• J M Bradley, E S Wallace, J S Elborn, J L Howard, and M P McCoy.
• University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland.
• Ir J Med Sci. 1999 Jan 1; 168 (1): 252825-8.

BackgroundThis retrospective audit was undertaken to compare the efficacy of home intravenous (i.v.) antibiotic therapy, hospital i.v. antibiotic therapy and a combination of these 2 approaches, as determined by spirometric measures of lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, each with an acute respiratory exacerbation.MethodsPulmonary function, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow rate between 25 per cent and 75 per cent of vital capacity (FEF25-75), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were compared between groups at the beginning and at the end of an IV antibiotic course.ResultsTreatment of exacerbations resulted in a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in lung function irrespective of where patients were treated. The percentage improvement in FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75, were significantly greater in patients treated in hospital compared to those who had home i.v. treatment (p < 0.05).ConclusionHospital i.v. antibiotic therapy resulted in greater improvements in FEV1, FVC and FEF25-75 than home i.v. antibiotic therapy in CF patients with an acute respiratory infection.

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