Can Bacterial Load Drive Antibiotic Management of Bronchiectasis Exacerbations?

Little evidence specifies the duration of antibiotic treatment for exacerbations of bronchiectasis, a stubborn condition characterized by chronic cough, purulent sputum, and relapsing infections. While guidelines recommend 14 days of antibiotic treatment for exacerbations, could shorter treatment courses suffice for infections with lower bacterial burden? Researchers conducted a prospective study involving 90 patients with bronchiectasis exacerbations and indication for intravenous antibiotic treatment per the British Thoracic Society guideline. All participants received meropenem and were randomized to a standard course (14-day group) or treatment interruption if bacterial loads were <10⁶/ml on either day (bacterial load guided group [BLGG…