Infective Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
| Indications | 30% are viral, 30-50% bacterial in origin with the remainder undetermined. Prescribe antibiotics if increased sputum purulence. If no increase in sputum purulence then antibiotics are not needed unless consolidation on chest x-ray or other signs of pneumonia. |
| Organism | H.influenzae, S.pneumoniae, M.catarrhalis. |
| Treatment | Amoxicillin
500mg three times daily for five days, or doxycycline 200mg Day 1 then 100mg daily
for 4 days. |
| Comments | For patients with sputum positive for Pseudomonas and an exacerbation: Ciprofloxacin 750mg TWICE DAILY for 5 days. Please refer to Fluoroquinolones Risk document before prescribing. |
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