Colombo C, Littlewood J.
The University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
J Cyst Fibros 2011;10(Suppl. 2):S7–15.
Editor’s note: In rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), the organization of treatment at centers and the development of standards of care are vital. Historically, survival times improved dramatically among CF patients with the formation of CF centers in the US and Europe. When enough CF patients are grouped at a center, disease patterns can be more easily recognized and the effects of new treatments investigated. Teamwork is important, not only between different professions within the center (e.g. doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, and dietitians), but also between CF centers, by which experiences can be shared in order to improve treatment at centers with poorer outcomes for patients. Comparison of outcomes between patients at different CF centers and the implementation of standards of care has been found to be effective in improving survival times, nutritional status, and pulmonary function in patients at North American CF centers.