AIMS:

Bronchiectasis is a suppurative lung disease characterized by wide and distorted bronchi, with daily cough and sputum production punctuated by infectious exacerbations. Etiologies are diverse, and treatment is multidisciplinary, consisting of lung hygiene with mucolytic agents and physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory agents and antimicrobial agents, as needed. This study aims to review the literature and describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis treated at the Bronchiectasis clinic at Carmel Medical Center.

METHODS:

We included patients with Lung bronchiectasis according to chest HRCT treated at the Bronchiectasis clinic. We reviewed retrospective data regarding etiologic work up, age symptoms developed, extension of bronchiectasis, Lung function, microbiology of sputum, number of exacerbations and hospitalizations.

RESULTS:

Seventy four,patients were included, 39 women, mean age--65.7 years. Average lung involvement was two Lobes. Etiologies were: 42% idiopathic, 19% post-infectious and immune deficiency 5.6%. Cultures were positive for S. aureus in 9.5%, H. influenza in 19%, S pneumonia (4.8%), P aeruginosa (41.3%), non tuberculous mycobacteria (9.5%) and other bacteria in 11%. Patients suffered an average of 2.2 exacerbations per year, with 0.45 hospitalizations per year due to exacerbation of bronchiectasis. Mean predicted FEVI in spirometry was 74.32 ± 25%. Patients colonised with P aeruginosa suffered significantly more exacerbations and hospitalizations than patients without P aeruginosa colonization.

CONCLUSIONS:

Bronchiectasis led to significant morbidity with infectious complications. We suspect that there is under- diagnosis and under-referral of this condition.