In-hospital antibiotic use for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations: a retrospective observational study.

Background: The use of antibiotics in mild to severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains controversial.

Aim: To explore in-hospital antibiotic use in severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), to analyze determinants of in-hospital antibiotic use, and to investigate its association with hospital length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted in Ghent University Hospital.