January 21, 2016 - Bronchiectasis

Question 1

Bronchiectasis - Definition

Answer 1

A condition in which an area of the bronchial tubes is permanently and abnormally dilated with accompanying infection.

Question 2

Causes of Bronchiectasis

Answer 2

Post-infection

Impaired mucociliary clearance

Immune deficiency

Exaggerated immune response

Congenital abnormalities of the bronchial walls

Inflammatory pneumonitis

Fibrosis

Mechanical obstruction

Question 3

Diagnosis of Bronchiectasis

Answer 3

Suspect it in people with daily cough and mucopurulent sputum.

Gold standard is a high-resolution CT scan, as chest X-ray can miss the condition up to 50% of the time.

Question 4

Bronchiectasis - Symptoms

Answer 4

Often have a productive cough of frequent green/yellow mucus (a lot). May also present with coughing up blood. Bad breath.

Question 5

Antibiotics in Bronchiectasis

Answer 5

For non-CF bronchiectasis

Used for prompt treatment of exacerbations. It is very important to send the sputum culture to help determine the organism and its susceptability to antibiotics.