Inhaled antibiotics therapy for stable non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: a meta-analysis

The optimum antibiotic therapy for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) has yet to be determined. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled antibiotics in adults with stable NCFB.

PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched through November 2019.

A total of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), recruiting 2748 NCFB patients, were finally included. Inhaled antibiotics treatment significantly reduced the sputum bacterial load [standard mean difference (SMD) = -0.74, 95% CI: -1.16-0.32, p < 0.001, I² = 68.1%], prolonged median time [hazard risk (HR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57-0.93, p < 0.001, I² = 53.6%] and reduced frequency [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.74, 95% CI 0.63-0.87, p < 0.001, I² = 20.5%] of exacerbations, with good tolerance. However, it failed to improve Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication, [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)] % predicted, quality of life questionnaire (QoL-B) and St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, and may induce higher risk of P. aeruginosa resistance. Subgroup analysis showed Ciprofloxacin was more effective than other antibiotics in reducing bacterial load (SMD = -1.35, 95% CI: -1.85-0.85, I² = 63.4%, p = 0.042).

Inhaled antibiotics therapy holds great promise for stable NCFB as it is effective in reducing sputum bacterial load and the risk of acute attack, delaying disease progression, and is well tolerated. Although this study brings some constructive ideas in the field of clinical medication, further clinical trials should be carried out, particularly in solving drug-resistance and improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which we believe will finally provide benefits for patients suffering from bronchiectasis. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.