The efficacy and safety of inhaled antibiotics in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection: An updated meta-analysis and evidence map of systematic reviews.
Int J Antimicrob AgentsJun 1, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPulmonology
Yuanhui Hu, Sha Diao, Hailong Li et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of inhaled antibiotics for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) across 21 systematic reviews and 69 RCTs, primarily in adults. Inhaled antibiotics may improve lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF) and reduce exacerbation frequency in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) with a relative risk of 0.86 (0.78-0.96).
Key findings
- Inhaled antibiotics likely reduce exacerbation frequency in NCFB (RR 0.86, 0.78-0.96).
- Inhaled antibiotics may enhance microbiological eradication in CF (2.06, 1.19-3.57).
- Adjunctive therapy for VAP may improve clinical response (1.22, 1.09-1.37).
- Inhaled antibiotics likely induce bronchospasm in NCFB (1.43, 1.05-1.96).
Why it matters
Understanding the effectiveness and safety of inhaled antibiotics is crucial for clinicians managing patients with LRTIs, particularly in optimizing treatment strategies for conditions like cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.