Multi-Pillar Approach
1. Airway Clearance
- Chest physiotherapy (postural drainage)
- Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure (OPEP): Acapella, Flutter
- High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO): vest
- Hypertonic saline (7% NaCl) nebulized: improves mucus clearance
- Mannitol (less common)
- Active cycle of breathing techniques
2. Treat Underlying Disease
- IgG replacement (CVID)
- ART (HIV)
- Treat ABPA (steroids + itraconazole + dupilumab refractory)
- Treat NTM
- RA management
- CF-specific (Ch308)
3. Antibiotics
Acute Exacerbations:
- Cover known colonizers
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate, azithromycin, doxycycline
- Pseudomonas: ciprofloxacin, IV cefepime/pip-tazo
Chronic Suppressive:
- Azithromycin 250 mg/d or 500 mg 3x/week (EMBRACE, BAT, BLESS trials)
- Reduces exacerbations 50%
- Caution: QT, hearing, antibiotic resistance
- Inhaled tobramycin (Pseudomonas): TOBI, Bethkis
- Inhaled colistin: refractory Pseudomonas
- Inhaled aztreonam: AIR-BX, EMBRACE-CF (CF mainly)
4. Bronchodilators
- SABA / LABA for symptomatic
- Variable benefit in non-CF bronchiectasis
- LAMA option
5. Inhaled Steroids
- For coexisting asthma or eosinophilic inflammation
- Not routine for non-CF bronchiectasis
6. Biologics + New Therapies
Brensocatib (DPP-1 Inhibitor) â NEW 2024
- ASPEN trial (2024 positive)
- Reduces neutrophil serine proteases
- â Exacerbation rate
- First disease-modifying for bronchiectasis
- Expected FDA approval 2024-2025
Itepekimab (anti-IL-33):
- Phase 2 in bronchiectasis
- Targets upstream inflammation
Anti-IL-5 / IL-5R:
- For eosinophilic phenotype (some)
- Trials ongoing
7. Surgical Resection
- For localized severe disease
- Massive hemoptysis source
- Recurrent infections in one lobe
- VATS or open
8. Lung Transplantation
- For end-stage diffuse bronchiectasis
- CF more often
- Outcomes good in select