Therapy For Community-acquired Pneumonia Research Articles

Potential implications of using locally validated risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens in patients with community-acquired pneumonia in US hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

The 2019 ATS/IDSA community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines recommend that clinicians prescribe empiric antibiotics for MRSA or P. aeruginosa only if locally validated risk factors (or 2 generic risk factors if local validation is not feasible) are present. It remains unknown how implementation of this recommendation would influence care. This cross-sectional study included adults hospitalized for CAP across 50 hospitals in the Premier Healthcare Database from 2010-2015 and sought to describe how the use of extended-spectrum antibiotics (ESA) and the coverage for patients with CAP due to restraint organisms would change under the two approaches described in 2019 ATS/IDSA guidelines. To do this, the proportion of ESA use in patients with CAP and the proportion of ESA coverage among patients with infections resistant to recommended CAP therapy were measured. In the 50 hospitals, 19%-75% of patients received ESA, and 42%-100% of patients with resistant organisms received ESA. The median number of risk factors identified per hospital was 9 (interquartile range [IQR], 6-12). Overall, treatment according to local risk factors reduced the number of patients receiving ESA by 38.8 percentage points and using generic risk factors by 47.5 percentage points. However, the effect varied by hospital. The use of generic risk factors always resulted in less ESA use and less coverage for resistant organisms. Using locally validated risk factors resulted in a similar outcome in all but one hospital. Future guidelines should explicitly define the optimal trade-off between adequate coverage for resistant organisms and ESA use.

Controversies in the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious syndrome in Australia and a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. It drives a significant amount of antimicrobial prescribing in Australia. Accurate assessment and stratification of CAP severity is important. However, adequate evaluation is challenging and controversy remains about the optimal method. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most commonly identified bacterial pathogen causing CAP. As such, oral amoxicillin monotherapy is the mainstay of empirical therapy for low-severity CAP. The need to start empirical therapy for pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella species in low-severity CAP remains controversial; evaluating the causative pathogen on clinical grounds alone is difficult. Oral antibiotics recommended for CAP (e.g. amoxicillin, doxycycline) have excellent bioavailability and may be used instead of intravenous therapy in some hospitalised patients. A duration of 5 days of antibiotic therapy is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for patients with uncomplicated CAP who meet stability criteria at follow-up.

Community-acquired pneumonia in outpatients: topical issues of antibacterial therapy

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Successful treatment of patients with CAP is mainly determined by the correct choice of the place of treatment (outpatient or inpatient) and the correct initial empirical therapy, considering the predictable spectrum of potential pathogens of CAP. The article provides up-to-date data on the etiological structure of non-severe CAP. Most patients with CAP receive outpatient medical care, which is determined by their clinical status and a limited number of laboratory data for minimizing the risk of adverse outcomes in CAP. The absence of a microbiological diagnosis in a mild course of CAP does not lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of empirical antibacterial therapy in outpatient settings. The article highlights current clinical recommendations on the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy for CAP in outpatients. Amoxicillin is a semi-synthetic penicillin, which, including in combination with the beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, is the most affordable and widely used penicillin in various countries. According to clinical recommendations, amoxicillin, including in combination with a β-lactamase inhibitor, is the drug of choice for the initial empirical therapy of most outpatients with CAP. The oral route is the most common and preferred for antibiotic delivery in mild CAP. Dispersible forms of tablets have certain advantages, including easier intake in patients with difficulty swallowing, such as the elderly, stroke patients, and children. The assessment of biological equivalence showed similar pharmacokinetic parameters of Amoxicillin and Amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid in the form of dispersible tablets and in the original form of film-coated tablets.

