Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Published on: June 5, 2012

Improvement in pulmonary function following antibiotics in infants with cystic fibrosis

Jessica E Pittman¹, Robin C Johnson, Stephanie D Davis

¹Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 130 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. jessica_pittman@med.unc.edu

Pediatric Pulmonology

|October 20, 2011

Insights

Antibiotic therapy significantly improved infant pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in cystic fibrosis (CF) infants, showing reduced obstruction and air-trapping. However, PFTs remained abnormal, indicating persistent lung disease in CF patients.

Area of Science:

Pediatric Pulmonology
Respiratory Medicine
Cystic Fibrosis Research

Background:

Lung disease is present in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF), even if asymptomatic.
Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is crucial for monitoring CF progression in older children.
Limited data exists on infant PFT changes in young children with CF.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess changes in infant PFTs before and after antibiotic treatment for pulmonary exacerbations in CF infants.
To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy on lung function in infants with CF.

Main Methods:

Retrospective cohort study.
Infants with CF underwent clinically indicated infant PFTs.
PFT data collected before and after antibiotic therapy for pulmonary exacerbation.

Main Results:

11 infants with CF had pre- and post-antibiotic PFT data.
Infants showed significant clinical improvement post-antibiotics.
PFTs demonstrated significant improvement in obstruction and air-trapping post-antibiotics.

Conclusions:

Antibiotic therapy significantly improves infant PFT measures in CF.
Infant PFTs reflect acute clinical changes in CF, aiding management.
Despite improvement, PFTs often remain abnormal, showing persistent air-trapping and hyperinflation.

Read full analysis

Abstract

Background:

Recent studies have shown the presence of lung disease in even asymptomatic infants with cystic fibrosis (CF). While pulmonary function testing (PFT) is often used to follow progression of lung disease and guide treatment in older children with CF, little data is available on change in infant PFTs in young children with CF.

Objective:

To determine change in infant PFTs before and after antibiotic therapy for pulmonary exacerbation in infants with CF.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study of infants with CF who underwent clinically indicated infant PFTs before and after antibiotic therapy for CF pulmonary exacerbation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Results:

Pre- and post-antibiotics PFT data was available on 11 infants with CF, with a mean age of 102 weeks at time of first PFT. The majority of infants were symptomatic prior to antibiotics, and showed statistically significant improvement in clinical parameters following treatment. Prior to antibiotics, PFTs showed evidence of substantial obstructive disease (mean z-scores for FVC, FEV(0.5) , and FEF(25-75) of -1.81, -3.06, and -4.5, respectively) and air-trapping/hyperinflation (mean z-scores for FRCpleth, RV, and RV/TLC of 8.86, 7.1, and 3.31, respectively). Following antibiotics, all of the above parameters showed statistically significant improvement.

Discussion:

We have shown a statistically significant improvement in infant PFT measures following antibiotic therapy in a cohort of 11 infants with CF, which paralleled improvement in clinical parameters. Though infant PFTs showed improvement, they remained abnormal in the majority of subjects, with persistent air-trapping and hyperinflation after antibiotic therapy. Our findings suggest that infant PFTs are sensitive to acute clinical changes in children with CF, and may be a useful tool in managing infants with CF.

More Related Videos

Antibiotic Efficacy Testing in an Ex vivo Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms in the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Antibiotic Efficacy Testing in an Ex vivo Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms in the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Published on: January 22, 2021

Design and Development of a Model to Study the Effect of Supplemental Oxygen on the Cystic Fibrosis Airway Microbiome

Design and Development of a Model to Study the Effect of Supplemental Oxygen on the Cystic Fibrosis Airway Microbiome

Published on: August 3, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic sinusitis...

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disorder, significantly affects the function of exocrine glands. This genetically inherited disease is characterized by the production of thick and sticky mucus, which can severely affect various organs and systems in the body.
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation, but...

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...

Pneumonia IV: Management

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...

Acute Respiratory Failure-V

Acute Respiratory Failure-V

The treatment for acute respiratory failure varies based on factors like the underlying cause, overall health, and severity. A collaborative healthcare team is essential for early detection, often through arterial blood gas analysis. Identifying the cause is the primary goal, with treatment strategies adjusted for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, shunting, or diffusion impairment.
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Use of the bacterial lysate OM-85 for the primary prevention of wheezing lower respiratory illness in preschool children: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Lancet (London, England)·2026

Safety and efficacy of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor in children ≥2 years with cystic fibrosis: 96-week interim results from a phase 3 open-label extension study.

Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society·2026

Accuracy of Clinical Phenotype for Diagnosing Adults With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

Chest·2026

Outpatient assessment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia using point of care lung ultrasound.

Frontiers in pediatrics·2026

Tidal breathing nasal nitric oxide measurement as a test for primary ciliary dyskinesia in young children.

The European respiratory journal·2026

Activity capacity in children with early onset scoliosis compared to pulmonary function (spirometry) and patient-reported outcomes.

Spine deformity·2025

See all related articles