Antibiotics for COPD

Overview
Antibiotics are medications that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. Antibiotics work by attacking the source of the infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed in some cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during exacerbations (flare-ups) if there are signs of infection.

Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, Penicillin, and Cephalosporins are examples of antibiotics that may be used to treat COPD flare-ups.

How do I take it?
Antibiotics may be taken orally or by intravenous (IV) injection.

Results
Studies have shown that antibiotics can improve outcomes in people hospitalized with severe COPD exacerbations.

Side effects
Common side effects of antibiotics include headache, dizziness, fatigue, skin sensitivity to sunlight, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach upset.

Rarely, some antibiotics can cause serious side effects including convulsions, tendon rupture, severe headaches, hearing damage, kidney damage, vision problems, blood cell disorders, and a severe intestinal infection by the bacteria Clostridium difficile (also referred to as C. diff).

Antibiotics can also cause allergic reactions.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – Cochrane
http://www.cochrane.org/CD010257/AIRWAYS_antibi...

COPD: Management of Acute Exacerbations and Chronic Stable Disease – American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0815/p603.html

Antibiotics: Types and Side Effects – eMedExpert
http://www.emedexpert.com/classes/antibiotics.s...