Experience of using immunomodulatory therapy in the complex treatment of mild community-acquired pneumonia and its long-term results

A decrease of nonspecific body resistance, an imbalance of local and systemic immunity and a free-radical oxidation abnormality substantially contribute to the pathogenesis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Purpose: To study the efficiency of including immunomodulators into the comprehensive treatment of nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia and assess the long-term effects of the treatment conducted.Patients (n = 55) with non-severe CAP (41 (31-48) years old, with CRB-65 score of 0.15 (0-1)) are included in the study. Group 1 (control) received only standard CAP therapy; the other two groups received immunomodulators concurrently with the standard therapy: bacterial lysate (BL) for group 2 and azoximer bromide (AzB) for group 3. TNFα and IL-6 concentration was determined on the day of visit, on day 13 and day 60 of follow-up. During 2 years, the incidence of low respiratory tract infections (LRTI) was studied in the same patients with CAP in past (n = 55). All patients (n = 55) had clinical signs of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia. The overall duration of all symptoms was lower in immunomodulators groups as compared to the control group: 12 (11-13) days in BL group (p < 0.001) and 12 (11-12) days in AzB group (p < 0.001) with no statistically significant difference between intervention groups (p = 0.36). During treatment, TNFα and IL-6 concentration decreased on day 13 and day 60 in all patients; in patients who received immunomodulators, TNFα and IL-6 were reliably lower as compared to the control. Changes of TNFα and IL-6 concentration in the groups on day 60 of the study as compared to the baseline showed a decrease in BL group by 85 (-89 – -82) % and 86 (-90 – -85) % (p < 0.001; p = 0.001 and control); in AzB group by 82 (-86 – -80) % and 86 (-88 – -84) % (p = 0.002; p = 0.007 and control). Intensity of IL-6 concentration decrease on day 60 in BL and AzB groups did not differ (p = 0.72). Gender- and age-adjusted odds ratio for the development of low respiratory tract diseases (during 2 years after CAP) in AzB group was 0.15 (0.02-0.93) (p = 0.04) suggesting its protective effect. Inclusion of immunomodulators in basic treatment of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia reduces duration of symptoms and is associated with improvement of the proinflammatory cytokine profile. In 2 years of follow-up, long-term effects of the immunomodulatory therapy showed statistically significant lower incidence of low respiratory tract infections in AzB group only.

Clarification of Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy in Community-acquired Pneumonia

Abstract We received a complaint of fever and tachypnea from a 6-year-old girl who came to our hospital. She was treated for 20 days with antibiotics and corticosteroids. She was admitted for 10 days with a diagnosis of pneumonia and was discharged after the fever subsided. Two days after her discharge, the respiratory symptoms returned, and she came to us because of the severity of her symptoms. We diagnosed her with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), performed the necessary radiographic and laboratory procedures, and the following outcomes were obtained: the computed tomography scan revealed consolidation between the right lung’s upper and middle lobes as well as an air bronchogram, but the chest ultrasound revealed no signs of pleural effusion. D-dimer, white blood cell, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were also high in the laboratory test results, indicating pulmonary inflammation. She was finally diagnosed with CAP, and although the cause of the illness is unknown, she underwent a 14-day course of common antibiotics. Two days after the medication began, the fever subsided, and the tachypnea decreased. We believe that the corticosteroid treatment during the initial hospital stay is what caused the disease agent to persist and cause the fever to recur.

Impact of antibiotic treatment duration on community-acquired pneumonia in children: a systematic review

The treatment of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with antibiotics is important due to its substantial global health impact. To support clinical practice and antibiotic stewardship, this narrative review investigates the effects of the length of antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of childhood CAP. A thorough search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar produced English articles published in the last ten years (2019–2024) and looked at the connection between the length of antibiotic therapy and the outcomes of community-associated pneumonia in children. There is increasing evidence to support the similarity of shorter and longer antibiotic regimens for treating juvenile community-acquired pneumonia. Research continuously shows that shorter periods of antibiotic therapy—usually five days—produce similar clinical results as lengthier regimens that last seven to 10 days. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on tailored treatment plans that take into account the child's age, the severity of the symptoms, and regional trends of antibiotic resistance. The included studies, albeit observational and retrospective, provide important insights into the safety, effectiveness, and consequences of various antibiotic regimens in the therapy of pediatric CAP. This review emphasizes the significance of evidence-based strategies to maximize antibiotic treatment for pediatric CAP, while also noting research limitations. More research is required to enhance treatment methods and results for kids with CAP. This includes carefully planned randomized controlled trials and integrated diagnostic tools.

