Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicine
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Semin Respir Crit Care Med · Jun 2017
ReviewHow Should We Treat Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Caused by Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae?
Hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia (HAP/VAP) due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) represent a growing problem. Indeed, ESBL-PE is endemic in many countries, and 5 to 25% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients are ESBL-PE carrier on ICU admission. ESBL-PE HAP/VAP is associated with a higher mortality than HAP/VAP due to susceptible Enterobacteriaceae because the resistance profile decreases the adequacy rate of empiric therapy. ⋯ The alternative β-lactams such as β-lactams/β-lactamases inhibitor combinations could be proposed as a step-down therapy according to the antibiotic susceptibility result. Optimization of pharmacokinetics requires high dosage and continuous or prolonged infusions for β-lactams. When the patient is stabilized, a therapy of duration 7 to 8 days is recommended.
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Semin Respir Crit Care Med · Jun 2017
ReviewShould We Immediately Start Antibiotics in Every Patient with a Clinical Suspicion of HAP/VAP?
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remain two of the most commonly diagnosed nosocomial infections. Both are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The development of HAP and VAP is related to bacterial colonization of the oropharynx (and endotracheal tube in VAP) with subsequent microaspiration and development of clinical infection. ⋯ However, when possible, therapy should be directed at a confirmed infection following a positive culture result. Decisions regarding specific empiric regimens should be based on the local prevalence of infectious microorganisms along with their associated antimicrobial susceptibilities. Patients deemed at risk of infection with multidrug-resistant pathogens merit broader spectrum therapy, and immunosuppressed patients should have consideration of antifungal coverage.
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Semin Respir Crit Care Med · Jun 2017
ReviewPharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamics-Optimized Antimicrobial Therapy in Patients with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia/Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. With increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance, the importance of optimizing antibiotic treatment is key to maximize treatment outcomes. ⋯ In addition, the marked physiological changes that can occur in these patients can cause serious changes in antibiotic pharmacokinetics which in turn alter the attainment of therapeutic drug exposures. This article reviews the various aspects of the pharmacokinetic changes that can occur in the critically ill patients, the barriers to achieving therapeutic drug exposures in pneumonia for systemically delivered antibiotics, the optimization for commonly used antibiotics in hospital- and ventilator-associated pneumonia, the agents that should be avoided in the treatment regimen, as well as the use of adjunctive therapy in the form of nebulized antibiotics.
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Semin Respir Crit Care Med · Jun 2017
ReviewUsing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Rates as a Health Care Quality Indicator: A Contentious Concept.
Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, although reported rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) have been declining in recent years. A multifaceted infection prevention approach, using a “ventilator bundle,” has been shown to reduce the frequency of VAP, while improving other patient outcomes. Because of difficulties in defining VAP, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service introduced a new streamlined ventilator-associated event (VAE) definition in 2013 for the surveillance of complications in mechanically ventilated patients. ⋯ However, there is increased recognition that the streamlined definitions identify a different subset of patients than those identified by traditional VAP surveillance and that VAP prevention strategies may not impact all the causes of VAE. Also, VAP and VAE rates may not always reflect the quality of care in a given ICU, especially since patient factors, beyond the control of the hospital, may impact the rates of VAP and VAE. In this review, we discuss the issues related to VAP as a quality measure and the areas of uncertainty related to the new VAE definitions.
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Semin Respir Crit Care Med · Jun 2017
Should We Treat Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis with Antibiotics?
Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) often require lung organ support. The use of mechanical ventilation, while lifesaving can be associated with subsequent complications. The most common complication in patients under mechanical ventilation is the development of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTIs). ⋯ Infections related to these bacteria are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost. Therefore, a large well-designed study is warranted to determine whether patients with VAT should receive antimicrobials. Furthermore, a short course of antimicrobials could be sufficient in these patients.