Role of Infection in Chronic Bronchitis

Abstract

CHRONIC or recurrent production of sputum on most days for at least three months a year for more than two years defines the disease called chronic bronchitis.¹ Although the existence of states of chronic and recurrent sputum production has been recognized for a long time, adequate description of the pathology and epidemiology of chronic bronchitis has largely taken place over the past 25 years.^{1 2 3 4 5} During this period an extensive clinical literature has appeared detailing the role of infectious agents in the production of both the chronic and the recurrent aspects of chronic bronchitis and the effect of antimicrobial agents in . . .