Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this research is to assess the function of CRP as a biomarker in COPD acute exacerbation.
Methods: The Department of Respiratory Medicineconducted this cross-sectional research. After washing their mouths twice with plain water, all patients were advised to collect deep coughed up phlegm into a sterile wide mouth container with a screw cover. The samples were promptly sent to the microbiology laboratory and processed within 30 minutes of being collected. Gram staining was performed on a sputum sample and results were reported using Bartlett's grading method. A appropriate sample was defined as one with a score of 1 or above. Mac Conkey's agar, chocolate agar, and blood agar plates were inoculated with appropriate sputum samples. Standard microbiological procedures established by the American Society for Microbiology were used to identify the isolated organisms. Sputum samples cultured for pathogenic bacteria were classed as Bacterial exacerbations, whereas samples with no pathogenic bacteria or oral commensals were classified as Non bacterial exacerbations.
Results: Among the 100 patients, 65 had bacterial growth on culture and were classed as Bacterial COPD exacerbation. The other 35 instances in which no bacterial growth or oral commensals were found were classed as Non Bacterial COPD exacerbation. Using the crude odds ratio, it was determined that the chances of Bacterial Exacerbation for patients with COPD "≥5 years" are 2.87 (95 percent CI: [1.26,6.88]) times greater than persons with COPD "<5 years." Furthermore, smokers had a 3.77(95 percent CI[1.50,10.28]) greater risk of bacterial exacerbation than nonsmokers. In our investigation, the optimal CRP cut-off point for separating Bacterial COPD patients with Bacterial Exacerbation from those without Bacterial Exacerbation was 8.77 mg/L (sensitivity:97%; specificity:40%; PPV:75%; NPV:87%, AUC:0.77).
Conclusion: Higher CRP levels are related with individuals experiencing Bacterial COPD exacerbations rather than Non Bacterial COPD exacerbations. CRP levels might therefore be utilised to anticipate Bacterial exacerbations and also to recommend antibiotic treatment.