COPD的急性加重可以很轻,也可以非常严重甚至威胁生命,常由细菌或者病毒感染、污染物或者温度和湿度改变引发。为急性发病,且患者的呼吸系统症状、肺功能、功能状态和生活质量持续恶化。[2]Rodriguez-Roisin R. COPD exacerbations.5: management. Thorax. 2006;61:535-544.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16738044?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Cote CG, Dordelly LJ, Celli BR. Impact of COPD exacerbations on patient-centered outcomes. Chest. 2007;131:696-704.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17356082?tool=bestpractice.com[4]O'Donnell DE, Parker CM. COPD exacerbations. 3: Pathophysiology. Thorax. 2006;61:354-361.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2104611/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16565268?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Spencer S, Jones PW; GLOBE Study Group. Time course of recovery of health status following an infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Thorax. 2003;58:589-593.http://thorax.bmj.com/content/58/7/589.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12832673?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Xu W, Collet JP, Shapiro S, et al. Negative impacts of unreported COPD exacerbations on health-related quality of life at 1 year. Eur Respir J. 2010;35:1022-1030.http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/35/5/1022.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19897555?tool=bestpractice.com 随着COPD的进展,急性加重会变得更频繁、更严重,[7]Burge S, Wedzicha JA. COPD exacerbations: definitions and classifications. Eur Respir J Suppl. 2003;41:46s-53s.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12795331?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Hurst JR, Vestbo J, Anzueto A, et al. Susceptibility to exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:1128-1138.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0909883http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20843247?tool=bestpractice.com急性加重本身可能加速COPD的病情发展。[9]Donaldson GC, Seemungal TA, Bhowmik A, et al. Relationship between exacerbation frequency and lung function decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax. 2002;57:847-852.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12324669?tool=bestpractice.com除了 COPD 的常规治疗方法外,已发现抗生素对治疗急性加重的病情有益,[10]Llor C, Moragas A, Hernández S, et al. Efficacy of antibiotic therapy for acute exacerbations of mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012;186:716-723.http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201206-0996OC#.VMI333s9VSohttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22923662?tool=bestpractice.com且被推荐给疑似诱因为细菌的患者使用。[2]Rodriguez-Roisin R. COPD exacerbations.5: management. Thorax. 2006;61:535-544.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16738044?tool=bestpractice.com