Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Persistent MRSA Eradication Protocol (PMEP)
Brief Summary: The prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) respiratory infection in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has increased dramatically over the last decade. Evidence suggests that persistent infection with MRSA may result in an increased rate of decline in Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV)1 and shortened survival. Currently there are no conclusive studies demonstrating an effective aggressive treatment protocol for persistent MRSA respiratory infection in CF. Data demonstrating an effective and safe method of clearing persistent MRSA infection are needed.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 28-day course of vancomycin for inhalation, 250 mg twice a day, (in combination with oral antibiotics) in eliminating MRSA from the respiratory tract of individuals with CF and persistent MRSA infection. Subjects will be assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either vancomycin for inhalation (250 mg twice a day) or taste matched placebo and will be followed for 3 additional months. In addition, both groups will receive oral rifampin, a second oral antibiotic (TMP-SMX or doxycycline, protocol determined), mupirocin intranasal cream and chlorhexidine body washes. Forty patients with persistent respiratory tract MRSA infection will be enrolled in this trial.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female ≥ 12 years of age.
2. Confirmed diagnosis of CF based on the following criteria:

   positive sweat chloride \> 60 mEq/liter (by pilocarpine iontophoresis) and/or a genotype with two identifiable mutations consistent with CF or abnormal Nasal Potential Difference (NPD), and one or more clinical features consistent with the CF phenotype.
3. Written informed consent (and assent when applicable) obtained from subject or subject's legal representative and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study.
4. Two positive MRSA respiratory cultures in the last two years at least six months apart, plus a positive MRSA respiratory culture at Screening Visit and Run-in (Day -14) Visit.
5. At least 50% of respiratory cultures from the time of the first MRSA culture (in the last two years) have been positive for MRSA.
6. Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV)1 \> 40% of predicted normal for age, gender, and height at Screening, for subjects 18 years of age or older..
7. FEV1\> 60% of predicted normal for age, gender, and height at Screening, for subjects 12--17 years of old.
8. Females of childbearing potential must agree to practice one highly effective method of birth control, including abstinence. Note: highly effective methods of birth control are those, alone or in combination, that result in a failure rate less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly. Female patients who utilize hormonal contraceptives as a birth control method must have used the same method for at least 3 months before study dosing. If the patient is using a hormonal form of contraception, patients will be required to also use barrier contraceptives as rifampin can affect the reliability of hormone therapy. Barrier contraceptives such as male condom or diaphragm are acceptable if used in combination with spermicides

Exclusion Criteria:

1. An acute upper or lower respiratory infection, pulmonary exacerbation, or change in routine therapy (including antibiotics) for pulmonary disease within 42 days of the Day 1 Visit (2 weeks prior to Screening visit).
2. Individuals on chronic continuous inhaled antibiotics without interruption who are not willing to substitute vancomycin or placebo for their scheduled inhaled antibiotic during days 0-28 of the study (every other month inhaled antibiotics are acceptable)
3. Use of oral or inhaled anti-MRSA drugs within two weeks of the Screening Visit.
4. History of intolerance to inhaled vancomycin or inhaled albuterol.
5. History of intolerance to rifampin or both TMP/SMX and doxycycline.
6. Resistance to rifampin or both TMP/SMX and doxycycline at Screening.
7. Resistance to vancomycin at Screening.
8. Abnormal renal function, defined as creatinine clearance \< 50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault equation for adults or Schwartz equation in children, at Screening.
9. Abnormal liver function, defined as ≥ 3x upper limit of normal (ULN), of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) or serum alanine transaminase (ALT), or known cirrhosis. at the time of Screening.
10. Serum hematology or chemistry results which in the judgment of the investigator would interfere with completion of the study.
11. History of or listed for solid organ or hematological transplantation
12. History of sputum culture with non-tuberculous Mycobacteria in the last 6 months.
13. History of sputum culture with Burkholderia Cepacia in the last year.
14. Planned continuous use of soft contact lenses while taking rifampin and no access to glasses.
15. Current use of oral corticosteroids in doses exceeding the equivalent of 10 mg prednisone a day or 20 mg prednisone every other day
16. Administration of any investigational drug or device within 28 days of Screening or within 6 half-lives of the investigational drug (whichever is longer).
17. Patients on inhaled antibiotics must have been on the same regimen for the 4 months prior to screening
18. Female patients of childbearing potential who are pregnant or lactating, or plan on becoming pregnant
19. Any serious or active medical or psychiatric illness, which in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with patient treatment, assessment, or adherence to the protocol.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female ≥ 4 and ≤ 45 years of age at the Screening Visit.
2. Documentation of a CF diagnosis as evidenced by one or more clinical features consistent with the CF phenotype and one or more of the following criteria:

   * sweat chloride ≥ 60 mEq/liter by quantitative pilocarpine iontophoresis test (QPIT)
   * two well-characterized mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductive regulator (CFTR) gene
   * Abnormal nasal potential difference (change in NPD in response to a low chloride solution and isoproteronol of less than -5 mV)
3. First OR early repeat MRSA colonization defined as:

   * First MRSA colonization: first documented isolation of MRSA from respiratory tract occurred ≤ 6 months prior to screening
   * OR Early repeat MRSA colonization:

   MRSA was previously isolated from the respiratory tract (≤ 2 times), but this was followed by at least 1 year of documented negative cultures for MRSA as noted below:

   -- At least 2 cultures performed at least 3 months apart to document 1 year of culture negativity. Each of these cultures should be documented to have been collected at least 1 week after end of any antibiotic prescription with MRSA activity.

