Chronic bronchitis treatment

The diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is based primarily on clinical assessment and history. By definition, any patient who reports coughing up sputum on most days for at least 3 consecutive months each year for 2 consecutive years suffers from chronic bronchitis. Table 43-1 presents a classification and treatment scheme for chronic bronchitis. 

Classification System for Patients with Chronic Bronchitis and Initial Treatment Options... 

Oral Antibiotics Commonly Used for the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Exacerbations in Chronic Bronchitis... 

Theophylline reduces contractile activity of smooth musculature, widens bronchi and blood vessels, reduces pulmonary vascular resistance, stimulates the respiratory center, and increases the frequency and power of cardiac contractions. It is used for bronchial asthma, preventing attacks, and systematic treatment. Theophylline is also used for symptomatic treatment of bronchospastic syndrome of a different etiology (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary emphysema). A large number of combined drags are based on theophylline. Synonyms of theophylline are adophyllin, asthmophyllin, theocin, and many others. 

Isoproterenol and phenylephrine bitartrate Treatment of bronchospasm associated with acute and chronic asthma reversible bronchospasm that may be associated with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. 

COPD- Maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis). 

COPD- For maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with CORD (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema), the usual dosage for adults is 1 powder inhalation (50 meg) twice daily (morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart). 

Bronchospasm (solution and aerosol) Used alone or in combination with other bronchodilators (especially beta-adrenergics) as a bronchodilator for maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic bronchitis For the twice-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis. Fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 meg per 50 meg twice daily is the only approved dosage for the treatment of COPD associated with chronic bronchitis. Fligher doses, including fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 500 meg per 50 meg, are not recommended. 

Chronic bronchitis due to S. pneumoniae Lomefloxacin is not indicated for the empiric treatment of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis when it is probable that S. pneumoniae is a causative pathogen. 

Levofloxacin (1), the levo-isomer or the (5)-enantiomer of ofloxacin, received FDA approval in 1996 (Fish, 2003 Hurst et al., 2002 Mascaretti, 2003 Norrby, 1999 North et al., 1998). The initial approval covered community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, acute pyelonephritis, and complicated urinary tract infections (North et al., 1998). Four years later, the levofloxacin indication list grew to include community-acquired pneumonia caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. In addition, in 2002, nosocomial (hospital-acquired) pneumonia caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Haemophilus influenzae, Kliebsella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli was added (Hurst et al., 2002). Finally in 2004, LVX was approved as a post-exposure treatment for individuals exposed to Bacillus anthracis, the microbe that causes anthrax, via inhalation (FDA, 2004). 

Tetracyclines remain the agents of choice in rickettsial infections, and are also used in chlamydial, vibrio, mycoplasmal and spirochaetal infections, brucellosis and the management of chronic bronchitis and acne. They are used in combination with other agents in the treatment of malaria and amoe-biasis, and doxycycline is used for prophylaxis of malaria. 

The spectrum of respiratory tract infections (RTI) can vary from the common cold to acute or chronic bronchitis to community-acquired pneumonia to nosocomial pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia to ventilator-associated pneumonia to chronic pneumonia (in cystic fibrosis, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, etc.). Important complications are lung abscess and pleural empyema that will often need drainage and prolonged antimicrobial treatment (>6 weeks). 

Is treatment with an antibiotic necessary An important problem in the primary health care setting is treatment of mild upper RTI with antibiotics. It is well known that >90% of these upper RTI are caused by viruses and in these cases antibiotics are useless, even harmful. The benefit of antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic bronchitis is controversial. 

Erdosteine is recently introduced mucolytic with unique protective functions for the respiratory tract. It is indicated in the treatment of acute and chronic airway diseases such as bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngopharyngitis and exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. 

It is difluorinated quinolone effective against gram positive bacteria, anaerobes and mycobacteria. It is used in the treatment of pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis etc. 

It is the levoisomer of ofloxacin and having better activity than ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin against S. pneumoniae. It is also used in chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, pyelonephritis, and other related infections of soft tissues. Due to high oral bioavailability, patient can be shifted from IV to oral therapy. It can be administered just once a day regimen as an alternate to other fluoroquinolones in the treatment of respiratory infections. 

Indications IV Infusion Prophylaxis and treatment of Pneumocystis car/n/ pneumonia Shigellosis Severe or complicated urinary tract infections Tablets Prophylaxis and treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis Urinary tract infections Travelers diarrhea in adults Shigellosis Acute otitis media ... 

Oral bioavailability is 57%, and tissue and intracallular penetration is generally good. Telithromycin is metabolized in the liver and eliminated by a combination of biliary and urinary routes of excretion. It is administered as a once-daily dose of 800 mg, which results in peak serum concentrations of approximately 2 g/mL. Telithromycin is indicated for treatment of respiratory tract infections, including community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, and streptococcal pharyngitis. Telithromycin is a reversible inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme system. 

Wilson R, et al. Short-term and longterm outcomes of moxifloxacin compared to standard antibiotic treatment in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Chest, 2004, 125, 953—964. 

Theophylline (Uniphyllin) treatment and prophylaxis of bronchospasm associated with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis. Also indicated for the treatment of left ventricular and congestive cardiac failure. 

---