Lack of efficacy of Lactobacillus GG in reducing pulmonary exacerbations and hospital admissions in children with cystic fibrosis: A randomised placebo controlled trial

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) are associated with significant drop in pulmonary function. The clinical value of measuring bronchodilator (BD) responsiveness during treatment for PEx to monitor or predict recovery of lung function is unclear. Methods: A retrospective analysis of spirometry with BD response testing obtained during hospital admissions for PEx in pediatric CF patients. Repeated events were included for patients with BD testing during multiple admissions. Results: 249 spirometries with BD testing in 102 patients were completed around day 7 (day 4-10) of hospital admission for treatment of CF PEx. Median (IQR) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 70.6% predicted (58.1, 84.6) prior to the PEx event (best FEV1 in 6 months prior to admission), 54.4% (41.5, 66.9) at admission, 62.3% (48.4, 74.7) around day 7 of admission and 67.1% predicted (53.8, 78.2) at end of treatment. BD response around day 7 correlated poorly with FEV1 prior to PEx (r=-0.16, p=0.02), and did not correlate with recovery to baseline FEV1 at end of treatment (r=0.08, p=0.22). Only 23/249 (9%) patients had a BD response of ≥12 % and 200 ml. BD response was not related to age or severity of lung disease and led to an immediate change in clinical management in only 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: BD response in CF patients treated for PEx is poorly correlated with baseline pulmonary function and does not correlate with recovery of FEV1 with treatment. These data suggest that routine testing for BD response is not indicated during PEx.

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Procalcitonin predicts the severity of cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations and readmissions in adult patients: a prospective cohort study

Journal of Investigative Medicine ◽

10.1136/jim-2019-001183 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 856-863

Author(s):

Kristina L Bailey ◽

Peter J Murphy ◽

Olena K Lineberry ◽

Matthew R Haack ◽

John D Dickinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Antibiotic Treatment ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Pulmonary Exacerbation ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Pulmonary Exacerbations ◽

Time Of Admission

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience multiple pulmonary exacerbations throughout their lifetime, resulting in repeated antibiotic exposure and hospital admissions. Reliable diagnostic markers to guide antibiotic treatment in patients with CF, however, are lacking. Given that the CF airway is characterized by persistent and frequent bacterial infection, our goal was to determine if procalcitonin (PCT) could be used as a severity and prognostic marker of CF exacerbation. We enrolled 40 participants at the time of diagnosis of CF pulmonary exacerbation. Inclusion criteria: age ≥19 years with exacerbation requiring antibiotics as determined by the treating physician. Exclusion criteria: antibiotics initiated more than 48 hours prior to enrollment, and pregnancy. Blood samples were collected on enrollment day and after 7–10 days of treatment. Of the 40 patients enrolled, 23 (57.5%) had detectable levels of PCT (≥0.05 ng/mL). PCT levels were significantly associated with pulmonary exacerbation scores (p=0.01) and per cent decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (p=0.01) compared with the best in the last 12 months. Those who had worsening PCT during treatment had less improvement in FEV1 (p=0.001) and were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital sooner (p<0.0001). Likewise, those who had a detectable PCT at the time of admission were more likely to be readmitted sooner (p=0.03). PCT elevation during antibiotic treatment is associated with less improvement in FEV1 and earlier readmission. A detectable PCT level occurs only in more severe CF exacerbations. Multicenter trials are needed to confirm whether PCT may play a role in the clinical care of patients with CF.

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Complete versus Limited Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820904956 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 162 (4) ◽

pp. 572-580 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniel J. Lee ◽

Christopher M. K. L. Yao ◽

Jenna Sykes ◽

Leena Rizvi ◽

Elizabeth Tullis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Lung Function ◽

Postoperative Period ◽

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Care Center ◽

Sinus Surgery ◽

Oral Antibiotic ◽

Health Care Center ◽

Pulmonary Exacerbations

Objective To examine the effects of the extent of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on pulmonary health, including the pulmonary exacerbations and lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary health care center. Subjects and Methods A retrospective review of patients with CF who underwent ESS at St. Michael’s Hospital between 1999 and 2016 was performed. Two groups of patients were identified based on the surgical extent: (1) complete (maxillary antrostomy, complete ethmoidectomy, sphenoidotomy, and frontal sinusotomy) and (2) limited (any ESS that involved less than complete). Primary outcomes included the number of pulmonary exacerbations (the use of oral or intravenous [IV] antibiotics), number of hospital admissions and hospital days during a 2-year pre- and postoperative period, and pulmonary function outcomes during a 1-year pre- and postoperative period. Results There were 70 procedures (30 complete and 40 limited) among 57 patients. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Complete ESS group had a significant reduction in the oral antibiotic use compared to the limited ESS group (median, –1.0 [interquartile range (IQR), –2 to 0] in complete vs 0 [IQR, –1 to 1] in limited, P = .028). There was no difference in the use of IV antibiotics, number and duration of admissions, or rate of lung function change between the 2 groups. Conclusion Complete ESS may reduce mild forms of pulmonary exacerbations as shown in the decreased use of oral antibiotics. Overall, ESS does not significantly modify pulmonary outcomes in patients with CF.

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