Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Agents such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila are recognized as important causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) worldwide. This study examined the role of these 'atypical pathogens' (AP) among adult hospitalized patients with CAP. ⋯ M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae as single/co-pathogens are important causes of severe pneumonia among older adults. No reliable clinical indicators exist, so empirical antibiotic coverage for hospitalized CAP patients may need to be considered.
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Although sputum culture in patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD is of uncertain value, it is routinely done. The ability to clinically identify patients likely or unlikely to yield bacterial sputum isolates would potentially reduce unnecessary tests. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical predictors of positive sputum cultures in this patient population. ⋯ A prediction model based on the variables of purulent sputum, FEV(1) and BMI predicted sputum culture result with about 90% accuracy. Pending further validation, this model may save valuable healthcare resources.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a pneumonia that develops initially more than 48 h from the start of tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. The route of infection is almost always through the respiratory tract. Intake of contaminants from outside the tracheal tube (silent aspiration) is considered a key route, and suctioning of secretions that have accumulated above the cuff of the endotracheal tubes is effective in preventing infection. ⋯ To diagnose pathogens, efforts should be made to collect specimens from the pneumonia focus. Realistically, however, diagnosis can also be achieved based on the clinical course and from the results of culture of samples from tracheal aspirate. Use of prophylactic antimicrobials is not recommended, but once a diagnosis is made, antimicrobials are administered that combat the causative microorganism.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and fatal diffuse parenchymal lung disease, is defined pathologically by the pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Unfortunately, a surgical lung biopsy cannot be performed in all patients due to comorbidities that may significantly increase the morbidity and mortality of the procedure. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has been put forth as a surrogate to recognize pathological UIP. ⋯ In such cases, surgical lung biopsy can be avoided. There are caveats to using the HRCT to diagnose IPF in isolation as a variety of chronic pulmonary interstitial diseases may progress to a UIP pattern. Referral centres with experience in diffuse parenchymal lung disease that have multidisciplinary teams encompassing clinicians, radiologists and pathologists have the highest level of agreement in diagnosing IPF.
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Little is known about the value of procalcitonin in predicting mortality in patients with an exacerbation of COPD. This study evaluated the clinical and biological predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with a severe acute exacerbation of COPD. ⋯ In patients with severe acute exacerbation of COPD requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, logistic organ dysfunction score, rapidly fatal underlying disease and procalcitonin are independently associated with increased risk for ICU mortality. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation use before intubation was independently associated with reduced risk for ICU mortality.