Bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The role of lung function in aetiology of exacerbation.

The objective of the study was determination of the most frequent bacterial factors, including Haemophilus parainfluenzae, suspected of causing COPD exacerbation, of the relation between bacterial strains and respiratory system functional status as well as of antibiotic sensitivity of sputum isolated bacteria. The examined group comprised 28 patients treated in the Pulmonary Department of Medical University of Lublin. The subjects fulfilled the criteria of type I COPD bacterial exacerbation.