Author Contributions: Drs Oster and Benenson contributed equally to the study, had full access to all of the data in the study, and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Background: Pulmonary disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Several studies have shown no benefit for bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) over sputum to obtain microbiological cultures, hence the role of bronchoscopy in pwCF is unclear.Aim: To analyze how bronchoscopy results affected clinical decision-making in pwCF and assess safety.Methods: A retrospective analysis of all charts of pwCF from three CF centers in Israel, between the years 2008 and 2019. We collected BAL culture results as well as sputum cultures obtained within 1 month of the BAL sample. A meaningful yield was defined as a decision to start antibiotics, change the antibiotic regimen, hospitalize the patient for treatment, or the resolution of the problem that led to bronchoscopy (e.g., atelectasis or hemoptysis).Results: During the study years, of the 428 consecutive patient charts screened, 72 patients had 154 bronchoscopies (2.14 bronchoscopies/patient). Forty-five percent of the bronchoscopies had a meaningful clinical yield. The finding of copious sputum on bronchoscopy was strongly associated with a change in treatment (OR: 5.25, 95% CI: 2.1−13.07, p < 0.001). BAL culture results were strongly associated with a meaningful yield, specifically isolation of Aspergillus spp. (p = 0.003), Haemophilus influenza (p = 0.001). Eight minor adverse events following bronchoscopy were recorded.
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