[Bacteriology in acute exacerbation in patients hospitalized frequently for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To analyze the distribution of pathogens and bacterial drug resistance for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in patients hospitalized frequently for AECOPD versus those with infrequent admissions.

Methods: A total of 172 patients admitted into Peking University Third Hospital for AECOPD from January 2007 to December 2008 were recruited. According to the frequency of AECOPD-related hospitalization during the previous year, they were divided into two groups of frequently hospitalized ( ≥ 2 hospitalizations due to AECOPD during the previous year) and infrequently hospitalized (<2 hospitalizations due to AECOPD during the previous year). The distribution and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria were compared between two groups.

Results: At the time of acute exacerbation, the frequently hospitalized patients had significantly higher rates of non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria (18.8% (9/48) vs 4.8% (6/124), χ² = 6.756, P = 0.009), enterobacteriaceae (18.8% (9/48) vs 7.3% (9/124), χ² = 4.877, P = 0.027) versus those infrequently hospitalized ones. The frequently hospitalized patients had more multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from sputum versus those infrequently hospitalized ones (25.0% (12/48) than 8.1% (10/124), χ² = 8.898, P = 0.003).

Conclusion: The distribution and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria are associated with the frequency of AECOPD-related hospitalization during the previous year.