[Etiologic structure of exacerbations in chronic bronchitis]

The etiological appearance of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis was investigated in 117 patients. A combined study was aimed at the detection of viral, mycoplasmal, fungal and bacterial endobronchial infections. The etiological role of the latter was verified by a pathogen isolated from the sputum. Exacerbation of chronic bronchitis was determined by bacterial (79%) and/or viral (55%) infections, mostly by pneumococcal infection (45%), H. influenzae (30%), and influenza (31%). The role of pyogenic cocci was minimal (2%). Exacerbation of chronic purulent endobronchitis was more frequently caused by H. influenzae than in catarrhal bronchitis. In 9% of the patients the infectious etiology of an inflammatory bronchial process could not be established.