title: Effects of inhaled gentamicin prophylaxis on acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children with cystic fibrosis: a pilot study.
abstract: Inhaled antibiotics are an established treatment for chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, inhaled antibiotics might also have prophylactic potential to delay acquisition of PA in early stages of the disease. From 1986-1999, all CF patients at this center who experienced defined risk situations for acquisition of PA (28 patients) received inhaled gentamicin (80 mg BID for those < 12 months; 120 mg BID for those > 12 months) for a minimum of 3 years. Twelve patients had repeated risk situations and continued this prophylaxis without interruption during the entire study period (group 1). In the remaining 16 patients, inhaled antibiotics were discontinued at various times for a variety of reasons (group 2). None of the patients in group 1, but 7 in group 2, became chronically infected with PA (P = 0.01). Lung function and chest X-ray scores were significantly worse in those 7 infected patients, when compared to the noninfected ones in both groups. This suggests that long-term-prophylaxis with inhaled gentamicin can effectively delay acquisition of PA and decrease disease progression in children with CF.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Allergic Disease Division, Pediatric Department, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 90, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heinzl
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eber
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oberwaldner
authors.forename: Gertrude
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Maximilian S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zach
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D001317:Austria; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins