Antibiotic therapy for stable non-CF bronchiectasis in adults - A systematic review.

To provide an update on efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatments for stable non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis (BE). Systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was done. Twenty-six studies (1.898 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Studies of inhaled tobramycin have revealed conflicting results regarding quality of life (QoL), exacerbations and admissions, but may result in sputum cultures negative for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whereas studies investigating the effect of inhaled gentamycin have shown positive effects on sputum bacterial density, decrease in sputum cultures positive for P. aeruginosa, QoL and exacerbation rate, but no improvement in forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV