Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis: What Is the Clinical Significance of Pathogenic Bacteria in Sputum Cultures?

摘要

Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB)nin patients with COPD is an important diseasenaffecting millions of Americans. The use of antibiot-nCHEST / 118 / 6 / DECEMBER, 2000 1523nics in such patients is controversial, as the etiology ofnAECB is complex, including inhalation of environmentalnirritants, discontinuation of medications, deviationnfrom diet, viral infections, atypical bacterialninfections, especially Chlamydia pneumoniae, andnpyogenic bacterial infections.1–3 Although the use ofnantibiotics in patients with AECB has been reportednto be beneficial,4,5 it is clear that not every episode ofnAECB needs antimicrobial therapy. Furthermore,ninjudicious use of antibiotics has led to increasingnbacterial resistance, resulting in ineffectiveness ofncommonly used antibiotics.5