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PubMed1990

[Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone in lower respiratory tract infections].

Clinical evaluation, safety and kinetics in serum of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) in patients with lower respiratory tract infections have been studied in a multicenter trial participated by 28 institutions in Kyushu area during a period of 13 months from March 1987 to March 1988. 1. Mean peak serum levels of SBT and CPZ in 35 patients up to 4 hours after intravenous infusion of 2 g of SBT/CPZ were 38.2 +/- 17.3 micrograms/ml for SBT and 104.3 +/- 31.4 micrograms/ml for CPZ. Serum half-lives of SBT and CPZ were 0.76 hour and 1.53 hours, respectively. These results were in similar ranges to those reported elsewhere for SBT/CPZ. 2. Serum half-lives of SBT and CPZ after intravenous infusion of 2 g of SBT/CPZ were not significantly prolonged in patients with moderate liver or kidney dysfunctions. 3. Clinical efficacy rates of SBT/CPZ in 217 patients were 93.1% (81/87) for pneumonia, 93.3% (14/15) for lung abscess, 78.9% (15/19) for acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 57.1% (4/7) for diffuse panbronchiolitis, 72.4% (21/29), 74.4% (32/43) and 100% (9/9) for infections concurrent to bronchiectasis, chronic respiratory disease and pulmonary emphysema, respectively. Those were 50% (1/2) for bronchitis associated with lung cancer and 66.7% (4/6) for empyema. The overall efficacy rate was 83.4% (181/217). 4. Clinical efficacy rate of SBT/CPZ for pneumonia in patients with underlying diseases such as lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumoconiosis, etc, was 85.3% (29/34) and was not significantly different from the efficacy rate of 98.1% (52/53) in patients without these underlying diseases. 5. Of 30 patients who failed to respond of previous antibiotic treatments, 21 were effectively treated by SBT/CPZ. 6. Bacteriological eradication rates against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were 42.9% (9/21), 87.5% (14/16) and 100% (5/5), respectively. The overall eradication rate in all cases including polymicrobial infections was 72.8% (67/92). 7. The high levels of peak serum concentration of CPZ, and the difference between serum levels of SBT and of CPZ seemed to contribute to the high clinical efficacy. 8. Adverse reactions occurred in 2.8% (6/217) of the patients, and consisted primarily of rash and diarrhea. Laboratory abnormalities were observed in 8 patients during the study. These were elevations of S-GOT and S-GPT, and eosinophilia. 9. SBT/CPZ is a very useful drug in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections as it has become available just in time when increase in resistant organisms to beta-lactams is notable.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of azithromycin in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI)

Azithromycin was given to 55 cases of lower respiratory tract infections in the doses of 500 mg on day 1, followed by 250 mg on days 2-5. It produced bacteriological cure in 70.8% patients and clinical cure or improvement in 69.09% of patients. 4.27% of patients had throat colonisation with new organisms, of which 9.09% needed a second antibiotic. The drug was well tolerated and minor side effects were noted. Gastrointestinal disturbances (16.36%) headache and giddiness (14.55%), rash (3.64%) were the noted side effects. Reduction of platelet count by 50% occurred in 12.29% of the cases compared to 0.2% reported earlier. But this thrombocytopenia was clinically not significant, as it did not cause any symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cefpodoxime proxetil in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections.

Cefpodoxime proxetil is the orally absorbed ester of cefpodoxime, a new third generation cephalosporin. In the gastrointestinal tract, cefpodoxime proxetil is hydrolysed to cefpodoxime, which has potent antibacterial activity against the major bacterial pathogens involved in lower respiratory tract infections: Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis (including beta-lactamase-producing strains), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (including amoxicillin-resistant strains). Six randomised comparative studies in patients with lower respiratory tract infections, 5 of which were large (enrollment of more than 200 patients) and double-blind, examined the efficacy and safety of cefpodoxime proxetil. Cefpodoxime proxetil (at a dosage equivalent to 200mg of cefpodoxime) administered twice daily for 5 to 10 days was similar in clinical and bacteriological efficacy to the following: amoxicillin 500mg 3 times daily in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia; intramuscular ceftriaxone Ig once daily in the treatment of pulmonary infections in hospitalised patients; and to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 500/125mg 3 times daily in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB). Additionally, a dosage equivalent to 100mg or 200mg of cefpodoxime twice daily was similar in clinical and bacteriological efficacy to amoxicillin 250mg 3 times daily in the treatment of bronchitis (acute or AECB). The adverse events noted with cefpodoxime proxetil administration were similar to those associated with other beta-lactam antibacterials and most commonly involved the gastrointestinal tract and skin or mucous membranes. Thus, cefpodoxime proxetil is a useful addition to the antibacterials available for the treatment of infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of cold medications for upper respiratory tract infections in children.

