import Foundation
var input = "ab<br/><br/>cd<br/>efg<br/><br/><br/>hijk<br/><br/>"
// Define regex pattern and use NSRegularExpression for replacement
let pattern = "(<br\\s*/?>\\s*)+"
let regex = try! NSRegularExpression(pattern: pattern, options: [])
let range = NSRange(location: 0, length: input.utf16.count)
input = regex.stringByReplacingMatches(in: input, options: [], range: range, withTemplate: "<br/>")
print(input)
/*
run:
ab<br/>cd<br/>efg<br/>hijk<br/>
*/