Clinical and bacteriological outcomes in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia treated with azithromycin plus ceftriaxone, or ceftriaxone plus clarithromycin or erythromycin: a prospective, randomised, multicentre study

This study compared patients with moderate-to-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalisation, who received initial therapy with either intravenous ceftriaxone plus intravenous azithromycin, followed by step-down to oral azithromycin (n = 135), with patients who received intravenous ceftriaxone combined with either intravenous clarithromycin or erythromycin, followed by step-down to either oral clarithromycin or erythromycin (n = 143). Clinical and bacteriological outcomes were evaluated at the end of therapy (EOT; day 12-16) or at the end of study (EOS; day 28-35). At baseline, mean APACHE II scores were 13.3 and 12.6, respectively, with >50% of patients classified as Fine Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) category IV or V. Clinical success rates (cure or improvement) in the modified intent-to-treat (MITT) population at EOT were 84.3% in the ceftriaxone/azithromycin group and 82.7% in the ceftriaxone/clarithromycin or erythromycin group. At EOS, MITT success rates (cure only) were 81.7% and 75.0%, respectively. Equivalent success rates in the clinically evaluable population were 83% and 87%, respectively, at EOT, and 79% and 78%, respectively, at EOS. MITT bacteriological eradication rates were 73.2% and 67.4%, respectively, at EOT, and 68.3% vs. 60.9%, respectively, at EOS. Mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was 10.7 and 12.6 days, and the mean duration of therapy was 9.5 and 10.5 days, respectively. The incidence of infusion-related adverse events was 16.3% and 25.2% (p 0.04), respectively. An intravenous-to-oral regimen of ceftriaxone/azithromycin was at least equivalent in efficacy and safety to the comparator regimen and appeared to be a suitable treatment option for hospitalised patients with CAP.     

Elevated interleukin-18 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-18 can induce Th2 cytokine production particularly in collaboration with IL-2. Accumulation of Th2 cells and increased levels of Th2 cytokines are found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia (EP). To evaluate the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of EP, we measured the concentration of IL-2, IL-12, IL-18, and Th2 cytokines in BALF from patients with EP. METHODS: The concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-18 in BALF were measured in patients with idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), with idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), with sarcoidosis and healthy volunteers (HV). RESULTS: The BALF concentrations of Th2 cytokines, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, were higher in patients with EP than in sarcoidosis and control. The IL-2 level in BALF was higher in EP than in sarcoidosis and control. The IL-18 and IL-12 (p40 + p70) levels were higher in patients with EP than sarcoidosis, while the level of IL-12 (p70) was below the detection limit in patients with EP. There was a significant correlation between IL-2 level and both IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF of patients with EP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that IL-18 may contribute to Th2 cytokine-dominant responses in patients with EP in collaboration with IL-2.     

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis

Abstract. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), synonymous with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA), is a progressive and usually fatal disease of unknown cause characterized by sequential acute lung injury with subsequent scarring and end-stage lung disease. Historically, IPF/CFA encompassed a heterogeneous group of different histological and clinical entities arising in an idiopathic setting. Recently, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) core committee has redefined diagnostic criteria for both IPF/CFAand idiopathic interstitial pneumonias confining the term IPF/CFA to patients with a histological pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia on lung biopsy. This review attempts to refine the clinico-radiological-pathological features that together define IPF/CFA as it is understood today, and to summarize the rationale of new therapeutic approaches based on the current understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms.     

In vivo efficacy of cefotaxime and amoxicillin against penicillin-susceptible, penicillin-resistant and penicillin-cephalosporin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a mouse pneumonia model

Objective: To compare cefotaxime (CTX) to amoxicillin (AMO) (usually considered the definitive therapy for penicillinsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae infections) in an immunocompromised mouse pneumonia model.
Methods: Three S. pneumoniae clinical isolates were used: two serotype 19 strains, a penicillin-susceptible (P^s) strain (penicillin MIC = 0.03 μ/mL) and a highly penicillin-resistant (P^r) strain (penicillin MIC = 4 μ/mL), and one serotype 23F strain, a penicillin-cephalosporin-resistant (CFTR) strain (CTX MIC = 4 μ/mL).
Results: CTX activity in this mouse model of pneumonia induced by the highly penicillin-resistant strain of S. pneumoniae was lower than expected from its low MIC against this organism. Furthermore, AMO had greater efficacy than CTX against a CFTR S. pneumoniae strain.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that there is no major difference in the in vivo efficacy of the two agents, cefotaxime and amoxicillin, against penicillin-resistant and penicillin-cephalosporin-resistant S. pneumoniae.     

缺血性卒中相关性肺炎危险因素的病例对照研究

目的 探讨缺血性卒中相关性肺炎的危险因素。方法 回顾性纳入2018年1月—2020年12月期间唐山市协和医院神经内科住院的急性缺血性卒中(acute ischemic stroke, AIS)患者,收集人口统计学及临床资料。根据是否发生卒中相关性肺炎(stroke - associated pneumonia, SAP)分为非SAP组和SAP组,比较两组的各项临床资料,并采用多因素logistic回归分析SAP的独立影响因素。结果 共纳入721例患者,平均年龄(65.63±12.07)岁;SAP组年龄、入院美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS)评分,冠心病、心房颤动、卒中史、吞咽障碍和入院格拉斯哥昏迷评分≤10分的比例、同型半胱氨酸、纤维蛋白原和白细胞计数均高于非SAP组,而SAP组入院舒张压、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、白蛋白、白蛋白与球蛋白比值、血红蛋白和红细胞计数均低于非SAP组,差异均有统计学意义;多因素logistic回归分析显示,年龄增高(OR = 1.055,95%CI:1.009～1.103)、入院NIHSS评分增加(OR = 1.290,95%CI:1.154～1.444)、白细胞计数升高(OR = 1.267,95%CI:1.101～1.457)是SAP发生的危险因素。结论 缺血性卒中相关性肺炎与高龄、入院NIHSS评分增加和白细胞计数升高相关。     

