title: Prophylactic antibiotic therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: CLINICAL QUESTION Is prophylactic antibiotic treatment associated with fewer exacerbations or improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? BOTTOM LINE Continuous macrolide antibiotic use for prophylaxis was associated with a clinically significant reduction in COPD exacerbations. Pulsed antibiotic use was not associated with benefit. Continuous and pulsed antibiotics were associated with improved HRQOL, but this was not clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: Day Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Samantha C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Herath
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Phillippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poole
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents