A NOVEL decision-making tool, the Prospector calculator, has demonstrated significant potential to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. The study highlights a more rational and targeted approach to managing COPD exacerbations, addressing the longstanding challenge of overprescribing antibiotics.
The study followed 77 COPD patients treated for exacerbations in outpatient settings. Patients were divided into two groups: the Prospector group (PG, n=40) and a control group (CG, n=37). The PG received treatment guided by the Prospector calculator, which evaluates patient symptoms, exacerbation history, and medical records to determine antibiotic necessity. The CG was treated at the physician’s discretion, often relying on traditional Anthonisen criteria.
Antibiotic usage was significantly lower in the Prospector group (32.8% vs. 81.2%, p<0.0001). Despite reduced antibiotic prescriptions, recovery outcomes were similar, with over 94% of patients in both PG subsets (with and without antibiotics) showing positive results. Moreover, safety outcomes favoured the PG, with failure to recover rates at 10.7% compared to 47.2% in the CG (p=0.0043). Hospitalisation rates were markedly lower in the PG (42.9% vs. 94.4%, p<0.0001).
“This tool offers a significant advancement in optimizing COPD management while addressing the global issue of antibiotic overuse,” the authors noted.
The Prospector calculator could become an essential resource in outpatient care, ensuring that antibiotics are prescribed only when necessary, reducing risks of resistance, and improving patient outcomes.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Paprocki M. The use of the Prospector calculator reduces antibiotic therapy in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sci Rep. 2025;DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-85388-2.
