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Evaluation of Two Strategies of Antibiotic Treatment With Levofloxacin in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Short Treatment-versus Treatment Guided by Markers of Inflammation

ClinicalTrials.gov · COMPLETED, 2019

310 participants

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common diseases in the world. In a recent study, we showed that administration of levofloxacin is superior to placebo in the treatment of decompensation of COPD; it is accompanied by a substantial reduction in mortality and a significant reduction in the residence time in hospital.

In Tunisia, few data are available on the epidemiology of COPD decompensation. The choice of antibiotic to be used in this situation is challenging to the clinician who must choose between traditional antibiotics (cyclins, aminopenicillins, cotrimoxazole...) and new antimicrobial agents. Recently, it has been emphasized the selection of patients for treatment according to the degree of systemic inflammation (C-Reactive Protein). Indeed, there would have a correlation between the tracheobronchial infection and elevated inflammatory markers. As the elevation of these markers is proportional to the intensity of the inflammatory reaction of the body, is based on the kinetics of these biomarkers in antibiotic treatment seems logical. Thus, C-Reactive Protein allowed not only knowing when to start antibiotics, but also through their kinetic, these markers can guide the duration of therapy and shorten the duration of antibiotic therapy: a rate cut would ensure that the antibiotic treatment was adopted. Available guidelines stated that antibiotic treatment should be maintained at an average of 7 to 10 days while some studies showed no…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 310 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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