The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
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J. Antimicrob. Chemother. · May 2011
Review Meta AnalysisEffectiveness and safety of macrolides in cystic fibrosis patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of macrolides in cystic fibrosis (CF). ⋯ Long-term use of azithromycin can improve lung function, especially for P. aeruginosa-colonized CF patients. There was no evidence of increased adverse events with azithromycin. More data are needed to verify the best azithromycin regimen and to evaluate other macrolides in CF patients.
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J. Antimicrob. Chemother. · May 2011
Multicenter StudyPharmacokinetics and safety of panobacumab: specific adjunctive immunotherapy in critical patients with nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa O11 pneumonia.
Nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia remains a major concern in critically ill patients. We explored the potential impact of microorganism-targeted adjunctive immunotherapy in such patients. ⋯ These data suggest that panobacumab is safe, with a pharmacokinetic profile similar to that in healthy volunteers. It was associated with high clinical cure and survival rates in patients developing nosocomial P. aeruginosa O11 pneumonia. We concluded that these promising results warrant further trials.
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J. Antimicrob. Chemother. · May 2011
ReviewClinical activity of anti-Gram-positive agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Current concerns about multiresistance and a diminishing antibiotic pipeline are mainly addressed to Gram-negative bacteria. The greatest fear within the Gram-positive arena is vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Its epidemiology and clinical presentation give cause for concern, but so far its impact has been strictly limited. While this may change, the loss of glycopeptides as a treatment option may not, in fact, be all bad news.
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J. Antimicrob. Chemother. · May 2011
ReviewEarly versus late oseltamivir treatment in severely ill patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1): speed is life.
The need for early antimicrobial therapy is well established for life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections including meningitis and sepsis/septic shock. However, a link between the outcome of serious viral infections and delays in antiviral therapy is not as well recognized. ⋯ Studies analysing data from this pandemic have consistently shown that delays in initiation of antiviral therapy following symptom onset are significantly associated with disease severity and death. Optimal survival and minimal disease severity appear to result when antivirals are started as soon as possible after symptom onset.
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Linezolid has been in general use in the UK since 2000. Although toxicity, particularly haematological and neurological, has been an issue, linezolid has proved to be an effective alternative to glycopeptides in the treatment of Gram-positive infections. Since its original licence for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections and pneumonia, there have been reports of its successful use in the treatment of bone and joint infections, endocarditis, and other difficult-to-treat infections.