Sputum sample positivity for Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: evaluation of association with positivity at earlier stable disease timepoints.

Presence of Hi or Mcat at a stable timepoint was associated with a higher risk of a subsequent Hi- or Mcat-associated exacerbation compared with earlier absence. However, a large percentage of Hi- or Mcat-associated exacerbations was not associated with Hi/Mcat detection at an earlier timepoint. This suggests that administration of an intervention to reduce these exacerbations should be independent of bacterial presence at baseline. Trial Registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ; NCT01360398, registered May 25, 2011.