Eur Respir J 2005; 26:458-461
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2005
Early eradication therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients
G. Taccetti1,
S. Campana1,
F. Festini1,
M. Mascherini2 and
G. Döring3
1 Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Dept of Paediatrics, and 2 Dept of Statistics "G. Parenti", University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 3 Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
CORRESPONDENCE: G. Döring, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Wilhelmstrasse 31, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany. Fax: 49 7071293011. E-mail: gerd.doering@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Keywords: Antibiotic therapy, cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Received: January 27, 2005
Accepted April 11, 2005
In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients early antibiotic treatment of lung infection has been shown to lead to Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication. The present study determined: 1) the time period from eradication to new P. aeruginosa acquisition; 2) P. aeruginosa re-growth and new acquisition; and 3) the impact of eradication therapy on lung function, antimicrobial resistance, emergence of other pathogens and treatment costs.
Ciprofloxacin and colistin were used to eradicate P. aeruginosa in 47 CF patients. Bacterial pathogens, lung function decline, P. aeruginosa antimicrobial resistance and anti-pseudomonal serum antibodies were assessed quarterly and compared with an age-matched CF control group. Additionally, costs of antibiotic therapy in both groups were assessed.
Early antibiotic therapy leads to a P. aeruginosa free-period of a median (range) of 18 (480) months. New acquisition with different P. aeruginosa genotypes occurs in 73% of episodes. It also delays the decline of lung function compared with chronically infected patients, prevents the occurrence of antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa strains, does not lead to emergence of other pathogens, and significantly reduces treatment costs. The treatment substantially lowers P. aeruginosa prevalence in CF.
In conclusion, early antibiotic therapy exerts beneficial effects on the patient's clinical status and is cost-effective compared with conventional antibiotic therapy for chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Lee
Eradication of early Pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis
Chronic Respiratory Disease,
May 1, 2009;
6(2):
99 - 107.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. A. Douglas, S. Brennan, S. Gard, L. Berry, C. Gangell, S. M. Stick, B. S. Clements, and P. D. Sly
Acquisition and eradication of P. aeruginosa in young children with cystic fibrosis
Eur. Respir. J.,
February 1, 2009;
33(2):
305 - 311.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
I Kukavica-Ibrulj and R C Levesque
Animal models of chronic lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa: useful tools for cystic fibrosis studies
Lab Anim,
October 1, 2008;
42(4):
389 - 412.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. A. Martinez-Garcia, J.-J. Soler-Cataluna, M. Perpina-Tordera, P. Roman-Sanchez, and J. Soriano
Factors Associated With Lung Function Decline in Adult Patients With Stable Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis
Chest,
November 1, 2007;
132(5):
1565 - 1572.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Jelsbak, H. K. Johansen, A.-L. Frost, R. Thogersen, L. E. Thomsen, O. Ciofu, L. Yang, J. A. J. Haagensen, N. Hoiby, and S. Molin
Molecular Epidemiology and Dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Populations in Lungs of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Infect. Immun.,
May 1, 2007;
75(5):
2214 - 2224.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B E van Ewijk, T F W Wolfs, A Fleer, J L L Kimpen, and C K van der Ent
High Pseudomonas aeruginosa acquisition rate in CF.
Thorax,
July 1, 2006;
61(7):
641 - 642.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Doring, G. Taccetti, S. Campana, F. Festini, and M. Mascherini
Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients.
Eur. Respir. J.,
March 1, 2006;
27(3):
653 - 653.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Eber, G. H. Thalhammer, and M. S. Zach
Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis
Eur. Respir. J.,
February 1, 2006;
27(2):
438 - 439.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. M. Jones
Eradication therapy for early Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in CF: many questions still unanswered
Eur. Respir. J.,
September 1, 2005;
26(3):
373 - 375.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2005 by the European Respiratory Society.
|