加味瓜蒌枳实汤联合哌拉西林钠他唑巴坦钠对痰热蕴肺型卒中相关性肺炎患者的免疫功能和血清炎症因子水平的影响

目的：探究加味瓜蒌枳实汤联合哌拉西林钠他唑巴坦钠对痰热蕴肺型卒中相关性肺炎(SAP)患者的免疫功能和血清炎症因子水平的影响。方法：将80例痰热蕴肺型SAP患者随机分为对照组与观察组,各40例,对照组SAP患者在基础治疗上加用哌拉西林钠他唑巴坦钠,观察组患者在对照组治疗基础上加用加味瓜蒌枳实汤,连续治疗2周,并比较两组SAP患者治疗前后的临床治疗效果、免疫指标、炎症指标及肺功能情况。结果：与本组治疗前比较,两组SAP患者治疗后X射线片病灶、肺啰音、咳嗽、发热、痰色、便秘评分均明显降低(P<0.05);两组SAP患者的第1秒内用力呼气量占呼气量的比例(FEV1/FVC)、第1秒用力呼气容积百分比(FEV1%)均明显改善(P<0.05)。与对照组治疗后比较,观察组患者的FEV1/FVC、FEV1%改善更明显(P<0.05)。与本组治疗前比较,两组SAP患者经治疗后中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR值)均明显降低(P<0.05);与对照组治疗后比较,观察组患者的NLR值明显降低(P<0.05)。与本组治疗前比较,两组SAP患者在治疗后的血清降钙素原(PCT)、超敏C...     

机械通气下应用肺表面活性物质治疗新生儿肺炎合并呼吸衰竭的疗效

目的：探讨新生儿肺炎合并呼吸衰竭治疗中机械通气下应用肺表面活性物质的疗效。方法：回顾性选取2017年2月至2022年2月无锡市儿童医院新生儿科收治的新生儿肺炎合并呼吸衰竭患儿80例,依据治疗方法分为机械通气下应用肺表面活性物质治疗组(观察组)、机械通气治疗组(对照组)两组,各40例。分析两组患儿血气指标、平均动脉压(MAP)和呼吸力学指标、机械通气时间、总吸氧时间、住院时间、并发症发生情况之间的差异。结果：治疗前,两组患儿的动脉血氧分压(PaO₂)、氧合指数(PaO₂/FiO₂)、动脉血二氧化碳分压(PaCO₂)、氢离子浓度指数(pH)、MAP、呼气末正压(PEEP)、平台压(Pplat)、气道峰压(PIP)之间比较,差异均无统计学意义(P> 0.05);治疗后,两组患儿的PaO₂、PaO₂/FiO₂均高于治疗前,PaCO₂、MAP、PEEP均低于治疗前,差异均具有统计学意义(P <0.05),但治疗...     

激励式呼吸训练联合口腔去污染对老年胃癌患者手术后肺炎的影响

目的 探讨激励式呼吸训练联合口腔去污染对老年胃癌患者手术后肺炎（POP）的影响。方法 前瞻性收集2019年1月—2020年6月在福建中医药大学附属第二人民医院行胃癌根治术老年患者,随机分成试验组和对照组。对照组行围手术期常规护理,试验组在此基础上采用激励式肺计量器训练联合洗必泰口腔去污染。分析两组POP发病率、口咽部定植菌检出率等指标。结果 共纳入96例老年胃癌手术患者,试验组和对照组各48例。13例患者发生POP,POP发病率为13.54%。试验组患者POP发病率为6.25%,低于对照组的20.83%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。干预后试验组患者口咽部定植菌检出率（6.25%）低于对照组（20.83%）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;干预后试验组患者6 min步行距离及呼吸训练依从性均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05）;试验组术中机械通气时间、术后住院日数、抗菌药物费用、总住院费用均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。结论 老年胃癌患者围手术期进行激励式呼吸训练和口腔去污染有助于改善运动耐量,减少呼吸道微生物定植,降低POP发病率,促进患者康复。     

氨溴索联合布地奈德雾化治疗新生儿肺炎的临床疗效

目的探讨氨溴索联合布地奈德雾化治疗新生儿肺炎对辅助型T细胞17/调节型T细胞(Th17/Treg)、氧化应激的影响。方法选择乐山市人民医院儿科新生儿病房2019年3月—2020年9月收治的新生儿肺炎120例,随机分为研究组(n=60)和对照组(n=60)。对照组采用布地奈德雾化治疗,研究组采用布地奈德+氨溴索进行雾化治疗;采用酶联免疫吸附法检测两组治疗前后血清中白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、白细胞介素-23(IL-23)、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)、转化生长因子-β(TGF-β);晚期蛋白氧化产物(AOPP)及抗氧化指标超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)水平。结果120株检出病原中细菌共62株,占51.67%,真菌7株,占5.83%,病毒51株,占42.50%,金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、呼吸道合胞病毒、腺病毒检出率较高;研究组疗效优于对照组(Z=1.734,P=0.005);研究组发热消退时间、咳嗽、气喘消失时间短于对照组(P<0.05);治疗后两组IL-17、IL-23、AOPP水平下降,IFN-γ、TGF-β、SOD、GSH-Px水平上升,较治疗前差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗7 d后研究组IL-17、IL-23、AOPP水平低于对照组,IFN-γ、TGF-β、SOD、GSH-Px水平高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论氨溴索联合布地奈德雾化治疗可有效治疗新生儿肺炎感染,其机制可能与调节Th17/Treg免疫平衡,降低机体氧化应激水平有关。