Antibiotics in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Antibiotic Treatment of Patients Admitted to Hospital With Acute Exacerbation of COPD. Effect of 1 Day of Antibiotic Therapy Compared to 6 Days of Therapy in Patients Who Are Stable After 24 Hours

It is not clear whether antibiotic therapy is needed in patients with mild to moderate exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease. The aim of the study is to compare the effect of 1 day of treatment with 6 days of treatment in patients who are admitted to hospital and being clinical stable (as judged by their physician) 24 hours after hospitalization

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age above 50 years
• History of smoking
• History of COPD
• Antibiotics for 24 hours
• At least 2 of the following: dyspnoea, coughing with sputum, and sputum with purulence
• Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pneumonia
• Antibiotics for more than 36 hours
• Antibiotics for other infection
• Prednisolone, more than 0.5 mg/kg body weight/24 hours for more than 3 days
• Malignancy
• Other pulmonary disease
• Immune deficiency
• Not able to tolerate doxycycline
• Severe heart, liver or kidney disease
• Epilepsia
• Not stable 24 hours after hospital admission
• Need for assisted ventilation