Effects of long-term low-dose azithromycin in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis.
We describe our institutional efficacy experience of azithromycin 250 mg thrice weekly in adult non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.


METHODS
Eligibility criteria for prophylactic azithromycin included 3 exacerbations requiring rescue antibiotics over the previous 6 months. The clinical records of 56 bronchiectasis patients on azithromycin were retrospectively reviewed. Exacerbation frequency, sputum microbiology, self-reported change in sputum volume, and spirometry results were recorded.


RESULTS
Mean length of treatment was 9.1 months (7.5) and 50 patients had treatment > or = 3 months. Spirometry, pre- and post-azithromycin in 29 patients, who had 3 or more months of treatment, showed a mean increase in FEV(1) of 83 ml (0.14) (P=0.005) from 1.560 to 1.643l. There was a decrease in the exacerbation frequency from 0.81/month (SD) (0.32) pre-azithromycin to 0.41/month (0.45) (P<0.001) post-azithromycin. Clinically significant suppression of previous sputum microbial isolates was also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Azithromycin improves exacerbation frequency, spirometry, and sputum microbiology in bronchiectasis.
Anwar
G A
GA
North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH Tyne and Wear, UK.
Bourke
S C
SC
Afolabi
G
G
Middleton
P
P
Ward
C
C
Rutherford
R M
RM
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin