Inhaled antibiotics in cystic fibrosis: what's new?

Cystic Fibrosis is an autosomal recessive inheritable condition principally involving the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestines. Pulmonary involvement is characterized by airway inflammation and infection starting at an early age1,2 and is the primary cause of premature death.3 This paper will review the current situation in terms of prevalence of bacterial pathogens causing pulmonary infections and the strategies currently employed to treat these infections, focusing primarily on inhaled antibiotic therapy. This will be followed by a review of newly introduced inhaled antibiotics and of those in development.