Changing thresholds and incidence of antibiotic treatment of cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations, 1995-2005.

BACKGROUND

Increased chronic therapy use and improved cystic fibrosis (CF) patient health should be accompanied by reduced pulmonary exacerbation-associated antibiotic treatment incidence.

METHODS

Treatment incidence rates and associated sign/symptom scores from 1995-2005 were studied in Epidemiologic Study of CF patients by route ( IV) and age (<6, 6-12, 13-17, ≥ 18 years).

RESULTS

Overall treatment incidence rate fell 0.0165 events/patient-year/year (P=.006); IV incidence fell 0.0179 (P<.001). Non-IV incidence increased in children ≤ 12 years (P ≤.002) while significantly decreasing in older patients. Mean IV (P=.046) and non-IV (P=.004) treatment-associated clinical scores decreased in children <6 years. Non-IV (but not IV) clinical scores decreased in older patients.

CONCLUSIONS

IV incidence fell for all ages from 1995-2005; non-IV incidence increased in patients ≤ 12 years and fell in others. Average clinical treatment thresholds fell in children <6 years; IV thresholds were unchanged in older patients; non-IV thresholds fell for patients ≥ 13 years. Decreases in treatment incidence were likely partially offset by lower treatment thresholds.