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Inhaled Antibiotic For Treatment Of Early Lung Infection In Patients With Cystic Fibrosis (p 983)

September 19, 2001

Inhalation of the antibiotic tobramycin could have an important future role in reducing lung infection of patients with cystic fibrosis, suggest authors of a research letter in this week's issue of THE LANCET.

More than 80% of patients with cystic fibrosis are chronically infected by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infection reduces lung function, and leads to substantially reduced life expectancy; conventional treatment with intravenous antibiotics is only partially effective. Felix Ratjen and colleagues from the University of Essen, Germany, studied 15 patients with cystic fibrosis (aged 1-22 years) in whom P aeruginosa was detected for the first time.

Patients inhaled 80 mg tobramycin twice daily for 12 months. Eradication of P aeruginosa was confirmed in 14 patients by analysis of blood antibodies and throat swabs. The 14 patients remained free of infection at one-year follow-up; nine were free of infection at two-year follow-up.

Felix Ratjen comments: "Our data show that 80 mg inhaled tobramycin, taken twice daily for 12 months, is highly effective in eradication of P aeruginosa from the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis. Most patients remained free from infection after treatment ended. Therefore, this treatment regimen, if started soon after P aeruginosa colonisation, cures chronic P aeruginosa lung infection."

Contact: Dr Felix Ratjen, Children's Hospital, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany; T) +49 201 723 5732; F) +49 201 723 5721; E) f.ratjen@uni-essen.de


Lancet