[Study on the relationship between airway bacterial infections and acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to observe the bacterial infections of respiratory tract in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).


METHODS
130 patients with AECOPD in outpatient department, emergency room or in wards were studied prospectively. Patients were divided into different groups according to both Anthonisen's classification and their lung function status. Sputum were cultured together with bacteria positive rate and types of AECOPD as well as the damage degree of lung function were analyzed.


RESULTS
Of 130 sputum samples, 50 showed positive through culture (38.5%) and 60 strains of pathogens were isolated. Predominant pathogens isolated would include Haemophilus parainfluenzae (20/60), Streptococcus pneumoniae (5/60) and Haemophilus influenzae (10/60). Positive rate of bacterial culture in type 1 AECOPD was 55.0%, higher than those of type 2 (38.3%) and type 3 (18.5%)(P = 0.01) and was increasing with the decrease of lung function of patients with AECOPD (P < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Positive rate of bacterial culture in patients of type 1 AECOPD was the highest one. Haemophilus parainfluenzae was one of the most important pathogens in AECOPD. There seemed a correlation between positive result of bacterial culture and the severity of COPD.
Zhou
Yu-qi
YQ
Department of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Xie
Can-mao
CM
Chen
Dong-mei
DM
Chen
Lian
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D044135:Haemophilus parainfluenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity