Although methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of lung infection in people with cystic fibrosis there is not enough evidence to guide its long-term treatment, Cochrane reviewers say.
A review of the literature revealed reports of long-term antibiotic treatment and successful eradication but no studies provided evidence to suggest treatment led to improved patient outcomes. Furthermore, the Cochrane team found no randomised controlled trials eligible for inclusion in their review.
According to the review team the following questions needed to be answered:
- What is the optimal duration of long-term antibiotic treatment of people with chronic MSSA infection in CF?
- Does long-term suppressive therapy for chronic MSSA infection in CF improve the prognosis in these individuals?
- Does long-term antibiotic treatment of people with chronic MSSA infection in CF have any adverse effects (i.e. emergence of resistant organisms, colonisation with other pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRSA).
In the meantime, treatment should be based on “any available non-RCT evidence, individual clinician preference and a person’s characteristics,” they concluded.