azithromycin could be helpful in bronchiectasis patients with over 3 exacerbations per year


Avoid frequent exacerbations at all cost.

Azithromycin 500 mg 3x/week or 250 mg daily can reduce exacerbations and inflammations (BLESS, BAT, EMBRACE). 1

Check non-TB mycobacterium before starting chronic azithromycin to minimize risk of MAC resistance (use azithromycin with caution in patients with nonTB mycobacterium infections).

  • monitor hearing and vestibular toxicity.2

Footnotes

  1. Bronchiectasis A Clinical Review

  2. Investigation and Management of Bronchiectasis in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease