Lobar Pneumonia Research Articles

Development of Streptococcus pyogenes pneumnonia and pleural empyema post-chickenpox infection in a 5-year-old child: A case report

Background: The introduction of the varicella vaccine has led to a significant decrease in pediatric varicella-induced invasive Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcal [GAS]) infections. However, the development of a pleural empyema following a chickenpox infection is a rare complication in pediatric patients. Case presentation: In this report, we present a 5-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with a deteriorating course two days after a chickenpox infection. The patient complained of high-grade documented fever, a congested throat, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and most importantly, decreased air entry on the right side of the chest, along with the presence of crepitations. Such a deteriorated clinical picture suggested the presence of an infectious cause. The patient’s physical examination and radiological imaging provided evidence for the presence of lower right-sided lobar pneumonia. On the second day of hospitalization, the patient showed worsening respiratory distress, prompting further investigations that confirmed the development of a right-sided pleural empyema through radiological imaging. Pediatric surgery consultation was requested, and 500 cc of pus was drained following the insertion of a chest tube, which was later sent for analysis. The patient’s clinical picture improved significantly following this intervention. Due to the severity of his condition, the patient was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for close monitoring. After one night in the PICU, during which his condition stabilized and oxygen therapy was gradually weaned off, the patient continued to improve on the general ward. Daily assessments and laboratory tests showed decreasing inflammatory markers and resolution of symptoms. Following three days of admission and confirmation of no underlying immunologic deficiency, the patient was discharged home with appropriate antibiotic therapy and follow-up instructions. Discussion: Similar cases have been sporadically documented in pediatric literature, with notable examples involving older patients. The pathophysiology involves complex immune interactions and virulence factors of GAS, contributing to severe outcomes such as pleural effusion. Conclusion: In this case, the 5-year-old patient experienced a severe progression from chickenpox to pleural empyema but ultimately improved following prompt medical intervention and chest tube drainage. The patient was discharged after a successful recovery, highlighting the efficacy of early recognition and treatment in managing such complications.

520. TEMPORARY ESOPHAGEAL EXCLUSION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DELAYED RECOGNITION OF THORACIC ESOPHAGEAL PERFORATION

Abstract Background Perforation of the esophagus is a rare surgical emergency and timing is crucial for prognosis. Late interventions are likely to result in terminal bipolar esophageal exclusion, requiring a subsequent reconstructive procedure to restore the esophageal transit, associated with high rate of morbidity and mortality. Methods From January 2013 to June 2023, 32 patients with esophageal perforations referred to our center required surgical treatment. We retrospectively analyzed two cases of late middle thoracic perforation treated with temporary esophageal exclusion. Results A 31-year-old male presented in May 2020 after 6 days from perforation due to bolus impaction in eosinophilic esophagitis and a 79-year-old male referred us in November 2022 8 days after Boerhaave syndrome. Direct closure wasn’t feasible due to tissue fibrosis and degeneration. In both cases we performed thoracoscopic toilette with drainage placement and bipolar temporary exclusion of the esophagus. A lateral esophagostomy was performed, and cardias was temporarily excluded. In the first case a PTFE prothesis was used as a loop around the EGJ and fixed on the abdominal esophagus, in the second case TA45 linear stapler loaded with 3.5 staples was used. For nutritional purposes a gastrostomy and a jejunostomy were placed. Post-operatively, pleural empyema was managed conservatively with a thoracic drain and antibiotic therapy, instead mediastinal collection sustained by the perforation was drained through the tangential esophagostomy with a NG tube placed endoscopically across the perforation. The patients were discharged in 27 and 20 POD respectively. The second patient was readmitted in 45 POD due right lobar pneumonia, treated with antibiotics. In the first case the PTFE prothesis was laparoscopically removed after 70 days and the tangential esophagostomy sutured. In the second case esophageal transit was spontaneously restored and esophagostomy was subsequentially sutured. Oral feeding was resumed in both patients, without resulting stenosis or leakage. Conclusion In selected patients with late thoracic esophageal perforations, temporary esophageal exclusion represented an alternative treatment, without mortality and with low morbidity, to terminal esophageal exclusion and a subsequent reconstructive procedure.

Navigating the Complexities in Tuberculosis Management: A Case of Transverse Myelitis Masquerade

This case report underscores the intricate nature of diagnosing and treating neurological complications linked with tuberculosis (TB). Initially, a senior male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was treated for lobar pneumonia, yet failed to show improvement. Further assessment revealed bilateral lower limb weakness and sensory disruptions post Anti Tubercular Therapy (ATT) initiation, suggestive of acute transverse myelitis (ATM). Prompt administration of corticosteroids alongside ATT led to substantial clinical amelioration, despite inconclusive radiological evidence. The case highlights the necessity of considering TB in unconventional neurological presentations, timely initiation of suitable therapy, and the potential benefits of a collaborative approach in enhancing patient outcomes.

Demonstration of Resolution of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Over a Short Course of Antibiotics on [18F]FDG-PET/CT Undertaken for Suspected Perimyocarditis Evaluation

AbstractA 28-year-old male presenting with left-sided pleuritic chest pain, cough, palpitation, and fever with mild ST depression in II, III, and aVF, raised troponin I, troponin T, creatine phosphokinase-MB, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was referred for F-18 2-fluoro 2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography with noncontrast computed tomography ([18F]FDG-PET/CT) to rule out perimyocarditis. The first scan revealed incidental finding of [18F]FDG avid left lobar pneumonia and inadequate myocardial suppression, thus perimyocarditis could not be ruled out. The clinician was informed and after counseling, patient consented for a repeat study post-high fat-low carbohydrate diet. A regional [18F]FDG-PET/CT on the 5th day revealed adequate myocardial suppression, ruling out perimyocarditis. However, the metabolic and anatomical resolution of previously noted left lobar pneumonia was also observed in such a span of time with the administered antibiotics.

Clinical phenotyping of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children

Objective: To investigate and summarize pediatric patients with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) presenting with varied clinical and chest imaging features in order to guide the individualized treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Medical records of clinical, imaging and laboratory data of 505 patients with MPP who were admitted to the Department Ⅱ of Respirology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2016 to October 2023 and met the enrollment criteria were included. They were divided into severe group and non-severe group according to whether lower airway obliterans was developed. The clinical and chest imaging features of the two groups were analyzed. Those severe cases with single lobe ≥2/3 consolidation (lobar consolidation) were further divided into subtype lung-necrosis and subtype non-lung-necrosis based on whether lung necrosis was developed. Comparison on the clinical manifestations, bronchoscopic findings, whole blood C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory indicators between the two subtypes was performed. Comparisons between two groups were achieved using independent-sample t-test, nonparametric test or chi-square test. Univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed on the indicators such as CRP of the two subtypes. Results: Of the 505 cases, 254 were male and 251 were female. The age of the onset was (8.2±2.9) years. There were 233 severe cases, among whom 206 were with lobar consolidation and 27 with diffuse bronchiolitis. The other 272 belonged to non-severe cases, with patchy, cloudy infiltrations or single lobe <2/3 uneven consolidation or localized bronchiolitis. Of the 206 cases (88.4%) severe cases with lobar consolidation, 88 harbored subtype lung-necrosis and 118 harbored subtype non-lung-necrosis. All 206 cases (100.0%) presented with persistent high fever, among whom 203 cases (98.5%) presented with inflammatory secretion obstruction and plastic bronchitis under bronchoscopy. Of those 88 cases with subtype lung-necrosis, there were 42 cases (47.7%) with dyspnea and 39 cases (44.3%) with moderate to massive amount of pleural effusion. There were 35 cases (39.8%) diagnosed with lung embolism during the disease course, of which other 34 cases (38.6%) were highly suspected. Extensive airway mucosal necrosis was observed in 46 cases (52.3%), and the level of their whole blood CRP was significantly higher than that of subtype non-lung-necrosis (131.5 (91.0, 180.0) vs. 25.5 (12.0, 43.1) mg/L, U=334.00, P<0.001). They were regarded as subtype "lung consolidation-atelectasis-necrosis". Of those 118 cases with subtype non-lung-necrosis, 27 cases (22.9%) presented with dyspnea and none were with moderate to massive amount of pleural effusion. Sixty-five cases (55.1%) presented with plastic bronchitis and localized airway mucosal necrosis was observed in 32 cases (27.1%). They were deemed as subtype "lung consolidation-atelectasis". ROC curve analyses revealed that whole blood CRP of 67.5 mg/L on the 6-10 th day of disease course exhibited a sensitivity of 0.96, a specificity of 0.89, and an area under the curve of 0.97 for distinguishing between these two subtypes among those with lobar consolidation. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with severe MPP present with lobar consolidation or diffuse bronchiolitis on chest imaging. Those with lobar consolidation harbor 2 subtypes as "lung consolidation-atelectasis-necrosis" and "lung consolidation-atelectasis". Whole blood CRP of 67.5 mg/L can be applied as an early discriminating indicator to discriminate between these two subtypes.

