Davies and Wilson monitored the response of a patient with bronchiectasis who is receiving prophylactic antibiotic therapy. The authors are from the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Patient selection: bronchiectasis receiving prophylactic antibiotics
Clinical measures:
(1) sputum volume
(2) sputum quality (color, consistency, other)
(3) cough
(4) fatigue
(5) exercise tolerance
(6) wheeze
(7) breathlessness
Response
Points
large decrease or greatly improved
1
decrease or improvement
2
no change
3
increase or worse
4
large increase or much worse
5
The points for each measure can be monitored over time to determine the patient's response to the prophylactic therapy
In addition, any pathogens should be documented and their antibiotic susceptibility determined (to detect emergence of resistant pathogens).
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Pharmacology, clinical
