A novel host-protein assay outperforms routine parameters for distinguishing between bacterial and viral lower respiratory tract infections

Bacterial and viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are often clinically indistinguishable, leading to antibiotic overuse. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of a new assay that combines 3 host-biomarkers (TRAIL, IP-10, CRP) with parameters in routine use to distinguish bacterial from viral LRTIs. Study cohort included 184 potentially eligible pediatric and adult patients. Reference standard diagnosis was based on adjudication by an expert panel following comprehensive clinical and laboratory investigation (including respiratory PCRs). Experts were blinded to assay results and assay performers were blinded to reference standard outcomes. Evaluated cohort included 88 bacterial and 36 viral patients (23 did not fulfill inclusion criteria; 37 had indeterminate reference standard outcome). Assay distinguished bacterial from viral LRTI patients with sensitivity of 0.93 ± 0.06 and specificity of 0.91 ± 0.09, outperforming routine parameters, including WBC, CRP and chest x-ray signs. These findings support the assay's potential to help clinicians avoid missing bacterial LRTIs or overusing antibiotics.     

重症肺炎支原体肺炎老年人血清纤维蛋白原、血小板反应蛋白 -1表达及其与预后的相关性

目的检测重症肺炎支原体肺炎( MPP)病人血清纤维蛋白原( FIB)和血小板反应蛋白 -1(TSP-1)的表达情况，并探究其表达水平与 MPP病人预后的相关性。方法选取 2017年 3月至 2018年 12月在海南医学院第一附属医院收治的 MPP老年人 89例作为研究对象，其中重症 MPP 46例作为重症组，轻症 MPP 43例作为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附测定( ELISA)检测各组研究对象血清 FIB、TSP-1的表达水平；通过受试者操作特征曲线( ROC曲线)评估血清 FIB、TSP-1表达水平对重症 MPP的诊断价值；分析病人预后不良情况发生率；并采用 logistic回归分析老年人发生预后不良的相关影响因素。结果重症组血清 FIB、TSP-1表达水平分别为( 4.93±1.16)g/L、(375.42±34.13)μg/L，显著高于对照组的( 3.85±0.97)g/L、(316.71±23.05)μg/L(P<0.05)。ROC结果显示，血清 FIB和 TSP-1单独及联合诊断重症 MPP的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为 0.796、0.900、0.926，血清 FIB联合 TSP-1诊断重症 MPP的灵敏度和特异度分别为 84.82%、90.65%。高 FIB组、高 TSP-1组老年人病人预后不良发生率分别为54.55%(12/22)、 55.00%(11/20)，显著高于低 FIB组的 16.67%(4/24)及低 TSP-1组的 19.23%(5/26)(P<0.05)。 logistic回归分析显示，血清 FIB、TSP-1表达水平是影响重症 MPP病人发生预后不良的独立危险因素(均 P<0.05)。结论 FIB和 TSP-1在重症 MPP病人血清中的表达水平明显升高，且其高表达与病人预后不良有关，均可作为重症 MPP的早期诊断及预后评估的潜在生物学指标。     

2007-2010年益阳市儿童支原体肺炎的临床特征变化趋势

【目的】分析2007～2010年本院儿童支原体肺炎（MPP）的临床特征变化趋势。【方法】选择2007～2010年收治的儿童MPP患儿256例，比较2007～2008年（A组）和2009～2010年（B组）MPP患儿在临床特征方面的差异性。[结果]94．5％的患儿出现发热。B组患儿热程较A组热程延长；A组、B组患儿的胸痛发生率分别为0．9％、6．3％，A组、B组患儿的寒战发生率分别为7．9％、21．1％；A组、B组患儿的X线胸片大片影发生率分别为7．0％、39．4％；A组、B组患儿的治愈率分别为98．2％、88．7％，两组比较差异均有统计学意义（Pd0．05）。[结论]2009～2010年本院MPP患儿2007～2008年MPP患儿呈现发热时间延长、临床症状和X线胸片表现加重的趋势。     

Ceftaroline fosamil as first-line versus second-line treatment for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) or community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP)

The Clinical Assessment Program and Teflaro^® Utilization Registry (CAPTURE) is a multicenter registry study of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil in the US. Data for this analysis were collected between August 2011 and February 2013 at US study centres by randomly ordered chart review. Clinical success rates among ABSSSI patients were >81% when ceftaroline fosamil was used as first- or second-line therapy, including monotherapy and concurrent therapy. Among CABP patients, clinical success rates were >77% among first-line and second-line patients and patients who received first-line concurrent therapy or second line monotherapy or concurrent therapy. For CABP patients treated with ceftaroline fosamil as first-line monotherapy, the clinical success rate was 70%. Ceftaroline fosamil is an effective treatment option for patients with ABSSSI or CABP with similar clinical success rates when used as first-line or second-line treatment.     

Which Nursing Home Residents With Pneumonia Are Managed On-Site and Which Are Hospitalized? Results from 2 Years' Surveillance in 14 US Homes

ObjectivesPneumonia is a frequent cause of hospitalization among nursing home (NH) residents, but little information is available as to how clinical presentation and other characteristics relate to hospitalization, and the differential use of antimicrobials based on hospitalization status. This study examined how hospitalized and nonhospitalized NH residents with pneumonia differ.DesignData from a 2-year prospective study of residents who participated in a randomized controlled trial.Setting and ParticipantsAll residents from 14 NHs in North Carolina followed for pneumonia over a 2-year period.MethodsClinical features, antimicrobial treatment, hospitalization, and demographic data on residents with a pneumonia diagnosis were abstracted from charts; NH information was obtained from NH administrators.ResultsA total of 509 pneumonia episodes were reported for 395 unique residents; the incidence was not higher in the winter months, and 28% were hospitalized. The likelihood of hospitalization did not differ by clinical characteristics except that residents with a respiratory rate >25 breaths per minute were more likely to be hospitalized. Being on hospice [odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–7.4] and not having dementia (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2) also related to increased likelihood of hospitalization. Fluoroquinolone (usually levofloxacin) monotherapy was the most common treatment (54%) in both settings, and ceftriaxone monotherapy varied by hospitalization status (7% of hospitalized vs 16% treated on-site). Approximately 36% of nonhospitalized residents received antimicrobials for more than 7 days.Conclusions/ImplicationsRespiratory rate is associated with hospitalization but was not documented for more than a quarter of residents, suggesting the clinical benefit of more consistently conducting this assessment. Differential hospitalization rates for persons with dementia and on hospice suggest that care is being tailored to individuals' wishes, but this assumption merits study, as does use of fluoroquinolones (due to side effects) and treatment duration (due to potential contribution to antibiotic resistance).