Construction of a predictive model of respiratory endoscopic intervention in children with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of children with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection, to explore the independent risk factors for bronchoscopic intervention in children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection. There is a lack of objective assessment tools to guide the use of bronchoscopy in clinical practice. For children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection, whether line shall be actively bronchoscope intervention therapy remains to be further defined. We also aimed to construct an early warning model of bronchoscopic intervention to provide an objective evaluation tool for clinicians. We collected the clinical data of 533 children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection. The patients were divided into three groups according to the interventional indications for bronchoscopy and whether they were treated with bronchoscopic intervention, and the clinical features and prognosis of the three groups were compared. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed on the indicators with a significance value of P<0.05, which we retrieved from the comparative analysis between the first two groups to uncover the independent risk factors and regression equations concerning bronchoscopic intervention. The regression coefficient (β) of our regression model was then used to score related values in the model to construct a predictive scoring model of bronchoscopic intervention for the treatment of children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection. Children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection who demonstrated absolute indications for bronchoscopy exhibited more severe clinical manifestations, and children without absolute indications for bronchoscopy had a better prognosis even without bronchoscopic intervention. To establish our early warning model of bronchoscopic intervention for children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection, we used the following indices: C-reactive protein ≥20.94 mg/L (β1=2.253) received 3 points, while a fever duration before bronchoscopy ≥6.5 d (β2=1.424), lactate dehydrogenase ≥461.5 U/L (β3=1.246), or fever (β4=1.223) each received 2 points, and the complication of pleural effusion (β5=0.841) received 1 point, for a total possible score of 10 points. When the score for the children with lobar pneumonia caused by MP infection was ≥6, the possibility of bronchoscopic intervention for treatment was >80%. The higher the score, the greater the possibility of bronchoscopic intervention.

Construction of a nomogram for early diagnosis of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

Refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) has a serious, rapid progression that can easily cause a variety of extra-pulmonary complications. Therefore, the early identification of RMPP is crucial. This study aimed to construct and validate a risk prediction model based on clinical manifestations, laboratory blood indicators, and radiological findings to help clinicians identify patients who are at high risk of RMPP. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 369 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) admitted to Xi'an Children's Hospital, China. The demographics, clinical features, laboratory data, and radiological findings between the RMPP group and the general Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (GMPP) group were compared and subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The fever peak and duration of the children in the RMPP group (n=86) were higher and longer compared with those in the GMPP group (n=283) (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the incidence of lobar pneumonia and pleural effusion in pulmonary imaging between the two groups (P<0.05). Laboratory tests showed that the children with RMPP had lower serum uric acid (SUA) and albumin (ALB) as compared with the GMPP group (P<0.05). White blood cells (WBCs), neutrophil count (NEP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were higher in the RMPP group (P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the fever duration, pleural effusion, WBC, NEP, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), CRP, NLR, and SUA levels were independent predictors of RMPP (P<0.05). The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve results showed fever duration, WBC, NEP, CRP, LDH, SUA, and NLR had good predictive value. The areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.861, 0.730, 0.758, 0.837, 0.868, 0.744, and 0.713 and the best cutoff values were 10.50, 10.13, 6.43, 29.45, 370.50, 170.50, and 3.47, respectively. Finally, fever duration of more than 10.5 days, pleural effusion, WBC >10.13×109/L, NEP >6.43×109/L, CRP >29.45 mg/L, LDH >370.50 U/L, NLR >3.47, and SUA <170.5 µmol/mL constructed a prediction model of RMPP. According to internal validation, the mean AUC of the nomogram based on the development dataset was 0.956 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.937-0.974] with good discrimination ability for predicting RMPP patients. The calibration plot and Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P=0.70) of the prediction model showed good consistency between the predicted probability and actual probability. Decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the nomogram is clinically useful. The simple and easy-to-use nomogram can help clinicians, especially primary doctors, to make early diagnoses of RMPP.

