Antibiotic management of cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal recessive disorder in Great Britain, 
Central Europe and North America and it affects 1 in 2000 
live born children. Does the antibiotic treatment in cystic fibrosis differ 
from the treatment of respiratory infection in other conditions? The cystic 
fibrosis patient not only suffers progressive deterioration in respiratory function; he 
often has dangerous complicating conditions culminating in super-infection by highly resistant 
organisms. The basic principle of antibiotic therapy must be rigidly applied 
in cystic fibrosis. The first principle is to identify the pathogen 
and its susceptibility to antibiotics. The second principle is to ensure 
that the chosen antibiotic reaches the site of infection. The third 
principle is that the antibiotic therapy ought to complement the immunological 
defences of the patient. A fourth principle is that no therapy 
must be given without first deciding upon the criteria which will 
be acceptable as indicating clinical improvement. 