To assess the effects of long term inhaled antibiotics (Gentamicin) as an effective treatment in reducing cough, sputum volume, sputum purulence (darkness of colour), the frequency of chest infections and improving the health related quality of life. This was a one year long study.
Percentage of patients with purulent sputum (dark yellow or dark green or dark brown)
Key Conclusions: The treatment reduced the numbers of bacteria in the airways and the numberof chest infections, made the sputum clearer, improved how far patients could walk and made patients feel better. The graph shows that after 6 months the colour of spit went much lighter in the group that had gentamicin, which is a sign that the bronchiectasis was improving. Some patients could not tolerate the antibiotic as it caused increased wheeze and breathlessness. Patients deteriorated when the treatment stopped after 1 year and so treatment needs to be continous to maintain the positive benefits. While as noted some results were promising further multi-centred international studies are required to establish whether inhaled antibiotics are safe long term therapies.
Patient Implications: This is a potential long term treatment for bronchiectasis but further studies are needed.
Reference: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2011;183(4):491-9
Last Reviewed -13th January 2015