Doctors have hoped that antibiotics could benefit patients with chronic lung diseases, but a new study has found no benefit for patients with life-threatening idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in preventing hospitalization or death.
While there were no statistical benefits for patients with the lung-scarring disease, the new research will prevent unnecessary antibiotic use that could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The nationwide clinical trial – believed to be the largest idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis trial ever conducted – also collected biological samples that will advance the understanding and treatment of the mysterious and ultimately fatal illness.
“We were certainly disappointed in the results. But we remain hopeful that in further downstream analyses, we may yet find groups of patients that were potentially benefiting. In the meantime, this study will make sure that no one takes antibiotics without need,” said researcher Imre Noth, MD, the chief of UVA Health’s Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. “We did view the study as great success as an NIH [National Institutes of Health] initiative, in that the pragmatic design, without blinding patients to treatment, led to rapid enrollment, ahead of schedule and basically ahead of budget, showing that large studies can be accomplished in this uncommon disease.”
bioengineer.org/antibiotics...
Journal of the American Medical Association. Study Paper (Paywall, Highlights only):
Can you help us better understand the experiences of those with a lung condition?
Mycophenolate instead of Perfinedine or Nintenanib? 
