title: Aerosolized Antibiotics.
abstract: Administration of medications via aerosolization is potentially an ideal strategy to treat airway diseases. This delivery method ensures high concentrations of the medication in the targeted tissues, the airways, with generally lower systemic absorption and systemic adverse effects. Aerosolized antibiotics have been tested as treatment for bacterial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The most successful application of this to date is treatment of infections in patients with CF. It has been hypothesized that similar success would be seen in NCFB and in difficult-to-treat hospital-acquired infections such as VAP. This review summarizes the available evidence supporting the use of aerosolized antibiotics and addresses the specific considerations that clinicians should recognize when prescribing an aerosolized antibiotic for patients with CF, NCFB, and VAP.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas. restrepom@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Marcos I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyt
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. Universidad de La Sabana, Bogota, Colombia.
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Reyes
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: aerosols; antibacterial agents; bronchiectasis; cystic fibrosis (CF); ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)