Enabling antibiotic allergy evaluations and reintroduction of first-line antibiotics for patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) often have a history of antibiotic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that pose a barrier to receiving recommended first-line treatment. Targeted antibiotic allergy evaluations are increasingly recognized as an important strategy for optimization of antimicrobial stewardship.

Objective: To improve first-line antibiotic use in patients with CF with antibiotic ADRs by streamlining access to antibiotic allergy evaluations and standardizing documentation of plans for antibiotic reintroduction.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator dysfunction in platelets drives lung hyperinflammation.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by an inflammatory response that can lead to terminal respiratory failure. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is mutated in CF, and we hypothesized that dysfunctional CFTR in platelets, which are key participants in immune responses, is a central determinant of CF inflammation. We found that deletion of CFTR in platelets produced exaggerated acute lung inflammation and platelet activation after intratracheal LPS or Pseudomonas aeruginosa challenge.

Improving transition from paediatric to adult cystic fibrosis care: programme implementation and evaluation.

Background: The paradigm of cystic fibrosis (CF) care has changed as effective therapies extend the lives of patients well into adulthood. Preparing for and maintaining high quality CF care into the adult healthcare setting is critical for prolonged survival. Unfortunately, this transfer process from the paediatric to the adult CF centre is met with a variety of challenges.