Evaluation of new laboratory tests to discriminate bacterial from nonbacterial chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations

Summary Introductions Discriminating bacterial from nonbacterial acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( AECOPD ) is difficult, causing antibiotics overuse and bacterial resistance. Sputum cultures are of limited use because results take time. In our hospital, only leukocyte concentration and CRP are laboratory parameters evaluated in AECOPD . We evaluated additional tests to discriminate bacterial vs . nonbacterial AECOPD...