Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Source: Cochrane Area: Evidence > Disease Focused Reviews Background   Many patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated with antibiotics. However, the value of antibiotics remains uncertain as systematic reviews and clinical trials have shown conflicting results.       Objectives   To assess the effects of antibiotics in the management of acute COPD exacerbations on treatment failure as observed between seven days and one month after treatment initiation (primary outcome) and on other patient-important outcomes (mortality, adverse events, length of hospital stay).       Search methods   We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE and other electronically available databases up to September 2012.       Selection criteria   Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in people with acute COPD ...
Source: NeLM - Disease Focused Reviews - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: news