Inhaled antibiotics for the treatment of chronic bronchopulmonary<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>infection in cystic fibrosis: systematic review of randomised controlled trials

INTRODUCTION: Inhaled antibiotics are probably the safest and most effective therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic lung infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. AREAS COVERED: To summarise the available evidence, a systematic review of the three currently available inhaled antibiotics (aztreonam lysine (AZLI), colistin (COL) and tobramycin (TOB)) was performed. The three AZLI placebo-controlled studies showed that the improvements in FEV1 and mean sputum P. aeruginosa density were statistically significant better than with placebo. The two COL placebo-controlled studies involved few patients but showed that COL was better than placebo in terms of maintenance of some pulmonary function parameters. The tobramycin inhalation solution (TIS) and tobramycin inhalation powder studies showed that the efficacy of both formulations was similar but significantly better…