Predictive factors for bacterial infection in patients with severe exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 40)
| Positive PSB culture, n/total/ (%)* | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of predicted; PaCO2, arterial CO2 pressure; PaO2, arterial oxygen pressure; PSB, protected specimen brush. | |||
| *Bacterial load >102 CFU/ml. | |||
| Comorbid conditions | |||
| Yes | 14/26 (54) | 3.41 (0.84 to 6.08) | 0.08 |
| No | 4/14 (29) | ||
| Domiciliary oxygen | |||
| Yes | 5/10(50) | 3.50 (0.75 to 16.28) | 0.15 |
| No | 13/30 (43) | ||
| FEV1% predicted <50 | |||
| Yes | 17/34 (50) | 2.27 (1.55 to 3.21) | 0.01 |
| No | 1/6 (16) | ||
| Oral steroid therapy | |||
| Yes | 4/9 (44) | 0.85 (0.19 to 3.79) | 0.83 |
| No | 14/31 (45) | ||
| Current smoking habit | |||
| Yes | 3/6 (50) | 0.89 (0.16 to 2.88) | 0.89 |
| No | 15/34 (44) | ||
| Fever at admission | |||
| Yes | 5/12 (42) | 3.39 (0.57 to 10.10) | 0.16 |
| No | 13/28 (46) | ||
| PaO2 at admission <60 mm Hg | |||
| Yes | 11/20 (55) | 2.78 (0.77 to 10.04) | 0.11 |
| No | 7/20 (55) | ||
| PaCO2 at admission >45 mm Hg | |||
| Yes | 7/19 (37) | 0.29 (0.08 to 1.08) | 0.15 |
| No | 11/21 (52) | ||
| White cell count >12×109/l | |||
| Yes | 13/25 (52) | 1.62 (0.44 to 5.94) | 0.46 |
| No | 5/15 (33) | ||
| ⩾4 exacerbations in the past year | |||
| Yes | 13/21 (62) | 6.91 (1.24 to 38.52) | 0.03 |
| No | 5/19 (26) | ||
| Hospitalisation in the past 3 years | |||
| Yes | 14/25 (56) | 4.13 (1.02 to 16.67) | 0.04 |
| No | 4/15 (27) | ||
| Purulent sputum | |||
| Yes | 17/22 (78) | 27.20 (4.60 to 60.69) | 0.001 |
| No | 1/18 (5) | ||