[Sputum purulence: practical guide to introduce antibiotic therapy].

In the collective unconscious of doctors and patients, purulent sputum is correlated with bacterial infection requiring antibiotics. The introduction of antibiotic therapy in a patient with purulent sputum is legitimate only in certain situations. The presence of purulent sputum during a mild infection of the upper airways does not generally justify the introduction of antibiotic treatment. In patients with chronic respiratory diseases, studies have shown that purulent sputum is often associated with a secondary bacterial infection and antibiotic therapy may provide clinical benefit.