Colour COPD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sputum colour charts to guide antibiotic self-treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD (Colour COPD)
IRAS ID
263204
Contact name
Alice Turner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14955629
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This is an individually randomised trial set in primary care to address the problem of personalising, and thus optimising, effectiveness of the self-management of acute exacerbations (worsening of symptoms) of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Each year around half of all patients with COPD have frequent flare-ups of their lung disease and this is clinically relevant as it leads to poorer health with repeat hospital admissions. Early recognition and treatment would reduce exacerbation severity and duration, and improve prognosis.
Usual care for COPD patients in the UK consists of agreeing a self-management plan which includes provision of a “rescue pack” of both antibiotics and steroids to take when an exacerbation is suspected. However, only an estimated 50% of all exacerbations are bacterial and require treatment with antibiotics, suggesting that overuse of antibiotics may be occurring. Inappropriate, or overuse increases the long-term risk of antibiotic resistance and reducing this is a recognised NHS priority.
Sputum colour is a marker of neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial infection suggesting it could be used to guide antibiotic treatment and reduce inappropriate use. In studies conducted here in Birmingham there was 94% probability that patients with an infectious exacerbation of COPD had green sputum.
The trial will test whether personalisation of treatment using a sputum colour chart, compared to usual care, impacts on other important outcomes for both personal and public health, including quality of life and antibiotic resistance rates.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0273
Date of REC Opinion
9 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion