TY - JOUR

T1 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and risk of infection

AU - Lange, Peter

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - This review article focuses on the risk of infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Throughout the years there have been a number of studies describing the risk of pulmonary infections in patients with COPD, whereas only few studies have focused on the risk of infection outside the lungs. With increasing severity of COPD the risk of respiratory tract infection also increases. The impairment of the innate immune system is most likely responsible for both the colonization of respiratory tract with bacteria and for an increased risk of infection with new strains of bacteria causing acute exacerbations. Also lung infections like pneumonia, lung abscess and empyema are more often seen in patients with COPD than in healthy subjects. With regard to extrapulmonary infections, it seems that COPD patients are not at higher risk of infection compared with subjects without COPD. It is concluded that COPD is significantly associated with an increased risk of various respiratory tract infections, but not with infections outside the respiratory system.

AB - This review article focuses on the risk of infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Throughout the years there have been a number of studies describing the risk of pulmonary infections in patients with COPD, whereas only few studies have focused on the risk of infection outside the lungs. With increasing severity of COPD the risk of respiratory tract infection also increases. The impairment of the innate immune system is most likely responsible for both the colonization of respiratory tract with bacteria and for an increased risk of infection with new strains of bacteria causing acute exacerbations. Also lung infections like pneumonia, lung abscess and empyema are more often seen in patients with COPD than in healthy subjects. With regard to extrapulmonary infections, it seems that COPD patients are not at higher risk of infection compared with subjects without COPD. It is concluded that COPD is significantly associated with an increased risk of various respiratory tract infections, but not with infections outside the respiratory system.

KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents

KW - Causality

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Disease Progression

KW - Europe

KW - Humans

KW - Prognosis

KW - Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

KW - Respiratory Tract Infections

KW - Risk Factors

KW - World Health

M3 - Journal article

VL - 77

SP - 284

EP - 288

JO - Gruzlica i choroby pluc; tuberculosis et pneumonologia

JF - Gruzlica i choroby pluc; tuberculosis et pneumonologia

SN - 0867-7077

IS - 3

ER -