Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 NEWSLINE NOTES Selected people with ASTHMA should be tested for BACTERIAL LUNG INFECTION. People with asthma may harbor a bacterial lung infection. In one investigation, researchers studied 55 people with mild-to-moderate asthma. All had similar lung function; however, the lungs of 31 (56%) of the participants were infected with mycoplasma or chlamydia bacteria. During the course of the study, half of all the participants (selected randomly) were treated for 6 weeks with the antibiotic clarithromycin; half were given a placebo (inactive substance). Those who had a bacterial infection and received the antibiotic had significantly improved lung function. Those who did not receive the antibiotic had no change in their breathing ability. The researchers suggest that because tests to identify bacterial lung infections are invasive and disruptive, they should be limited to include only people who have trouble controlling their asthma with standard medications. And, antibiotics should not be given to untested asthma patients in the hope of improving lung function, as it would contribute to the overuse of antibiotics and emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. (Chest) Published: Jan/Feb 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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