National Survey on the Management of Adult Bronchiectasis in Belgium

Figures & data

Figure 1. Summary of quality statements for clinically significant bronchiectasis in adults and percentage adherence in the Belgian audit.

TABLE 1. Quality statements for clinically significant bronchiectasis in adults (adjusted from Hill et al (3)).

People with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiectasis have the diagnosis confirmed by CT chest.

People with bronchiectasis to be investigated for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and cystic fibrosis (latter if indicated) as these are specific treatable causes.

People with bronchiectasis have sputum bacteriology culture when clinically stable recorded at least once each year.

Sputum is sent for bacterial culture at the start of an exacerbation before starting antibiotics. Empirical antibiotic therapy to start as soon as feasible and not await the sputum culture results.

People with bronchiectasis are taught appropriate airway clearance techniques by a specialist respiratory physiotherapist and advised of the frequency and duration with which these should be carried out.

People with bronchiectasis to attend pulmonary rehabilitation if they have breathlessness affecting their activities of daily living.

Services for people with bronchiectasis to include provision of nebulized prophylactic antibiotics for suitable patients supervised by a respiratory specialist.

Services for people with bronchiectasis to include provision of home intravenous antibiotic therapy for exacerbations in selected patients.

People with bronchiectasis to have an individualized written self-management plan.

People with bronchiectasis who meet the criteria for continuing secondary care to be managed by a multidisciplinary team led by a respiratory physician.

Hill AT, Bilton D, Brown J. BTS quality standards for clinically significant bronchiectasis in adults. Br Thorac Soc Rep. 2012;4:1–16.

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