Use of PDE-4-specific inhibitors to reduce the severity of a bacterial infection after a respiratory viral infection

A method for reducing the severity of or preventing a bacterial infection of the respiratiory tract following a respiratory viral tract infection by administering an effective amount of a PDE 4-specific inhibitor alone or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient prior to or during the course of the viral infection, during the course of both the viral infection and the bacterial infection following thereafter, or during the course of the bacterial infection alone.