Hi Barbara, I had a very bad URI in August of 2021 (negative for Covid) and was left with chronic cough, intermittent achiness and low grade fevers for months. I finally got a diagnosis of BE with H. Influenza by my local pulmonologist in May of 2022 but by then, because of several interactions, had lost all faith in this pulmonologist. I first saw Dr. Lommatszch at NJH in August of 2022 and have returned once a year for a check up since then. Dr. L did not start my Azithromycin until Spring of 2023 when I had two back to back URIs. My CT scan shows mild improvement at each yearly visit. He talked about keeping me on the Azithromycin for a couple of years. I have been so healthy since my last visit with him that I stopped taking it last month (my decision) and will see how I do. If I don't have to take it I would prefer not to, only because I am trying to keep my gut biome super healthy because I have a strong family history of dementia on both sides. The only time I take antibiotics is when I have an URI, either Levofloxacin or Azithromycin. I have not been told to send in sputum to NJH, I do a sputum test at my yearly check ups and they have been negative. Hope this helps! Dr. L is amazing. Nancy