Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
randomized trial
Participants
60 patients with cystic fibrosis, chronically infected with P aeruginosa
Interventions
two treatment arms (elective or symptomatic) and yearly follow-up
Outcome measures
The major end points were changes in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Survival was a secondary end point.
Main results
Patients in the symptomatic group received a mean of three antibiotic treatments each year and those in the elective group received four antibiotic treatments during each year of the study. No significant differences in FEV(1) and FVC were found between the two groups after three years. There was a statistically non-significant higher rate of deaths in the elective group (n = 4), three of which were associated with B cepacia infection, compared with the symptomatic group (n = 0).
Authors' conclusions
This study did not demonstrate an advantage of a policy of elective antibiotic treatment over symptomatic treatment in patients with cystic fibrosis chronically infected with Pseudomonas species.