Short-Course Antibiotics in Common Infections Associated with COPD: Best Practices

Antimicrobial overuse is a major health concern and can lead to long durations of antibiotic therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Researchers looked at published guidelines and reviews that addressed bronchitis with COPD exacerbations and more to identify areas for best practices.

Patients should take antibiotics for no more than five days when managing COPD exacerbations; women with uncomplicated bacterial cystitis should take antibiotics with nitrofurantoin for five days, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) for three days, or fosfomycin in one dose; and clinicians should prescribe a short course of antibiotics against streptococci. More best practices were listed.

Reference: Lee RA, Centor RM, Humphrey LL, Jokela JA, et al. Appropriate Use of Short-Course Antibiotics in Common Infections: Best Practice Advice From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Jun;174(6):822-827. doi: 10.7326/M20-7355. Epub 2021 Apr 6. PMID: 33819054.

Link to article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33819054/