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ERS statement on protracted bacterial bronchitis in children
Ahmad Kantar1,2, Anne B Chang3,4,5,2, Mike D Shields6
1Pediatric Asthma and Cough Centre, Istituti Ospedalieri Bergamaschi, University and Research Hospitals, Bergamo, Italy kantar@centropediatricotosse.com.
Insights
This European Respiratory Society statement offers a comprehensive overview of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children, summarizing current knowledge and treatment strategies. It highlights key areas for future research to improve understanding and management of PBB.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) is a common respiratory condition in children.
- Current understanding of PBB's definition, pathobiology, and optimal management requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children.
- To synthesize current knowledge on PBB definition, microbiology, pathobiology, and treatment.
- To identify key areas for future research in PBB.
Main Methods:
- A European Respiratory Society task force of experts was convened.
- Systematic reviews were conducted to address key questions regarding PBB.
- Findings were summarized, and consensus was reached on the statement content.
Main Results:
- The statement presents the current definition, microbiology, and pathobiology of PBB.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage findings and current treatment strategies are detailed.
- Evidence supporting the definition of PBB is presented.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to establish the disease burden and natural history of PBB.
- A better understanding of PBB's underlying mechanisms and optimized treatment strategies are required.
- Randomized controlled trials in primary care are essential for advancing PBB management.
Abstract:
This European Respiratory Society statement provides a comprehensive overview on protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children. A task force of experts, consisting of clinicians from Europe and Australia who manage children with PBB determined the overall scope of this statement through consensus. Systematic reviews addressing key questions were undertaken, diagrams in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement constructed and findings of relevant studies summarised. The final content of this statement was agreed upon by all members.The current knowledge regarding PBB is presented, including the definition, microbiology data, known pathobiology, bronchoalveolar lavage findings and treatment strategies to manage these children. Evidence for the definition of PBB was sought specifically and presented. In addition, the task force identified several major clinical areas in PBB requiring further research, including collecting more prospective data to better identify the disease burden within the community, determining its natural history, a better understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms and how to optimise its treatment, with a particular requirement for randomised controlled trials to be conducted in primary care.
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