Parent-collected oropharyngeal swabs in cystic fibrosis

Early detection and treatment of bacterial infection is effective in slowing the progression of lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF).1 It is recommended that a minimum of 4 samples are collected for bacterial culture annually.2 Approximately two-thirds of children with CF cannot routinely expectorate sputum3 ; therefore, samples, such as oropharyngeal swab (OPS), are used. With reduced hospital visits and increased telehealth consultations secondary to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic, the number of samples available for analysis has been severely impacted.4 Therefore, alternative methods of obtaining OPS are needed. One option is parental collection of OPS.