title: [Antibiotic treatment for acute episodes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: Antibiotic therapy for acute episodes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a controversial issue still not clarified. In order to evaluate the effectivity of the antibiotic therapy, we designed a double-blind controlled and randomized clinical trial, in which 90 patients hospitalized due to an acute episode of COPD were divided into three groups: group I, cotrimoxazole (29 patients); group II, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (32 patients) and group III, placebo (29 patients). Gasometric and spirometric measures were taken in addition to clinical evaluation at hospital admission and discharge using a numerical valoration system. All patients were treated with common bronchodilators. The three groups were homogeneous at their admission and there were no statistical differences at their discharge. We conclude that antibiotics do not play a relevant role in the improvement of acute episodes of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Reina Sofía, Tudela, Navarra.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alonso Martínez
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rubio Obanos
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sampériz Legarre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escolar Castellón
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Carrasco del Amo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination