Antibiotic ‘could help asthma sufferers’

AN antibiotic used for treating a range of infections could help those suffering serious asthma attacks, according to a study published yesterday.

The antibiotic Telithromycin, which is used for treating bacterial infections such as sinusitis, can speed up recovery in patients suffering attacks by three days, researchers found.

They found that the drug reduced asthmatic symptoms - which include heavy wheezing and a tight chest - and improved lung function in patients who had suffered a severe attack.

Telithromycin can treat a range of infections such as community-acquired pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and sinusitis.

The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 278 patients at 70 centres around the world, including at St Mary’s Hospital, London.

The asthmatics were enrolled in the trial within 24 hours of a severe attack, after their usual medicine failed to work effectively and they had contacted their local hospital or GP.

Some patients were given a dummy pill for 10 days while others were given the drug.

The researchers found that those on the drug improved about twice as much as those on the dummy pill and recovery time was also cut from about eight days to five.