Evidence-based On-call

Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Therapy

Give antibiotics ^a

Why?

More patients recover and patients spend less time in hospital (on average 1.5 days less) ^a
Antibiotics increase peak flows slightly (on average 11 l/min) ^a

Antibiotics increase recovery rate and shorten hospital stay.

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
outpatient acute exacerbation of COPD ^a	antibiotics	placebo	no resolution or worsening symptoms at 21 days	45%	29% (8% to 46%)	8 (4 to 31)