The use of breathe in antibiotics to treat lung infections dates back to the 1970s when amphotericin B was first administered through nebulizers to treat aspergillosis, a fungal infection of the lungs. However, it was not until the 1990s that significant research was conducted to refine the delivery methods and develop newer inhaled antibiotic formulations. Scientists worked on finding the right particle size for optimal delivery to the lung tissues as well as formulations using liposomes or polymeric microspheres to allow sustained release of antibiotics.

One of the earliest successes was the development of inhaled tobramycin solution for inhalation to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients in the late 1990s. Over the next decade, other inhaled antibiotic formulations followed, including liposomal amikacin for non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infections and a dry powder formulation of tobramycin. More recently, inhaled formulations of aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin have also been tested for treating various respiratory infections.

How Do Inhaled Antibiotics Work?
Breathe in Inhaled Antibiotics work by direct delivery of the drug particles to the lung tissues using nebulizers or other drug delivery devices. When antibiotics are administered through inhalation, higher drug concentrations can be achieved in the lungs as compared to systemic administration through oral or intravenous routes. This allows for targeted antibiotic treatment of lung infections while avoiding high systemic exposure and associated side effects.

The small drug particles deposited on the lung epithelium are then absorbed into the lungs and transported to the site of infection via the bloodstream. For optimal delivery, inhaled antibiotic particles need to have an aerodynamic diameter between 1-5 microns to ensure deposition in the deep lung structures like alveoli. Some formulations also use encapsulation technologies like liposomes or polymeric microspheres to allow sustained release of antibiotics over several hours or days with each dosage.

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