[Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and antibiotics: analysis of comparative trials].
OBJECTIVE
The authors had for aim to assess the role of antibiotics in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
Comparative antibiotic trials were collected through systematic search on Medline data base--well-designed studies were selected.


RESULTS
Eight equivalence studies were selected. No clear difference between antibiotics was demonstrated. The shortest treatment was as effective as the longest.


CONCLUSIONS
No antibiotic has demonstrated its superiority. A new generation of antibiotic comparative trials for exacerbation of COPD is clearly needed.
Garré
M
M
Service de maladies infectieuses, CHU la Cavale-Blanche, boulevard Tanguy-Privent, 29609 Brest cedex, France. michel.garre@chu-brest.fr
Garo
B
B
Ansart
S
S
Le Berre
R
R
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012107:Research Design
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010919:Placebos