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Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPDs) can be induced by respiratory infections and by irritants such as dust, smoke, and air pollution. Consequently, corticosteroids, bronchodilating medications, and antibiotics may all be helpful in treating episodes. Antibiotics, although prescribed for most patients with ECOPDs, often provide little benefit. Guiding antibiotic use according to procalcitonin levels has been suggested because previous studies have shown much higher levels in bacterial infections than in viral infections or other inflammatory conditions.
Researchers in Switzerland tested this idea in 208 consecutive patients hospitalized for ECOPDs. Patients were randomly assigned to the procalcitonin group (antibio…