A COPD patient is admitted with pneumonia. He is not able to produce his usual amount of sputum. The patient states that when the does cough up sputum, it is very thick and yellow. Upon auscultation, you note that he has expiratory rhonchi bilaterally and crackles over the right middle and lower lobes. He is already receiving aerosol treatments with albuterol and ipratropium bromide. He is also on antibiotics a) what other medication may help to reduce the viscosity of this patient's sputum? b) what other therapies and recommendations do you have for this patient? c) what woudl you tell this patient concerning systemic hydration?