Glucocorticoids as an adjuvant treatment to intravenous antibiotics for cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations: A UK Survey

Abstract

Oral glucocorticoids are widely used to treat exacerbations of asthma and COPD. A role for their use in treating exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is not proven. We describe the current practice, amongst UK adult CF physicians, of oral glucocorticoid use as an adjuvant to intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment during CF pulmonary exacerbation (P EX). The survey also examined whether physicians thought a randomised controlled trial (RCT) was necessary and their willingness to participate patients in such a trial. Eighty one percent of physicians replied. All of them used corticosteroids with P EX. Most physicians supported the need for a RCT and would be willing to enrol consenting patients in the trial. This survey highlighted the need for a RCT which would examine the role of adjuvant corticosteroids to IV antibiotics in CF P EX.