Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Guidelines for antibiotic selection.

An acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) is frequently caused by viral infection. Because of the impairment of mucociliary clearance, secondary bacterial infection is likely to ensue. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis account for about 50% of all episodes of AECB. The best approach to antibiotic selection for bacterial exacerbations is stratification by exacerbation type, patient type, or antibiotic type.