Modern Directions of Optimization of Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (Review)

Modern Directions of Optimization of Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (Review)

Community-acquired pneumonia in young children living in various climatogeographic zones of the Republic of Dagestan

Introduction. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in early childhood continues to cause significant morbidity and remains one of the most common serious infections in childhood. Each region of the Russian Federation exhibits specific manifestations of CAP morbidity. Knowledge of CAP etiology is crucial for planning therapeutic and preventive measures. 
 Aim. To determine the etiological and immunological features of CAP in early childhood, residing in various climatogeographical zones of the Republic of Dagestan.
 Materials and methods. The material includes the results of examination and treatment of CAP 204 young children. living in lowland, foothill and mountain climatogeographical zones of the Republic of Dagestan. The selection criterion was the clinical-radiological diagnosis of CAP, using the classification of clinical forms of bronchopulmonary diseases in children.
 Results. The study revealed a rise in the incidence of respiratory organ diseases, including CAP, among children in the Republic of Dagestan (RD) over the past 5 years. Among infants under one year, the CAP rate was twice as high. The prevalence can be attributed to the climatogeographical conditions of children’s living environments. Streptococcal infection was also observed to predominate in the ethnostructure of CAP in early childhood across all climatogeographical zones. Streptococcus pneumoniae (48.1%) was more frequently isolated in all climatogeographical zones, while Staphylococcus aureus (13.3%) dominated in the mid-mountain zone. In mild pneumonia, cellular immunity components, represented by reduced CD3, CD4, CD25, CD71, react primarily. Disease exacerbation leads to depletion of CD8, CD16, CD20. Severe pneumonia triggers the involvement of humoral immunity, leading to changes in clinical blood analysis — leukocytosis and an increase in mature and immature forms of neutrophils. The levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 in blood serum increase depending on the area of inflammation and the CAP severity. In observed children with focal-draining and segmental CAP, their levels significantly increased. For empirical antibacterial therapy of CAP, recommendations include amoxicillin, protected ampicillins, third-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, and vancomycin in mono- or combination therapy.
 Conclusion. The conducted research highlights the need for managing ethnological monitoring with antibiotic sensitivity testing of infectious agents causing CAP in children.

Diagnosis and Therapy of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Observational Study and Medical Audit.

Despite advances in therapy, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Several studies conducted in different countries have reported suboptimal adherence to the guidelines. However, there are currently no available data on adherence to CAP guidelines specifically in Switzerland. The aim of this study was to audit the quality of diagnosis and therapy of CAP at a Swiss general hospital. A retrospective, observational, single-center cohort study was conducted, including patients older than 18 years diagnosed with CAP and admitted to a medical ward throughout 2019 without prior antibiotic therapy prescribed by their general practitioner (GP). The baseline characteristics of the patients were analyzed, and the diagnostic workup and treatment were compared to the Swiss guidelines for CAP. A total of 254 patients diagnosed with CAP were included in this study (median age 78 years, 51.6% males). Atypical pneumonia was diagnosed in 4% of patients, while an organism was identified in 33% of cases, with Streptococcus pneumoniae being the most frequently detected pathogen (57%). A chest image was taken in almost all patients. Documentation of respiratory rate was missing in 23% of cases. Procalcitonin was measured in 23.2% of cases. Pneumococcal and legionella urinary antigen testing was performed on approximately 90% of all patients and blood cultures were drawn in approximately 80% of patients. In 39% of cases, arterial blood gas analysis was performed. Guideline adherence for the administration of empiric antibiotics was documented/recorded in 75% of cases. Twelve different antibiotic regimens were administered, and they were mostly amoxicillin/clavulanate with or without macrolides, as suggested by the guidelines. In particular, the use of ceftriaxone was higher (19.7%) compared to the Swiss guidelines. The average length of antibiotic therapy was longer (8.2 days) compared to the guidelines (5-7 days). Oral steroid therapy was administered to 29.1% of patients, including to 75% of those diagnosed with COPD. Overall, guideline adherence was moderately low, especially with regards to the assessment of respiratory rate, performance of arterial blood gas analysis, and sputum collection. Regarding antibiotic therapy, the use of ceftriaxone and the length of antibiotic therapy should be reduced. Further research is needed to identify the reasons for guideline non-adherence, and to find effective measures for the improvement of guideline adherence.