Prescribing practices in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in children were studied, with particular emphasis on overuse of antibiotics, combination cold medications, and off-label use of medicines in children. Prescriptions with the diagnosis of URTI were studied over a period of 5 months in a general pediatric clinic. Out of 224 prescriptions scrutinized, a cold medication was prescribed in 88.4% of cases and 50.9% prescriptions contained a combination preparation. Antihistamines (50.9%), alpha-adrenoceptor agonist decongestants (50.0%) and opioid anti-tussives (24.5%) were the common ingredients of cold medications. Antihistamines (35.7%) were also used alone. Of the children 18.2% were receiving a drug contraindicated or not recommended in their age group. Antibiotics were prescribed in only 8.5% of cases, and for appropriate indications, reflecting a more restrained use of antibiotics.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Malnutrition and acute respiratory tract infections in Filipino children.

The impact of malnutrition on morbidity and mortality associated with acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) was studied in Filipino children less than 5 years old. Malnutrition measured by weight-for-age Z-scores of less than -3 SD and less than -2 SD from the National Center for Health Statistics median reference population was associated with the following significant relative risks of morbidity: 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14, 1.34) and 1.14 (95% CI = 1.08, 1.19), respectively, for ARI; and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.46, 2.39) and 1.2 (95% CI = 1.03, 1.47), respectively, for acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI). These risk ratios remained significant when adjusted for age, crowding, and parental smoking. Malnourished children with severe ALRI also had a mortality risk two to three times higher than that of healthy children. This risk remained significant even when adjusted for significant predictors of mortality, including clinical complications, concurrent measles, severe infections, and female gender; and for clinical factors, including extent of pneumonic infiltrates, dehydration, and hepatic enlargement. These findings underscore the importance of nutritional intervention in the control of morbidity and mortality among patients with ARI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Clinical predictors of anaesthetic complications in children with respiratory tract infections.

