Intermittent administration of inhaled tobramycin in patients with cystic fibrosis

Inhaled tobramycin may improve lung function in cystic fibrosis patients. Researchers randomly assigned 520 cystic fibrosis patients to inhale tobramycin or a placebo twice a day for four weeks. The patients alternated between inhalations of placebo or tobramycin for 24 weeks total. Tobramycin improved lung function, reduced the rate of infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and led to lower hospitalization rates. The drug caused few side effects. Intermittent treatment may prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa from becoming resistant to the drug.