Bacterial Load Guided Therapy for Severe Bronchiectasis Exacerbations

If bacterial load checked on day 7 is less than 10\^6 cfu/ml then antibiotics will be stopped on day 8 (results take 24hrs). If bacterial load remains higher than this then patients will continue on intravenous antibiotics. Bacterial load will be checked again on day 10. If bacterial load is less than 10\^6 cfu/ml then antibiotics will be stopped on day 11. If bacterial load remains higher than this then the patient will complete a 14day course of antibiotics. All patients will be seen and bacterial load assessed on day 1, day 7, day 10, day 14 and day 21.

If there is a clinical deterioration a second antibiotic to augment treatment (Colomycin) will be added for both arms of the study.