Details of the preoperative condition, in particular symptoms of respiratory tract infections (RTI), perioperative management and the occurrence of perioperative complications, were collected in a survey of 2051 children. Logistic regression was used to determine which variables were predictors of anaesthetic adverse events. 22.3% of the children had symptoms of an RTI on the day of surgery, and 45.8% had a 'cold' in the preceding 6 weeks. Logistic regression returned eight variables. They were method of airway management, parent states the child has a 'cold' on the day of surgery, child has nasal congestion, child snores, child is a passive smoker, induction agent chosen, child produces sputum, and whether reversal agent used. Orotracheal intubation was associated with an increased probability of complications when compared with laryngeal mask airway and facemask. RTI in the preceding 6 weeks did not increase probability of complications. Wheeze, fever, malaise and age could not be excluded as predictors in this study because children with these symptoms and infants with colds were effectively excluded from the study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of lower respiratory tract infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Twelve patients who underwent 26 episodes of lower respiratory tract infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated with aztreonam. Infectious episodes were severe in 11 patients, moderate in 10 patients, and mild in five patients. In 85% of the episodes, significant clinical improvement occurred, but in four severe episodes, the clinical response was unsatisfactory. The mean interval between initiation of treatment and improvement was seven days. Aztreonam was as clinically effective in the treatment of infections due to organisms susceptible to penicillins active against Pseudomonas as it was in the treatment of infections due to organisms resistant to these agents. P. aeruginosa was not permanently eradicated from the sputum of any of the patients treated with aztreonam. It did not cause any major adverse effects, and the only laboratory abnormality found was an increase in alkaline phosphatase, which occurred during 12 (46%) courses of therapy. Levels of alkaline phosphatase returned to normal after conclusion of treatment. Aztreonam was shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of lower respiratory infections due to P. aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A randomised controlled trial of delayed antibiotic prescribing as a strategy for managing uncomplicated respiratory tract infection in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infection (cough) does not respond appreciably to antibiotics and that bacterial resistance is increasing, general practitioners (GPs) still prescribe frequently. AIM: To assess delayed antibiotic prescribing as a strategy for reducing the unnecessary use of antibiotics for cough in primary care. DESIGN OF STUDY: Open randomised controlled trial of delayed versus immediate prescribing of antibiotics. SETTING: One hundred and ninety-one adult patients with uncomplicated cough in 22 Scottish practices who would have received antibiotics under the GP's usual practice were randomised to receive either an immediate prescription (92 patients) or a delayed prescription (99 patients). METHOD: Delayed subjects were asked to wait a week before deciding whether to collect their prescription. Outcome measures included symptom duration, prescription uptake, patient satisfaction, patient enablement, and subsequent consultation rates. The 48 GPs who recruited patients were surveyed six months after the trial to see whether they used delayed prescribing as a part of their normal practice. RESULTS: Study and control groups were similar at baseline. Of the subjects in the delayed arm, 55% did not pick up their prescription. Although most patients were satisfied, more patients in the immediate arm were very satisfied with the treatment (P = 0.001) and the consultation (P = 0.03). The patients in the immediate arm were also more enabled (3.3 versus 2.4; P = 0.04), although more of them intended to consult for similar complaints in the future (85% versus 69%, P = 0.02). We were unable to detect any difference in actual consulting behaviour in the follow-up period (mean = 15 months [SD = 5 months]). Subsequently, 68% of GPs used delayed prescribing at least monthly; all gave the prescription to the patient. CONCLUSION: Delayed prescribing is effective at reducing the use of antibiotics for self-limiting cough; however, patients are less satisfied and enabled as a result. Patients may be deterred from consulting rather than becoming enabled.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Clinical evaluations of flomoxef in respiratory tract infections].

Flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S), a new antibacterial drug, was administered to 9 cases with respiratory tract infections for a duration of 8 approximately 16 days at a daily dose of 2 g. Diagnosis of these patients were bronchopneumonia 5 cases, chronic bronchitis 3 cases and acute bronchitis 1 case. From transtracheal aspiration several organisms were isolated; Haemophilus influenzae was isolated in 3 cases, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 3 cases, H. influenzae plus Branhamella catarrhalis in 1 case, Streptococcus dysgalactiae plus Neisseria meningitidis in 1 case and Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum in 1 case. The clinical efficacy was good in all 9 cases, the efficacy rate was 100%. All the bacteria were eliminated. Side effects were not observed. From these results, it appears that FMOX is a valuable drug in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A comparison of oral cefuroxime axetil and oral amoxycillin in lower respiratory tract infections.

We assessed oral cefuroxime axetil in an open study of 30 patients with lower respiratory tract infection and then compared oral cefuroxime with oral amoxycillin in a randomized double blind study in a further 40 patients. Satisfactory clinical responses were obtained in 73% of patients receiving cefuroxime axetil 500 mg tid in the open study, and in the comparative study in 71% of patients receiving cefuroxime axetil 500 mg bd, in 60% of patients receiving cefuroxime axetil 500 mg tid and in 63% of patients receiving amoxycillin 500 mg tid. There were no significant differences in response rates between the three regimens in the comparative study. There were no important adverse effects in any of the patients. Oral cefuroxime axetil is safe and effective in the therapy of lower respiratory tract infections.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute respiratory tract infections among a birth cohort of children from Cali, Colombia, who were studied through 17 months of age.

For this study, 340 children less than 18 months old from a low-income, urban neighborhood in Cali, Colombia, were observed from birth by means of weekly home visits to detect cases of acute respiratory tract infection. All suspected cases were confirmed by trained doctors in a special clinic. Information on symptoms, signs, and potential risk factors was documented prospectively. Etiologic agents were identified in cases of lower respiratory tract infection (LRI). The overall incidence of acute respiratory tract infection was 6.6 cases per child-year at risk. The incidence of upper respiratory tract infection was 4.9 cases per child-year at risk and that of LRI was 1.7 cases per child-year at risk. Crowding in the home was found to be significantly associated with an increased incidence of LRI. Respiratory syncytial virus was the viral agent most frequently isolated from cultures of nasopharyngeal aspirates of children with LRI. Staphylococcus aureus was the bacterial agent most frequently isolated from the blood of patients with LRI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

[Occurrence of Moraxella catarrhalis in patients with respiratory tract infections].

