Location and duration of treatment of cystic fibrosis respiratory exacerbations do not affect outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are subject to recurrent respiratory infections (exacerbations) that often require intravenous antibiotic treatment and may result in permanent loss of lung function. The optimal means of delivering therapy remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether duration or venue of intravenous antibiotic administration affect lung function.


METHODS
Data were retrospectively collected on 1,535 subjects recruited by the US CF Twin and Sibling Study from US CF care centers between 2000 and 2007.


RESULTS
Long-term decline in FEV₁ after exacerbation was observed regardless of whether antibiotics were administered in the hospital (mean, -3.3 percentage points [95% confidence interval, -3.9 to -2.6]; n = 602 courses of therapy) or at home (mean, -3.5 percentage points [95% confidence interval, -4.5 to -2.5]; n = 232 courses of therapy); this decline was not different by venue using t tests (P = 0.69) or regression (P = 0.91). No difference in intervals between courses of antibiotics was observed between hospital (median, 119 d [interquartile range, 166]; n = 602) and home (median, 98 d [interquartile range, 155]; n = 232) (P = 0.29). Patients with greater drops in FEV₁ with exacerbations had worse long-term decline even if lung function initially recovered with treatment (P < 0.001). Examination of FEV₁ measures obtained during treatment for exacerbations indicated that improvement in FEV₁ plateaus after 7-10 days of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous antibiotic therapy for CF respiratory exacerbations administered in the hospital and in the home was found to be equivalent in terms of long-term FEV₁ change and interval between courses of antibiotics. Optimal duration of therapy (7-10 d) may be shorter than current practice. Large prospective studies are needed to answer these essential questions for CF respiratory management.
Collaco
J Michael
JM
Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 200 N. Wolfe Street, David M. Rubenstein Building, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. mcollac1@jhmi.edu
Green
Deanna M
DM
Cutting
Garry R
GR
Naughton
Kathleen M
KM
Mogayzel
Peter J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents