Acute bronchial infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Bacterial bronchial infection is a frequent cause of COPD exacerbation but not its only aetiology. Increased purulent expectorant appears to be its best indicator rather than fever, non-productive cough or dyspnoea. The clinician must try to recognize this condition rather than systematically prescribe empirical antibiotics. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis are the major pathogens. Although atypical bacteria are not frequent, Chlamydia pneumoniae could play significant role. During the last years, new antibiotics, much more expensive than other regimens, are widely prescribed, often without a rational approach. In patients not already on antibiotics, sputum Gram stain is useful for deciding which patient should be treated and what would be the best anti-biotic. When it is not available, the chosen antibiotic must be at least active against three major pathogens according to the local susceptibility patterns. In patients not responding to the initial treatment, the consideration of its potential spectrum holes is then more useful than sputum examination.