Current opinion in infectious diseases
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2006
ReviewVentilator-associated pneumonia: gearing towards shorter-course therapy.
The studies that are reviewed in this article have all concluded that a shorter duration of antibiotic therapy (7-8 days) may be adequate in the treatment of the majority of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, and does not confer an increased incidence of mortality. ⋯ The minimum effective duration of antibiotic therapy, however, remains unclear. Further studies geared towards determining this are needed.
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2006
ReviewAssociated inflammatory response in pneumonia: role of adjunctive therapy with glucocorticoids.
This article reviews the potential use of glucocorticoids as adjunctive therapy in the management of patients with severe bacterial pneumonia or pulmonary infections of other etiologies. ⋯ Although adjunctive treatment with glucocorticoids in severe pneumonia is probably indicated, further randomized clinical trials are urgently needed to confirm the preliminary positive results. In this regard, a proper evaluation of the inflammatory response is likely to be essential for the accurate selection of the target population.
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To analyze the relationships among different Malassezia species and pityriasis versicolor, the only human disease in which the etiologic role of these fungi is fully accepted (although the species implicated remains a matter of discussion). ⋯ Most of the studies published thus far now show that Malassezia globosa is the predominant species found in the lesions of pityriasis versicolor, at least in temperate climates. The authors' recent findings confirm these results. The etiologic role of M. globosa in pityriasis versicolor is based, even more than on its isolation in a high percentage of cultures, on its identification by direct microscopy as typical globose yeast cells producing pseudohyphae in almost 100% of cases. The confirmation of the pathogenic role of this species in pityriasis versicolor could help in understanding these conditions, which are still unclear, which promote its transformation from the saprophytic stage present in healthy skin to the parasitic one, and could also help in selecting the best therapeutic measures.
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To assess new information from peer-reviewed publications in 2005 regarding emerging respiratory viral threats. ⋯ Progress has been made in development of possible specific interventions for influenza and possibly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, but effective antivirals and vaccines for most other respiratory viruses are currently lacking.