Treating patients with acute COPD in the ED: Are 5 days of azithromycin enough?

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT ED clinicians typically discharge patients on 5-day regimens of azithromycin and corticosteroids after an acute COPD exacerbation. This article discusses various studies that evaluated chronic azithromycin therapy to prevent exacerbations in patients with COPD. Although ED clinicians typically do not prescribe chronic medications, they can provide patient-centered care and determine a patient's follow-up to see if chronic azithromycin is needed.