An audit of the effect of intravenous antibiotic treatment on spirometric measures of pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis

Background This retrospective audit was undertaken to compare the efficacy of home intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy, hospital IV 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. Methods Pulmonary 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. Results Treatment 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 IV treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion Hospital IV antibiotic therapy resulted in greater improvements in FEV1 FVC and FEF25-75 than home IV antibiotic therapy in CF patients with an acute respiratory infection.