A single-center, case control study of 165 patients

Short and long term evolution of each patient's FEV₁ change versus individual baseline FEV₁ in the chronic MRSA group (panel A) and controls (panel B) (see text for details). All data points are plotted versus actual time prior to, or following the time of MRSA acquisition (which corresponds to t=0). Solid lines show the short term changes in the 2-year frame spanning one year before to one year after MRSA diagnosis. Dotted lines connect the 1-year post MRSA values with those obtained after the longest follow-up period available for each patient. Open circles and crosses indicate patients who underwent bilateral lung transplantation or died after the last FEV₁.