Cystic Fibrosis (CF), also known as "cystic fibrosis," is an inherited and incurable disease. Thanks to all the improvements in treatment over the past decades, especially with the recent advent of CFTR modulators, life expectancy has improved dramatically. Nevertheless, there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, and lung infections remain a major problem. For this reason, antibiotics remain crucial in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. To improve the antibiotic care of patients with cystic fibrosis, this thesis of Anne Akkerman-Nijland examined several aspects of antibiotic therapy.
Improvement of antibiotic treatment in cystic fibrosis can be achieved in several ways. Namely, by increasing knowledge about pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of systemic antibiotics and its changes in patients with cystic fibrosis. Increasing knowledge about safety of antibiotics is also important in improving antibiotic therapy. Another way antibiotic therapy can be optimized is by increasing knowledge about local antibiotic treatment. In the case of cystic fibrosis, this involves inhalation antibiotics, as lung infections play an important role in the disease process. Because the medication enters the lungs directly, lower doses can be used to achieve the same effect. In addition, the body's exposure to the drug is reduced, thus reducing systemic side effects.