Non-antimicrobial therapy of community-acquired pneumonia

This publication deals with the issue of adjuvant (non-antimicrobial) therapy for community-acquired pneumonia. A critical analysis is provided on the appropriateness of using various drugs (mucolytics, non-steroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs, immunoglobulins, etc.) and physical methods of chest impact for community-acquired pneumonia, and recommendations are given for their clinical use. Special attention is paid to the use of systemic glucocorticosteroids and inhaled nitric oxide.

Retrospective pharmacoeconomic study of antibiotic therapy in community-acquired pneumonia

Background. The global recommendations for the treatment strategy of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) include the empirical prescription of antibiotic therapy (ABT) – beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides until the results of laboratory tests are obtained to identify the etiological agent responsible for CAP to determine etiotropic therapy. According to the national Russian clinical guidelines, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and aminopenicillins are recommended for empirical prescription. Meta-analyses found better outcomes in patients treated with a combination of macrolides with beta-lactam compared to beta-lactam alone. At the same time, the clinical benefit of adding macrolides to beta-lactams for the empirical treatment of moderate CAP remains controversial, since the difference in the results of therapy may depend on the age and comorbid conditions of patients.Objective: to analyze the costs of treating CAP with various ABT strategies in order to optimize the cost structure of a medical organization and plan the budget of local healthcare systems.Material and methods. A retrospective epidemiological analysis of extracts from 157 medical records of middle-aged patients in accordance with the World Health Organization classification treated in multidisciplinary medical organizations was carried out. The methods included frequency analysis, cost of illness analysis, cost minimization analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Depth of research was 2 years.Results. Frequency analysis revealed that the initial strategy of ceftriaxone and azithromycin combination (n=74; 47%) prevailed in prescriptions. In terms of the rate of prescriptions, ceftriaxone monotherapy (n=37; 24%) was in the second place. The analysis of the effectiveness of the selected ABT strategies showed that, in general, 113 (72%) of prescriptions were effective. Standard therapy strategies were equivalent in absolute costs and had a similar cost structure.Conclusion. Doctors’ adherence to national clinical guidelines for CAP treatment was found when prescribing the initial empirical ABT, the dominant strategies were identified. Cost of illness analysis demonstrated that the applied strategies were optimal in terms of cost minimization, and cost-effectiveness ratio. The costs structure in therapy with various ABT strategies did not have significant differences. In medical organizations, they adhere to the most rational and cost-effective strategy for CAP treatment and prescribe ABT regimens in each individual case based on risk factors, as well as the results of studies of CAP pathogens sensitivity.

Mucoactive therapy in community-acquired pneumonia

Aim. To study the clinical efficacy of Bronchipret syrup compared with the standard (real-world practice) mucoactive therapy for patients with viral pneumonia.
 Materials and methods. The observation study included patients 1870 years old who presented with productive cough and were admitted to the pulmonology department with medically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The study included 60 patients; Group 1 included 30 patients who received Bronchipret syrup 5.4 mL 3 times a day for up to 1014 days. The other 30 patients with CAP were included in Group 2 (control), in which other mucoactive drugs were used at the discretion of the physician: acetylcysteine in 56.7% of patients, ambroxol in 30%, and bromhexine in 13.3%. The duration of therapy was established by a physician for a period of 1014 days.
 Results. A significant decrease in sputum secretion was observed during treatment with Bronchipret (Group 1) on average on day 4 (after 4.31.2 days) and after 4.50.9 days in group 2. A decrease in the severity of daytime cough in Group 1 was observed after 4.91.2 days vs. 5.11.1 days in Group 2. The nocturnal cough stopped in 2.71.3 days in Group 1 and 2.60.9 days in Group 2.
 Conclusion. The data support the use of combined products containing ivy and thyme in patients with CAP and mucolytics.

