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Permanent therapy with azithromycin

Question
Hello,
I am 34 years old, have CF and have a staphylococcus aureus colonization for about 20 years and take antibiotics for 2 years about every 3 months, sometimes ampicillin plus sulbactam, sometimes other. Sometimes other germs occur, however dissapear again. I do not have a Pseudmonas aeruginosa. My FEV1 is at 39% at the moment. Now, my pulmomologist wants me to take azithromycin as a permanent therapy. However I do not really want this. Can you help me in finding a decision? Do you need furhter information about my state of health?
Many thanks in advance.
Answer
Hello,
Azithromycin is an antibiotic drug, which we know about today that it has beyond its effect on bacteria also other positive effects: in CF it seems to have an anti-inflammatoric effect and also an inhibiting effect on the Pseudmonas. The studies that have been done so far, showed a positive effect on the lung function of CF patients, more in Pseudomonas-positive than in negative. The side-effects are relatively small.
Insofar your pulmonologist is quite right, that he recommends it to you, as your lung function is according to the FEV1 already distinctly limited and it would be nice if one could slow down a worsening.
I can understand that you are at first sceptical against a new starting permanent therapy and if you have a dislike against it, you should talk with your physician about that. Perhaps you could try it and if you tolerate it well it would be worth to give it a try.
Best regards,
Prof. Dr. J. Bargon
16.06.2009