5 CONCLUSION
The current study presents to our knowledge, the first report of an epidemic strain of P. aeruginosa among CF patients from South Africa. The P. aeruginosa AUST-03 from the study setting were MDR and similarly to strains from previous outbreaks, were associated with CF patients experiencing pulmonary exacerbations. With the decrease in WGS costs in South Africa, more frequent genomic surveillance of CF pathogens is required. Epidemic strains of P. aeruginosa are present at South African CF clinics and it is essential to take them into account when implementing patient segregation and infection control strategies.