   Patient again recently positive for MRSA from the respiratory tract (within 6 months prior to screening)
4. Clinically stable with no significant changes in health status within the 14 days prior to screening
5. Written informed consent (and assent when applicable) obtained from subject or subject's legal representative and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study

A repeat culture from the respiratory tract is obtained at screening but does not have to be positive to be able to enter the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Received antibiotics with activity against MRSA within 28 days prior to screening (see study manual for list of antibiotics)
2. Use of an investigational agent within 28 days prior to screening
3. For subjects ≥ 6 years of age: FEV1 at screening \< 30% of predicted for age based on the Wang (males \< 18 years, females \< 16 years) or Hankinson (males ≥ 18 years, females ≥ 16 years) standardized equations
4. MRSA from the screening culture resistant to rifampin OR resistant to both TMP/SMX and minocycline
5. History of intolerance to oral rifampin, or topical chlorhexidine or mupirocin
6. History of intolerance to both TMP/SMX and minocycline
7. \< 8 years of age and either allergic or intolerant to TMP/SMX or screening MRSA resistant to TMP/SMX
8. ≥ 8 years of age and allergic or intolerant to TMP/SMX and screening MRSA resistant to minocycline
9. ≥ 8 years of age and allergic or intolerant to minocycline and screening MRSA resistant to TMP/SMX
10. For females of child bearing potential: pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to use barrier contraception through Day 15 of the study
11. Abnormal renal function at Screening, defined as estimated creatinine clearance \<50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault equation
12. Abnormal liver function at the time of screening, defined as ≥2x upper limit of normal (ULN), of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) or serum alanine transaminase (ALT)
13. History of solid organ or hematological transplantation
14. Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* CF as diagnosed by:

  1. Documented sweat chloride greater than or equal to 60 mEq/L by quantitative pilocarpine iontophoresis test; or
  2. Two well-characterized genetic mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene; or
  3. Abnormal nasal potential difference with accompanying symptoms characteristic of CF.
* PA present in expectorated sputum or throat swab culture at Screening.
* Participants must have received three or more courses of TIS within the previous 12 months.
* Participants on chronic azithromycin must have had no change in regimen in the previous 3 months and must have had a need for TIS and/or additional antipseudomonal therapy since initiation of azithromycin.
* Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between (and including) 25% and 75% predicted at Screening.
* Ability to perform reproducible pulmonary function tests.
* Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) greater than or equal to 90% on room air at Screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current use of oral corticosteroids in doses exceeding the equivalent of 10 mg prednisone a day or 20 mg prednisone every other day.
* History of sputum or throat culture swab yielding Burkholderia cepacia in the past 2 years.
* History of daily continuous oxygen supplementation or requirement for more than 2 liters/minute at night.
* Administration of any investigational drug or device within 28 days of Screening (Visit 1) or within 6 half-lives of the investigational drug (whichever was longer).
* Known local or systemic hypersensitivity to monobactam antibiotics.
* Inability to tolerate inhalation of a short acting Beta-2 agonist.
* Changes in antimicrobial, bronchodilator, anti-inflammatory, or corticosteroid medications within 7 days before Screening or between Screening and the next visit.
* Changes in physiotherapy technique or schedule within 7 days before Screening or between Screening and the next visit.
* History of lung transplantation.
* A chest X-ray indicating abnormal findings at Screening or within the previous 90 days.
* Abnormal renal or hepatic function or serum chemistry at Screening (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\], alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\] greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal range; Creatinine greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal range).
* Positive pregnancy test at Screening.
* Female of childbearing potential who was lactating or in the opinion of the investigator was not practicing acceptable birth control.
* Any serious or active medical or psychiatric illness, which in the opinion of the investigator would have interfered with participant treatment, assessment, or compliance with the protocol.
D: Inclusion Criteria (selected):

* \> 16 years of age
* Confirmed Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis
* Positive sputum culture for P. aeruginosa within the past 18 months
* Patients are able to elicit a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) \>/= 25% but \</= 85% of predicted value at screening
* Have received at least 3 courses of inhaled antimicrobials over the preceding 12 months
* Clinically stable with no changes in health status within the last 30 days
* Able to reproducibly produce sputum and perform spirometry

Exclusion Criteria (selected):

* Use of any nebulized or systemic antibiotics within 30 days prior to baseline
* History of hypersensitivity to fluoroquinolones or intolerance with aerosol medication
* Evidence of acute upper within 10 days or lower respiratory infections within 30 days prior to dosing
* Creatine clearance \< 50mg/ml, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) or total bilirubin \>/= 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) at Screening

Answer: A