LAUSR

Background: Asthma exacerbation is generally due to respiratory infections. The role of antibiotics remains uncertain. Aim: Is to determine the role of antibiotic treatment during asthma exacerbation and its impact on outcome. Methods: A retrospective study was carried by consulting 100 medical files of female patients hospitalized in our department for asthma exacerbation in the period between January 2012 and September 2015. Laboratory examinations and bacteriological investigations were realized if needed. Results: The mean age of patients was 53 years (20 - 87 years). The most common cause of exacerbation was due to respiratory infections in 74 % of the cases and a poor adherence to treatment in 42 %. All asthma exacerbations were treated according to guidelines. An antibiotic treatment was prescribed in 51 % of the cases during respiratory infections. The doxycycline was prescribed in 24 % of the cases, amoxicillin in 17 %, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in 8 % of the cases. Bacterial investigations were positive only in 7 % of the cases. The average length of stay was longer in cases in which we prescribed antibiotics (7.66 days versus 5.31 days; p =0.03). The outcome was good in both groups with or without antibiotic treatment. Conclusion: Asthma exacerbation is mainly due to viral infections which can be treated symptomatically without the use of antibiotics.