Prophylactic antibiotic therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Samantha C Herath1, Phillippa Poole2
1Day Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
CLINICAL QUESTION Is prophylactic antibiotic treatment associated with fewer exacerbations or improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? BOTTOM LINE Continuous macrolide antibiotic use for prophylaxis was associated with a clinically significant reduction in COPD exacerbations. Pulsed antibiotic use was not associated with benefit. Continuous and pulsed antibiotics were associated with improved HRQOL, but this was not clinically significant.
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