Cross-infection risk in patients with bronchiectasis: a position statement from the European Bronchiectasis Network (EMBARC), EMBARC/ELF patient advisory group and European Reference Network (ERN-Lung) Bronchiectasis Network. Issue 1 (11th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chalmers, James D.; Ringshausen, Felix C.; Harris, Bridget; Elborn, J. Stuart; Posthumus, Annette; Haworth, Charles S.; Pilkington, Nicola; Polverino, Eva; Ruddy, Thomas; Aliberti, Stefano; Goeminne, Pieter C.; Winstanley, Craig; De Soyza, Anthony
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 51:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-01-11
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01937-2017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Involving patients in the design, conduct and dissemination of clinical research, clinical guidelines and education projects is highly beneficial, and is a priority for funders and societies such as the European Respiratory Society (ERS) [1]. Bronchiectasis is a lung condition associated with chronic cough and sputum production that is rapidly increasing in prevalence in Europe [2]. It is a neglected disease, but recent initiatives including the European Bronchiectasis Registry and research network (EMBARC) and the European Union supported European Reference Network for Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG) are beginning to raise the diseases profile and stimulate new research [3, 4]. Patient involvement has been, and remains, central to these projects including the recently published European bronchiectasis guidelines which were developed with patients as members of the panel [5]. Risks of cross-infection in bronchiectasis are small, and should not currently restrict access to specialised care http://ow.ly/dkVl30hcu5p