Community-acquired pneumonia: antibiotic therapy approach after the COVID-19 pandemic. A review

Pneumonia is clearly differentiated from other focal inflammatory lung diseases of non-infectious origin. A patient with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) should receive antibacterial drugs no later than 4 hours after the diagnosis. Initial antibacterial therapy in CAP should be based on factors affecting the potential causative agents and the risk of drug-resistant microorganisms. Rational use of amoxicillin in terms of dose and frequency in CAP patients without severe comorbidities and risk factors for PES pathogens, the use of -lactam in combination with a macrolide or moxifloxacin monotherapy in high-risk groups of patients is the most effective strategy of empirical antibacterial therapy.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia: principles of diagnostics and intensive therapy

BACKGROUND. Pneumonia is an important medical and social problem due to its high prevalence, high rates of disability and mortality, and significant economic losses due to this disease. In Ukraine in 2017, the incidence of pneumonia among adults was 384.0 cases per 100,000 population, and the mortality rate was 11.7 per 100,000 population, i. e. more than 3 % of those who had pneumonia died. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from pneumonia among all age groups worldwide: 3-4 million people suffer from CAP with high morbidity and mortality.
 OBJECTIVE. To analyze the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of severe CAP from the modern literature data to optimize the treatment of this group of patients.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS. Bibliosemantic, comparative, and system analysis methods were used. The proposed recommendations are based on the analysis of modern literature, the results of randomized studies, and meta-analyses devoted to the investigation of the problem of diagnosis and management of severe CAP.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. The problems of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of severe CAP were analyzed using modern literature data to optimize the treatment of this group of patients. CAP can be caused by various pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, atypical bacteria (eg, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella species), and viruses. It is quite difficult to establish the etiology of pneumonia even with the use of modern microbiological technologies, therefore, in many countries of the world, a classification is used that takes into account the conditions of the occurrence of the disease, the features of the infection of the lung tissue, as well as the immune reactivity of the patient’s organism. This classification makes it possible to predict the probable causative agent of the disease with a fairly high degree of probability. The diagnosis of CAP is considered established in the presence of radiologically confirmed focal infiltration of lung tissue and at least two of the following clinical signs: acute onset of the disease with a body temperature >38 °C, cough with sputum, physical signs (muffled or dull percussion sound, weakened and/or harsh bronchial breathing, a focus of sonorous small vesicular rales and/or crepitations), leukocytosis (>10×109 /L), and/or shift to rod nuclear cells (>10 % of them). The severity of CAP is assessed clinically, as well as using the criteria given in the scales to determine the need for the patient to be hospitalized or admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients with CAP requiring mechanical ventilation or with septic shock should be admitted to the ICU.
 CONCLUSIONS. Severe CAP is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and although there are European and non-European guidelines for CAP, there are no specific guidelines for severe CAP. These international guidelines from ERS, ESICM, ESCMID, and ALAT present evidence-based clinical recommendations for the diagnosis, empiric treatment, and antibiotic therapy of severe CAP according to the GRADE approach. In addition, existing knowledge gaps were identified and recommendations for future research were provided.

Use of immunomodulatory therapy as part of comprehensive treatment of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia and its long-term results.

This study investigates the efficiency of two different types of immunomodulators for the treatment of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and assesses their long-term effects. The study included 55 patients with non-severe CAP. Group 1 (control) received only standard CAP therapy; the other two groups received immunomodulators simultaneously with the standard therapy: bacterial lysate for group 2 and azoximer bromide (AzB) for group 3. TNF and IL-6 concentrations were determined on the day of hospitalization as well as on days 13 and 60 of follow-up. For 2 years, we monitored the incidence of low respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in the same patients with CAP (n=55). The overall duration of all symptoms was lower in the immunomodulator groups compared with the control group. During treatment, TNF and IL-6 concentrations decreased on days 13 and 60 in all patients; in patients who received immunomodulators, TNF and IL-6 were reliably lower than in control patients. IL-6 concentration decreased on day 60 in the bacterial lysate and AzB treatment groups and did not differ (p=0.72). The odds ratio for the development of LRTIs in the AzB group was 0.15 (0.02-0.93) (p=0.04), suggesting its protective effect. Inclusion of immunomodulators in the basic treatment of non-severe CAP reduces the duration of symptoms and is associated with improvement of the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile. In 2 years of follow-up, the long-term effects of the immunomodulatory therapy showed a statistically significant lower incidence of LRTIs in the AzB group only. However, given the small sample size of this study, further clinical studies are needed.

