The structural pulmonary disease is defined as any pathology that alters the architecture of lower airway and lung parenchyma, which predisposes to microbial colonization. Among the diseases classified as structural pulmonary disease we find chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and caverns as sequelae of necrotizing diseases. Acute manifestation of lower respiratory symptoms constitutes an exacerbation that deteriorates clinical baseline condition, so it is essential to establish the role of infections as cause of these exacerbations; the most common infectious agents are: Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and viral pathogens in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bronchiectasis. In exacerbations of fibrocavitary sequelae are the same germs than other structural alterations, besides fingi and mycobacteria in about 40%. MED.UIS. 2015;28(1):117-123. Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Bronchiectasis. Infection.