Antibiotic Stewardship in AECOPD Through CRP-Guided Management

"The attending doctor will use the CRP level to inform their decision to continue antibiotics around 3 hours from blood taking. These doctors will be provided pre-study training on CRP interpretation.~Every day from randomization, serum CRP testing will be encouraged to take. Once CRP has declined to \<5mg/dL and the patient has remained afebrile for past 48 hours, antibiotic treatment will be reviewed for discontinuation. Otherwise, antibiotic treatment will be continued. A switch on the administration route, or a change of antibiotics due to adverse effect, allergy, or suggestion from culture result, is permitted according to in-patient physician's decisions. CRP will continue to be monitored daily upon discharge from that hospital (up to 28 days)."