Reducing the rate of guideline-discordant therapy for inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia

Background: Despite guidelines recommending shorter durations of therapy and empiric coverage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) only for patients with certain risk factors, optimizing therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a challenge for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) teams. We investigated the impact of a multimodal AMS initiative on the rate of guideline-discordant empiric antibiotic selection and total duration of therapy for CAP. Methods: A quality improvement initiative was implemented at 9 community hospitals in 2022 to optimize CAP therapy. Education was provided to pharmacists and providers. Alerts were implemented within the electronic medical record to prompt the AMS team to review fluoroquinolones, antipseudomonal β-lactams, and anti-MRSA agents ordered for CAP. Clinical pharmacists reviewed antibiotic orders for CAP at hospital discharge and encouraged providers to prescribe a total antibiotic duration of 5–7 days. For the preintervention period (July– September 2021) and the postintervention period (July to September 2022), a random sample of 320 patients with an antibiotic order for CAP were evaluated retrospectively via chart review. Patients treated for an indication other than CAP were excluded. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a total duration of therapy >7 days. Secondary outcomes included average duration of therapy, rate of guideline-discordant empiric therapy, and type of guideline discordance. Results: In total, 317 patients were included. The proportion of patients with a total duration of therapy >7 days decreased from 29% to 14% (P < .01). Average duration of therapy and guideline-discordant empiric therapy also decreased significantly (Table 1). Conclusions: This multifaceted AMS initiative was associated with decreased guideline-discordant empiric therapy and decreased total duration of therapy for CAP.Disclosures: None

Risk Factors and outcomes associated with inappropriate empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic use in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Background: Inappropriate broad-spectrum antibiotic use targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can result in increased adverse events, antibiotic resistance, and Clostridioides difficile infection. In 2019, revised ATS/IDSA community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines removed healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) as a clinical entity and modified patient factors warranting empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic (BSA) use. As a result, most patients hospitalized with CAP should receive empiric antibiotics targeting standard CAP pathogens. Based on revised guidelines, we evaluated predictors and outcomes associated with inappropriate BSA use among hospitalized patients with CAP. Methods: Between November 2019 and July 2022, trained abstractors collected data on non-ICU adult medical patients admitted with CAP at 67 Michigan hospitals who received either an inappropriate empiric BSA on hospital day 1 or 2 or a standard CAP regimen. Inappropriate empiric BSA use was defined as use of an anti-MRSA or anti-pseudomonal antibiotic in a patient eligible for standard CAP coverage per IDSA guidelines. Patients with immune compromise, moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary complication, or guideline-concordant treatment with BSA were excluded. Data collected included comorbidities, antibiotic use and hospitalizations in the preceding 90 days, cultures in the preceding year, signs or symptoms of pneumonia, hospital characteristics, and 30-day postdischarge patient outcomes. Data were collected through chart review and patient phone calls. Predictors of inappropriate empiric BSA were evaluated using logistic general estimating equation (GEE) models, accounting for hospital-level clustering. We assessed the effect of inappropriate empiric BSA (vs standard CAP therapy) on 30-day patient outcomes using logistic GEE models controlling for predictors associated with the outcome and probability of treatment. Results: Of 8,286 included patients with CAP, 2,215 (26.7%) were empirically treated with inappropriate BSA. The median BSA treatment was 3 days (IQR, 2.5). After adjustments, factors associated with inappropriate empiric BSA treatment included hospitalization or treatment with high-risk antibiotics in preceding 90 days, transfer from a postacute care facility, hemodialysis, support with ≥3 L supplemental oxygen, severe sepsis, leukocytosis, and higher pneumonia severity index (Fig. 1). After adjustments, patients with inappropriate empiric BSA treatment had higher readmissions 30 days after discharge, more transfers to the intensive care unit, more antibiotic-associated adverse events, and longer hospitalizations (Fig. 2). Conclusions: Patients hospitalized with CAP often received inappropriate BSA as empiric coverage, and this inappropriate antibiotic selection was associated with worse patient outcomes. To improve patient outcomes, stewardship efforts should focus on reducing inappropriate BSA use in patients hospitalized for CAP with historic HCAP risk factors or severe CAP without other guideline-directed indications for BSA.Financial support. H.M.S. initiative is underwritten by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.Disclosures: None

La terapia breve per la polmonite acquisita in comunità è superiore alla terapia tradizionale: i risultati del RCT SCOUT-CAP

