TY - JOUR T1 - Sputum colour and bacteria in chronic bronchitis exacerbations: a pooled analysis JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/09031936.00042111 SP - erj00421-2011 AU - M. Miravitlles AU - F. Kruesmann AU - D. Haverstock AU - R. Perroncel AU - S.H. Choudhri AU - P. Arvis Y1 - 2011/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/10/26/09031936.00042111.abstract N2 - We examined the correlation between sputum colour and the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB).Data were pooled from six multicentre studies comparing moxifloxacin with other antimicrobials in patients with an AECB. Sputum was collected before antimicrobial therapy, and bacteria were identified by culture and Gram staining. Association between sputum colour and bacteria was determined using logistic regression.Of 4089 sputum samples, a colour was reported in 4003; 1898 (46.4%) were culture-positive. Green or yellow sputum samples were most likely to yield bacteria (58.9% and 45.5% of samples, respectively), compared with 18% of clear and 39% of rust samples positive for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Factors predicting a positive culture were sputum colour (the strongest predictor), sputum purulence, increased dyspnoea, male sex and absence of fever. Green or yellow versus white sputum colour was associated with a sensitivity of 94.7% and a specificity of 15% for the presence of bacteria.Sputum colour, particularly green and yellow, was a stronger predictor of potentially pathogenic bacteria than sputum purulence and increased dyspnoea in AECB patients. However, it does not necessarily predict the need for antibiotic treatment in all patients with AECB. ER -