Acute Exacerbation of COPD
Antimicrobial prescribing: NHS Forth Valley
Treat exacerbations promptly with antibiotics if purulent sputum and increased shortness of breath and/or increased sputum volume.
Risk factors for antibiotic resistant organisms and clinical failure include frailty, co-morbid disease, severe COPD (MRC>3), frequent exacerbations, antibiotics in last 3 months.
If treatment failure, send sputum samples for sensitivity testing.
Drug details
Amoxicillin
500mg TDS
5 days
or Doxycycline
200mg stat then 100mg OD
5 days
or Clarithromycin
500mg BD
5 days
If higher risk of clinical failure (see Comment above): Co-trimoxazole
960mg BD
5 days