Brief therapy for community-acquired pneumonia is superior to traditional therapy: findings from SCOUT-CAP RCT This US multicenter study of good methodological quality, with an innovative method of enrollment of 380 uncomplicated cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) on the third day of antibiotic therapy, is the first one to demonstrate the superiority a short antibiotic therapy (5 days) in children aged 6-71 months compared to the traditional one. The RADAR score used by the authors to assess superiority considers not only the clinical response to therapy and resolution of symptoms but also the presence and severity of adverse effects of antibiotic therapy (box.1). Slightly less than 10% of children in each strategy have an inadequate clinical response. Short therapy has a 69% probability (95% CI, 63-75) of presenting a more desirable RADAR score than standard therapy. In addition, the authors performed antibiotic resistance (resistoma) gene analysis for a group of 171 children. The average number of antibiotic resistance genes per prokaryotic cell (RGPC) was significantly lower with short therapy and thus helpful in counteracting the problematic phenomenon of antibiotic resistance.

Analysis of antibacterials for systemic use recommended for the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Ukraine according to the modern approach to preventing the development of antimicrobial resistance

BACKGROUND. According to a 2019 epidemiological study, antibiotic resistance (AR) caused about 1.27 million deaths worldwide, with lower respiratory tract infections (particularly pneumonia) dominating the global disease burden caused by resistant microorganisms.
 OBJECTIVE. To determine the compliance of antibiotics (J01), which are recommended by the guidelines of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine for the empiric therapy of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults, with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations based on the prevention of the development of AR.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS. Objects – antibiotics (J01) recommended by the guideline and their belonging to the access, watch and reserve groups according to the WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics. Methods: system overview, analytical, comparison and generalization.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. In the guidelines for empiric therapy of CAP in adults, antibiotics of 7 groups are recommended, from which 36 international non-proprietary names (INNs) were selected and analyzed. Of these, 7 INNs belong to the access group, of which only 4 antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin / clavulanic acid, gentamicin, doxycycline) are recommended by WHO experts for empiric treatment of CAP in adults; 26 INNs belong to the watch group, but only 3 antibiotics (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin) according to the WHO database are recommended as empiric therapy for the severe CAP in adults. Ceftaroline, according to the WHO AWaRe antibiotic classification, belongs to the reserve group and should be used to fight multiresistant microorganisms. No antibiotic of the reserve group is recommended by WHO for empiric therapy of CAP.
 CONCLUSIONS. The results of the analysis can be used in updating the recommendations for rational empiric antibiotic therapy of CAP, taking into account the mechanisms of resistance to the development and spread of AR.

Retrospective Analysis of the Initial Empirical Antibiotic Therapy Effectiveness for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Young Individuals in Moscow Multidisciplinary Hospital

Despite the fact that the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among young people is significantly lower than among older patients, the frequency of hospitalizations for severe CAP among people under 45 years of age remains high. The effectiveness and duration of treatment directly depend on the rationally selected initial empirical antibacterial therapy (ABT).The aim of the study is to analyze the factors influencing the effectiveness of initial empiric antibacterial therapy for CAP in young people in multidisciplinary medical institutions.Materials and methods. The study was designed as a retrospective observational study; it analyzes 105 medical records of young patients with CAP admitted to one of the multidisciplinary hospitals in Moscow from 2017 to 2019.Results. The empiric ceftriaxone + azithromycin ABT regimen (70% of all prescriptions) was ineffective in 13.7% of cases; monotherapy with ceftriaxone (13% of all prescriptions) was ineffective in 57% cases. Severe CAP, acute respiratory failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and exudative pleurisy were diagnosed with significantly higher frequency in the group of patients with ineffective initial empirical ABT. There was no predominance of any comorbid pathology and Charlson Comorbidity Index in groups where the initial ABT was changed and in groups without a change in initial ABT. The microbiological spectrum of CAP pathogens did not significantly differ in young patients between groups with a changed initial empirical ABT and a group without changing initial ABT.Conclusion. The reasons for the ineffectiveness of the initial empirical ABT could be such factors as: underestimation of the risk of the presence of multidrug-resistant pathogens; underestimation of the risk of viral genesis of CAP; underestimation of the severity of CAP, as well as the severity of CAP complications.