Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
RCT crossover
Participants
12 children aged 5-15 yrs with cystic fibrosis
Interventions
Baseline forced expiratory volume in one second and (FEV1) was measured, followed by a single nebulization of normal saline (272 mosmol.kg-1), tobramycin (248 mosmol.kg-1), or ticarcillin (3,080 mosmol.kg-1). All children received each of these, administered randomly, one per day.
Outcome measures
FEV1 was remeasured 5, 15 and 30 min after completion of the nebulization.
Main results
Ticarcillin (mean fall 10.7% (SD 8.9)) caused a larger fall in FEV1 than normal saline (4.8% (4.3), p less than 0.05). The fall in FEV1 for ticarcillin was greater than for tobramycin (1.2% (2.0), p less than 0.05). Normal saline did not result in a significantly larger fall in FEV1 than tobramycin (p greater than 0.05). Bronchoconstriction to ticarcillin persisted at 30 min.
Authors' conclusions
nebulized antibiotics can affect lung function in children with cystic fibrosis if the solutions are hypertonic.