II. Indications: Antibiotic indications if 3 criteria met
- Increased Dyspnea (or requiring NIPPV or Intubation)
- Increased Sputum
- Purulent Sputum
III. Management: Antibiotics for Uncomplicated Chronic Bronchitis
- Criteria
- Under age 65 years old
- FEV1 > 50% of predicted
- Under 4 acute exacerbations per year
- No significant comorbid disease
- Coverage
-
Antibiotics (5 day course)
- First-Line
- Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim DS, Septra DS) one tablet orally twice daily
- Amoxicillin 1000 mg orally twice daily
- Equivalent to Moxifloxacin in clinical outcome
- Wilson (2004) Chest 125:953-64 [PubMed]
- Alternative Antibiotics
- Augmentin 875 mg orally twice daily
- Second generation Macrolide
- Clarithromycin 500 mg PO bid
- Azithromycin 500 mg day 1, then 250 mg PO x4 days
- Also available as 3 day preparation
- Similar outcomes to Levofloxacin for 7 days
- Amsden (2003) Chest 123:772-7 [PubMed]
- Other Antibiotics
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily
- No longer recommended in COPD exacerbation due to lack of efficacy
- Sethi and Murphy in Ramirez, Management of infection in exacerbations of COPD, UpToDate, accessed 11/24/2022
- van Velzen (2017) Lancet Respir Med 5(6):492-9 +PMID: 28483402 [PubMed]
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily
- First-Line
IV. Management: Antibiotics for Complicated Chronic Bronchitis
- Criteria
- Uncomplicated criteria not met (see above)
- Coverage
- Uncomplicated Chronic BronchitisBacteria (see above)
- Gram Negative Rods (e.g. Pseudomonas)
- Dosing for 5 day course
- Augmentin 875 mg PO bid
- Fluoroquinolone
- Levofloxacin (Levaquin) 250 mg po qd
- Moxifloxacin (Avelox) 400 mg PO qd
V. Management: Antibiotics for Severe Exacerbation requiring hospitalization
- Co-administer Corticosteroids
- Initially use intravenous Corticosteroids
- Methylprednisolone (Solumedrol) 60 mg IV every 6 hours
- Avoid high doses (e.g. 125 mg) as they offer no added benefit
- Transition to oral Corticosteroids as soon as prudent
- Prednisone 30-40 mg orally daily
- Taper off over 2 weeks (no benefit to previously used longer taper over 8 weeks)
- Initially use intravenous Corticosteroids
- Protocol: Two Parenteral drug combination
- Drug 1: Cephalosporin or Antipseudomonal Penicillin
- Drug 2: Fluoroquinolone or Aminoglycoside
-
Cephalosporins
- Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 1 to 2 grams IV q24 hours
- Cefotaxime (Claforan) 1 gram IV q8-12 hours
- Ceftazidime (Fortaz) 1-2 grams IV q8-12 hours
- Antipseudomonal Penicillins
- Piperacillin-Tazobactam (Zosyn) 3.375 g IV q6 hours
- Ticarcillin-Clavulanate (Timentin) 3.1 g IV q4-6 hour
-
Fluoroquinolones
- Levofloxacin (Levaquin) 500 mg IV q24 hours
- Gatifloxacin (Tequin) 400 mg IV q24 hours
-
Aminoglycoside
-
Tobramycin (Tobrex)
- Split dosing: 1 mg/kg IV q8-12 hours
- Once daily: 5 mg/kg IV q24 hours
-
Tobramycin (Tobrex)