New anti-infective approaches to treat airway infections in persons with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

Purpose of review: Cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis can predispose patients to airway infections that are difficult to treat. The purpose of this review is to discuss recently developed anti-infectives which show promise in treating these infections.

Recent findings: The microbiology underlying respiratory tract infections in persons with CF (pwCF) and non-CF bronchiectasis is complex. Both traditional and nontraditional anti-infective approaches have recently been discovered and/or are actively being studied for the treatment of airway infections. Traditional antibiotics, including small molecules/compounds/formulations, and nontraditional methods, such as monoclonal antibodies and bacteriophages, have shown promise in their ability to treat airway infections in case studies, case series, and/or clinical trials.

Summary: Several new approaches are currently being developed to better manage airway infections associated with both CF and non-CF bronchiectasis. While many of these new therapies are promising, more studies are needed to assess their safety and efficacy.