Antibiotic prophylaxis in COPD

Q: Which of the following antibiotics can be used as a prophylaxis in the prevention of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  (COPD)?

A) azithromycin 
B) doxycycline. 
C) ciprofloxacin 
D) metronidazole 
E) sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim


Answer: A

Azithromycin has an anti-infective as well as an anti-inflammatory properties.  Azithromycin has shown to increase the median time to first COPD exacerbation as well as the reduction in the frequency of COPD exacerbations. But this comes with a price of increased nasopharyngeal colonization with macrolide-resistant bacteria.

#pulmonary
#infectiousdiseases
#pharmacology



References:

Albert RK, Connett J, Bailey WC, et al. Azithromycin for prevention of exacerbations of COPD. N Engl J Med 2011; 365:689.