Amikacin liposome Inhalation effective in Treating Resistant Mycobacterium abscessus Lung disease

The primary goal of this treatment was to achieve sputum culture conversion, defined as three consecutive monthly tests showing negative results. Encouragingly, 50% of the patients with evaluable data exhibited culture conversion, and 67% of them maintained this improvement throughout the 12-month treatment period. Mutational amikacin resistance  affected 18% of the patients using clofazimine alone or in combination with azithromycin as part of their therapy.

Despite these potential challenges, ALIS demonstrated a relatively low rate of serious adverse events. Some dosage adjustments were made, with 52% of patients reducing their intake to three times weekly. The treatment was generally well-tolerated.

This research represents a significant stride forward in addressing the complex issue of Mycobacterium abscessus infections. ALIS appears to be a promising addition to the therapeutic toolkit, especially for patients who face limited alternatives due to macrolide resistance. The study's findings provide hope for those grappling with this challenging lung condition and pave the way for further research and treatment innovations.

Reference: 

Siegel, S. A. R., Griffith, D. E., Philley, J. V., Brown-Elliott, B. A., Brunton, A. E., Sullivan, P. E., Fuss, C., Strnad, L., Wallace, R. J., Jr., & Winthrop, K. L. (2023). Open-Label Trial of Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension in Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Disease. In CHEST (Vol. 164, Issue 4, pp. 846–859). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.05.036