Skip to main content

Impact of antibiotic prophylaxis on postbronchoscopy fever: a randomised controlled study

Buy Article:

$34.78 + tax (Refund Policy)

BACKGROUND: Postbronchoscopy fever can develop in 5–16% of adult patients. The microbiological contribution to postbronchoscopy fever is unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of prophylactic antibiotics on the development of postbronchoscopy fever and pneumonia.

DESIGN: Study patients were randomised to receive no treatment or oral amoxicillin/clavulanate 30 min before flexible bronchoscopy. The primary outcome variable was the frequency of postbronchoscopy fever and pneumonia. White blood cell counts, C-reactive protein and the serum pyrogenic cytokines interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were measured before and after bronchoscopy.

RESULTS: Of 143 subjects enrolled in the study, the final analysis was performed among 67 subjects in the prophylaxis group and 64 in the control group. The frequency of postbronchoscopy fever did not differ between the groups (25.4% for the prophylaxis group vs. 26.6% for controls, P > 0.05). Pneumonia developed in 1.5% of the prophylaxis group and 4.7% of the controls. There was no bacteraemia in either group. Serum pyrogenic cytokines did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic antibiotics before bronchoscopy did not reduce the frequency of postbronchoscopy fever and did not affect serum levels of pyrogenic cytokines. These findings suggest that microbiological factors may not be responsible for the development of postbronchoscopy fever.

Keywords: antibiotic prophylaxis; bronchoscopy; cytokines; fever; pneumonia

Document Type: Regular Paper

Affiliations: 1: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea 3: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Lung Institute of Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Publication date: 01 April 2011

More about this publication?
  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  • Public Health Action
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content