The study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of Moraxella catarrhalis in patients with respiratory tract infections. Overall 514 specimens including 370 throat swabs and 114 sputum specimens were examined. The 78 strains isolated basing on morphological and biochemical characteristics were classified as Moraxella catarrhalis. The sensitivity of the strains to antibiotics was also estimated. The frequency of M. catarrhalis isolation from the throat swabs (15.9%) was higher than from the sputum (13.2%). Selected 25 specimens of sputum were tested simultaneously by quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative method was more sensitive (84% positive findings) than qualitative method (60% positive findings). Resistance to ampicillin was found in 52 (66.7%) strains of M. catarrhalis determined mainly by beta-lactamase production (over 70% strains were producers of beta-lactamase). All strains were sensitive to ofloxacin and amoxycillin/clavulanic acid combination. The frequency of M. catarrhalis isolation was higher in autumn-winter period than in summer (May-September). We conclude that M. catarrhalis, beside Streptococcus pyogenes (20.2%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (17.1%), are the most frequently isolated bacteria in patients with respiratory tract infections.

Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination↗
PubMed1990

Overview of experience with ofloxacin in respiratory tract infection.

Ofloxacin is highly active against common respiratory pathogens including Haemophilus influenzae and Branhamella catarrhalis and has clinically applicable activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sputum, lung tissue and bronchial mucosal concentrations of ofloxacin equal or, in most cases significantly exceed the MICs of such pathogens. These in vitro attributes are reflected in the results of the worldwide ofloxacin clinical trial program which achieved overall response rates of 98% in lower respiratory tract infections, 83% in pneumonias and 87% to 95%, in open and comparative studies respectively, in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (CB). Overall bacterial eradication rates ranged from 70% for pneumococci and 84.5% for B. catarrhalis to 88.5% for H. influenzae. In lower respiratory infection ofloxacin gave equal or superior clinical results to amoxycillin or erythromycin therapy together with an overall bacterial eradication rate of 100%. Clinical results comparable with standard agents were also obtained in pneumonia, cure rates ranging from 77-89% at various dosages. Eradication rates proved greatest for H. influenzae (92%) and were satisfactory for Klebsiella spp. (80%), although less so for pneumococci (73%). Bacteriological eradication rates in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis ranged from 68% for pneumococcal infections, to 85% in B. catarrhalis and 94% in H. influenzae infections. Ofloxacin compared favourably with pivampicillin, co-trimoxazole and doxycycline clinically. A daily oral ofloxacin dose of 400 mg produced a good clinical response in 92% of patients or more. The available clinical data therefore substantially confirm the claim of ofloxacin to offer an effective alternative in many forms of acute bacterial respiratory infection, especially where H. influenzae and B. catarrhalis are involved.

Bronchitis↗
PubMed1997

[Assessment of sputum culture and serology for detection of chlamydia pneumoniae in patients with symptomatic acute respiratory tract infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sputum culture and serology for detection of chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) in adult patients with acute respiratory tract infection and normal subjects. METHODS: Microimmunoflorescence (micro-IF) test for IgG and IgM antibodies to C. pneumoniae specific antigen was performed in every subject. Thirty-seven patients also had sputum HEP-2 cell culture tested for C. pneumoniae. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (29.7%) with micro-IF IgG titres equal to or greater than 1:512 or/and IgM titres equal to or greater than 1:32 indicated recent infection. Eight patients (21.3%) with positive sputum culture of C. pnuemoniae were identified. No similar titer was shown in control normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Acute infection of C. pneumoniae was common in symptomatic patients with acute respiratory tract infection and attention should be drawn to this special illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Comparative, multicenter studies of cefixime and amoxicillin in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

