Azithromycin and Pulmonary Function in Children With Cystic Fibrosis Without Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection

Azithromycin is recommended for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. To determine if azithromycin improves lung function in patients with CF but without P. aeruginosa infection, researchers randomized 263 children with CF (age range, 6–18 years) who had negative P. aeruginosa cultures and forced expiratory volume in 1second (FEV₁) of at least 50% of predicted to receive oral azithromycin (250 or 500 mg) or placebo three times per week for 168 days.

At the conclusion of the study, no statistically significant differences in pulmonary function were noted between the two groups. However, significantly fewer children in the azithromycin group had pulmonary exacerbations, required oral antibiotics, or develope…