Antibiotics to Prevent COPD Exacerbations?

Macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory activity that appears to be distinct from their antibacterial activity. U.K. researchers — postulating that both properties of macrolides might be relevant in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — conducted this single-center, randomized trial of prophylactic therapy.

One hundred nine patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, most of whom already were using inhaled steroids and long-acting bronchodilators, received either erythromycin (250 mg twice daily) or placebo. At 12 months, the total number of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations was significantly lower in the erythromycin group than in the placebo group (81 vs. 125). Erythromycin recipients also experienced significantly fewer exacerbation…