American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABFM Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the context of treating a COPD exacerbation, oral prednisone is recommended due to its ability to reduce inflammation in the airways. During an exacerbation, the airways become inflamed and narrowing occurs, which can lead to increased breathlessness and other symptoms. Corticosteroids like oral prednisone help to quickly decrease this inflammation, improve airflow, and ultimately alleviate the symptoms associated with the exacerbation.

While bronchodilators such as inhaled albuterol can provide immediate relief of bronchospasm and are often used as part of the management for exacerbations, they primarily target the muscle constriction in the airways rather than reducing inflammation. They are typically used in conjunction with corticosteroids for optimal treatment.

Oral antibiotics may be indicated in cases where there is a suspicion of a bacterial infection contributing to the exacerbation, but they are not universally required for all exacerbations.

Intravenous steroids are typically reserved for more severe cases or when patients cannot take oral medications; they also effectively reduce inflammation but are not the first-line treatment for routine COPD exacerbations.

Thus, oral prednisone is a standard recommendation for managing inflammation during a COPD exacerbation, making it an appropriate treatment choice.