Respiratory Pathogens at Exacerbation in Chronic Bronchitis With Airway Bacterial Colonisation: A Cohort Study.

Over half of exacerbations were not associated with new organisms in this cohort of participants with chronic bronchitis and colonisation. However, 26.8% demonstrated a new bacterial species in sputum, which is relevant for antibiotic therapy. Baseline RT-PCR and culture results were discordant in one-third of participants.