A total of 560 patients were treated in two double-blind, randomized multicenter studies to compare the safety and efficacy of cefixime (400 mg administered once daily) and amoxicillin (250 or 500 mg administered three times daily) for the treatment of bacterial respiratory tract infections. Eighty percent of the 244 patients treated in the lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) study had acute bronchitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae (13 percent), Haemophilus influenzae (28 percent), and Escherichia coli (10 percent) were the pathogens most frequently isolated from sputum in these patients. Among evaluable patients with positive bacterial culture results at baseline, a favorable clinical response (cured or improved) was obtained in 100 percent of the cefixime-treated patients (22 of 22) and in 96 percent of the amoxicillin-treated patients (23 of 24). Bacteriologic eradication rates were 100 percent and 83 percent for cefixime and amoxicillin, respectively. In the upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) study, 316 patients with pharyngitis (80 percent) or tonsillitis (14 percent) were treated. Group A, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (69 percent) and H. influenzae (8 percent) were the pathogens most frequently isolated from the throat culture specimens of these patients. Favorable clinical results were obtained in 99 percent of the evaluable cefixime-treated group (n = 73) and in 98 percent of the amoxicillin-treated group (n = 66). The bacteriologic eradication rates were 93 percent and 100 percent, respectively. The adverse experiences reported during both studies were similar in nature and frequency to those reported for other beta-lactam antibiotics with the exception of a higher incidence of altered bowel movement (diarrhea and stool changes) with both drugs. These episodes usually resolved without remedial medication when the treatment was withdrawn. No significant adverse laboratory findings were observed. Results of these trials demonstrate that cefixime at a dosage of 400 mg once daily is an effective and safe oral antibiotic for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2006

Annual influenza vaccination in community-dwelling elderly individuals and the risk of lower respiratory tract infections or pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination has been associated with a reduction in the number of hospitalizations for respiratory conditions in elderly persons over the period from 1996 to 2002. Little is known, however, about the effect of influenza vaccination on the whole range of severity of respiratory tract infections. METHODS: We investigated the effect of annual influenza vaccination on the occurrence of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in community-dwelling elderly individuals. From 1996 to 2002, we performed a population-based cohort study, using the computerized Integrated Primary Care Information database in the Netherlands, of community-dwelling subjects who were 65 years or older on January 1 of the year of study entry. For each year, the individual cumulative exposure to influenza vaccination since study entry was computed. We compared the risk of LRTI after a first vaccination or revaccination with the risk for no vaccination using a time-varying multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and underlying disease. RESULTS: In the study population of 26 071 subjects, 3412 developed LRTIs during follow-up. During the influenza epidemic periods, a first vaccination did not reduce risk for LRTI. In the total population, the hazard ratio following a first vaccination was 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 1.05); in the population without or with comorbidity, these ratios were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.56 to 1.45) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.66 to 1.04), respectively. During epidemic periods, revaccination reduced risk of LRTI by 33% (95% CI, 8% to 52%) in individuals without comorbidity. In individuals with comorbidity, the risk reduction of 5% was nonsignificant (95% CI, -10% to 18%). CONCLUSION: In this study, annual influenza revaccination was associated with a reduction in LRTI in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections: prevalence and risk factors in 14 Greek hospitals.

Nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections (NLRTIs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of NLRTIs in Greece, where knowledge about these infections is limited. Two point-prevalence studies of hospital-acquired infections were carried out in 14 Greek hospitals located throughout the country, one in 1999 and one in 2000. NLRTIs were diagnosed in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions. Among the 7,120 hospitalized patients registered during the two studies, 610 (8.6%) cases of hospital-acquired infections were identified, of which 200 (32.8%) were NLRTIs. Sixty-nine (34.5%) patients had pneumonia, and the remaining 131 (65.5%) patients had bronchitis. The greatest prevalence of NLRTI was found in the adult ICUs (30.4%). Male gender, age >65 years, mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, an intravenous central line, and an indwelling urethral catheter were the main risk factors. There was no significant difference in the incidence of NLRTI among hospital-acquired infections between the 1999 study and the 2000 study. The causative microorganism was identified in 78 of 200 (39%) cases, and 103 strains were isolated. The majority of strains (67%) were gram-negative bacteria. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.3%), Acinetobacter spp. (19.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.6%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10.7%). There was no difference between the two prevalence studies in the frequency of isolation of the microorganisms. NLRTI was the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients with hospital-acquired infections in Greek hospitals. Gram-negative microorganisms were the most frequently isolated pathogens.

Aged↗