title: An audit of the effect of intravenous antibiotic treatment on spirometric measures of pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This retrospective audit was undertaken to compare the efficacy of home intravenous (i.v.) antibiotic therapy, hospital i.v. antibiotic therapy and a combination of these 2 approaches, as determined by spirometric measures of lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, each with an acute respiratory exacerbation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulmonary function, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow rate between 25 per cent and 75 per cent of vital capacity (FEF25-75), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were compared between groups at the beginning and at the end of an IV antibiotic course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of exacerbations resulted in a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in lung function irrespective of where patients were treated. The percentage improvement in FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75, were significantly greater in patients treated in hospital compared to those who had home i.v. treatment (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital i.v. antibiotic therapy resulted in greater improvements in FEV1, FVC and FEF25-75 than home i.v. antibiotic therapy in CF patients with an acute respiratory infection.
authors: University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Bradley
authors: E S
authors: ES
authors: Wallace
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Elborn
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Howard
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: McCoy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents