Thorax
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Multicenter Study
Predictors of clinical outcome in a national hospitalised cohort across both waves of the influenza A/H1N1 pandemic 2009-2010 in the UK.
Although generally mild, the 2009-2010 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic caused two major surges in hospital admissions in the UK. The characteristics of patients admitted during successive waves are described. ⋯ There were demographic, ethnic and clinical differences between patients admitted with pandemic H1N1 infection and those hospitalised during seasonal influenza activity. Despite national policies favouring use of antiviral drugs, few patients received these before admission and many were given antibiotics.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomised controlled trial of amoxycillin clavulanate in children with chronic wet cough.
Despite guideline recommendations, there are no published randomised controlled trial data on the efficacy of antibiotics for chronic wet cough in children. The majority of children with chronic wet cough have protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), a recognised condition in multiple national guidelines. The authors conducted a parallel 1:1 placebo randomised controlled trial to test the hypothesis that a 2-week course of amoxycillin clavulanate is efficacious in the treatment of children with chronic wet cough. ⋯ ACTRN 12605000533695.
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The British Thoracic Society guideline for respiratory management of children with neuromuscular weakness summarises the available evidence in this field and provides recommendations that will aid healthcare professionals in delivering good quality patient care.
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Review
Cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: update 2008-11.
A review is presented of key clinical papers published in Thorax and elsewhere between 2008 and April 2011 which have advanced our understanding of cystic fibrosis (CF), primary ciliary dyskinesia and non-CF bronchiectasis. Studies were identified through searches of the Thorax archive and the Medline database. Within the field of CF, the following key themes were studied: diagnosis in equivocal CF, assessment of CF lung disease, novel therapies addressing the basic defect in CF, maintenance pulmonary therapies, management of early Pseudomonas infection, the microbiology of CF lung disease, renal impairment in CF and controversies in lung transplantation in CF.