Blood and sputum eosinophils in COPD; relationship with bacterial load

Sputum and blood eosinophil counts predict corticosteroid effects in COPD patients. Bacterial infection causes increased airway neutrophilic inflammation. The relationship of eosinophil counts with airway bacterial load in COPD patients is uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that bacterial load and eosinophil counts are inversely related.COPD patients were seen at stable state and exacerbation onset. Sputum was processed for quantitative...