A 60-year-old patient with COPD presents with cough and increased sputum production. What is the appropriate treatment?

In a patient with COPD who presents with a cough and increased sputum production, it is likely they are experiencing an acute exacerbation, often due to a bacterial infection. In such cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics are indicated to address the potential bacterial pathogens responsible for the exacerbation. The goal of antibiotic treatment is to reduce the severity of symptoms, decrease the duration of the exacerbation, and prevent further complications.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective in treating respiratory infections in patients with COPD since these infections commonly involve organisms such as Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and more resistant strains. Initiating antibiotic therapy promptly can help improve the patient's condition in the face of increased sputum production and cough.

While oxygen therapy can be an important aspect of management for some patients with COPD, particularly those with hypoxemia, it is not the first-line treatment specific for the exacerbation symptoms of cough and sputum. Hospital admission may be necessary in cases with severe exacerbation, but this decision is generally based on clinical severity and the patient's overall clinical status rather than an automatic response to increased sputum. A brief course of oral theophylline is not a standard treatment for acute exacerbations as its effects are less predictable, and it is not as