Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
NICE Guidelines
- An acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a sustained worsening of symptoms from a persons stable state.
- A range of factors (including viral infections and smoking) can trigger an exacerbation.
- Many exacerbations (including some severe exacerbations) are not caused by bacterial infection so will not respond to antibiotics.