Free training module for paediatric respiratory disease Chronic respiratory disease is prevalent among Aboriginal children but most doctors never had the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal paediatric lung health or were given tools to take a respiratory history in a culturally appropriate way. This module will give health practitioners skills to engage effectively with Aboriginal [...]
Bronchiectasis among Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients in the regional and remote population of the Northern Territory of Australia Purpose: Chronic respiratory disorders are highly prevalent among Australian Aboriginal people living in the Top End Health Service region, Northern Territory of Australia. Bronchiectasis is a heterogenous disease that features among these chronic respiratory conditions in this [...]
Neutrophil extracellular traps, disease severity, and antibiotic response in bronchiectasis: an international, observational, multicohort study This research identifies, for the first time, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in the lungs of patients with bronchiectasis and demonstrates that the presence of NETs is associated with disease severity, severe exacerbations and mortality. Additionally, NET levels can be [...]
Improving Aboriginal Childrens Lung Health - developed by the Research Education and Training program in Western Australia, is an electronic training module, endorsed by RACGP, to assist doctors and other clinicians to recognise and manage protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis earlier in Aboriginal children. This training module is free of charge and clinicians will earn [...]
A novel anti-inflammatory treatment for bronchiectasis that targets neutrophils has shown promising results in a phase 2 trial. In findings presented at ATS 2020 virtual meeting, brensocatib, a reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-1 (DPP1 inhibitor) showed positive effects against bronchietasis exacerbations in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis. Professor James Chalmers, British Lung Foundation Professor of Respiratory Research [...]
Vitamin D deficiency is common in adults with bronchiectasis and may be linked to radiological findings indicative of poor lung function, a study reports. The study, “Vitamin D Deficiency and Radiological Findings in Adult Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis,” was published in the Turkish Thoracic Journal. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally found in certain foods and can also [...]
Lung Foundation Australia have recently updated their bronchiectasis action plan. This can be downloaded from: LFA Bronchiectasis Action Plan
Lung Foundation Australia have excellent COVID 19 resources on their website collated from information provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and leading respiratory experts. Click here for more information. LFA - COVID 19 Factsheet
Interview with Infectious diseases expert, Prof James Chalmers. Patient: I am a patient with bronchiectasis. Am I at more risk of getting COVID-19 than somebody who doesn't have bronchiectasis? Prof Chalmers: No - the infection can be caught by anyone, but patients with underlying lung conditions might be more likely to show symptoms of the infection, [...]
A recent paper in Respiratory Medicine has shown that the prevalence and incidence of bronchiectasis in the UK is increasing, with a 3% increase in mortality. Interestingly they showed that the prevalence was higher in less-deprived subjects in contrast to other respiratory disorders. The survey estimates that around 212,000 people are currently living with bronchiectasis [...]
