Question

A 58-year-old man with COPD (FEV1 45 percent predicted) presents with increased breathlessness, sputum volume and purulence over 3 days. He has a chronic productive cough and smokes. Observations show mild tachypnoea but no respiratory failure. According to COPD-X and Therapeutic Guidelines, which is the most appropriate community management?

Accepted Answer

Short course of oral prednisolone and consider oral antibiotics if sputum is purulent

Answer

Increase short-acting bronchodilator use only, no other therapy

Answer

Immediate intubation and ventilation in the emergency department

Answer

Start long-term oral corticosteroids

Answer

Stop all inhaled therapy and start nebulised saline only

Practice question