Efficacy of Bromhexine hydrochloride combined with bronchoalveolar lavage under fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficiency and safety of bromhexine hydrochloride (BRH) combined with fiberoptic bronchoscopic alveolar lavage (BAL) in the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methodology: This retrospective cohort study included clinical data from 126 patients with mild-to-moderate CAP treated at Yongkang First People's Hospital from March 2023 to March 2025. Of them, 63 patients treated with BRH alone (BRH group) were matched 1:1 to a cohort treated with BRH combined with fiberoptic bronchoscopic BAL (BRH & BAL group, n=63). The primary outcome was clinical efficacy. Secondary outcomes included clinical symptoms, levels of inflammatory factors, and incidence of adverse reactions.

Results: After treatment, the efficacy of the BRH & BAL group (95.2%) was significantly higher than that of the BRH group (84.1%) (P<0.05). Post-treatment duration of fever, time to cough relief, time to resolution of pulmonary rales, and total hospital stay in the BRH & BAL group were all shorter than those in the BRH group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT in both groups were considerably lower than pre-treatment and significantly lower in the BRH & BAL group than in the BRH group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: BRH combined with BAL under FOB for the treatment of mild-to-moderate CAP is associated with improved therapeutic efficacy, alleviation of clinical symptoms, reduction of the inflammatory response, and good safety.