HBNS: Antibiotics Help When Chronic Lung Diseases Flare Up
Antibiotic therapy leads to fewer treatment failures and deaths among people suffering from moderate to severe flare-ups in lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, according to a new systematic review.
The analysis compared outcomes among patients who received either antibiotics or a placebo when they experienced acute flare-ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Our study is the first to show clinically measurable beneficial effects of antibiotic therapy in exacerbations of COPD,� said lead author Dr. Felix Ram of New Zealand’s Massey University. “This has been one of the most highly debated topics in respiratory medicine for years.�
However, the various trials focused on a wide range of patients, including those undergoing treatment in doctors’ offices, hospital wards and intensive care units.
“These results should be interpreted with caution due to the differences in patient selection, antibiotic choice, small number of included trials and lack of control for [other] interventions that influence outcome,� say the authors.
COPD includes a group of disorders that result in chronic blockage of air flow. Cardinal symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and sputum production. For many patients these symptoms worsen noticeably from time to time, and antibiotics are commonly given to provide relief.
Controversy over this practice arises from data suggesting that at least one-third of these acute episodes are not caused by bacteria. Unnecessary use of antibiotics may promote emergence of drug-resistant organisms.
The review appears in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.