Comparison of radiologic findings between SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory tract viruses in critically ill children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study was planned because the radiological distinction of COVID-19 and respiratory viral panel (RVP)-positive cases is necessary to prioritize intensive care needs and ensure non-COVID-19 cases are not overlooked. With that purpose, the objective of this study was to compare radiologic findings between SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory airway viruses in critically ill children with suspected COVID-19 disease. This study was conducted as a multicenter, retrospective, observational, and cohort study in 24 pediatric intensive care units between March 1 and May 31, 2020. SARS-CoV-2- or RVP polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive patients' chest X-ray and thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings were evaluated blindly by pediatric radiologists. We enrolled 225 patients in the study, 81 of whom tested positive for Coronovirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The median age of all patients was 24 (7-96) months, while it was 96 (17-156) months for COVID-19-positive patients and 17 (6-48) months for positive for other RVP factor (p < 0.001). Chest X-rays were more frequently evaluated as normal in patients with SARS-CoV-2 positive results (p = 0.020). Unilateral segmental or lobar consolidation was observed more frequently on chest X-rays in rhinovirus cases than in other groups (p = 0.038). CT imaging findings of bilateral peribronchial thickening and/or peribronchial opacity were more frequently observed in RVP-positive patients (p = 0.046). Chest X-ray and CT findings in COVID-19 patients are not specific and can be seen in other respiratory virus infections.

Acute Q fever pneumonia diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Q fever, a zoonotic disease caused byCoxiella burnetii(C. burnetii), presents diagnostic challenges due to its clinical and radiological nonspecificity, which often mimics community-acquired pneumonia, coupled with the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has become an indispensable tool in clinical diagnostics for its high-throughput pathogen identification capabilities. Herein, we detail a case of acute Q fever pneumonia diagnosed with mNGS. The patient exhibited symptoms of fever, cough, expectoration, and diarrhea for three days, with the pathogen undetected in initial laboratory assessments. Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were conducted, leading to the identification of C. burnetii in the lavage fluid via mNGS. Consequently, the patient was promptly initiated on a treatment regimen of 100 mg doxycycline, administered orally every 12 hours. Post-treatment, the patient's temperature normalized, and a full recovery was observed. The follow-up chest CT scan revealed complete resolution of the right lower lobe consolidation. The clinical presentation of Q fever pneumonia lacks specificity, making diagnosis based solely on symptoms and imaging challenging. mNGS offers a superior alternative for identifying elusive or rarely cultured pathogens.

Effect of 4-Week Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Dyspnea, Fatigue, Quality of Life and Radiological Findings in a Patient with Pulmonary Renal Syndrome Suffering from Pneumonia - A Case Study

Background: Pulmonary renal syndrome (PRS) is a rare, autoimmune disease, defined as combination of pulmonary symptoms (cough, chest pain and dyspnea- at acute stage) and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition caused by infectious agents leading to fever, cough and shortness of breath. We report a case of a 42 years old female suffering from PRS and recently diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. Medically she was managed through antibacterial and oral corticosteroids. At initial encounter of pneumonia, she was in intensive care unit and had cough, dyspnea, pyrexia and fatigue with oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 94% on 15 liters of oxygen via non rebreathable mask. Her chest x-ray demonstrated lobar pneumonia involving right upper lobe. Even after the resolution of pneumonia, she had fatigue, dyspnea and baseline SpO2 of 90-92% on room air. Thus, all the above traits were treated by pulmonary rehabilitation. Purpose: To study the effect of tailor-made pulmonary rehabilitation in pneumonia along with PRS. Method: Physiotherapy was divided into 2 phases: (1) Acute phase: chest physiotherapy (breathing exercises, nebulization, bronchial hygiene, percussion and vibration) (2) Subacute and Late phase: dyspnea management, energy conservation techniques, early mobilization, exercise training (aerobic and strength) Result: 4 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation resulted in significant improvement in radiological finding, St. George’s respiratory questionnaire (85.39 to 15.53), SpO2 at room air (90% to 99%), Modified Medical Research council score (4 to 1), fatigue severity scale (43 to 21) with an improved inspiratory capacity measured by incentive spirometer. Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a structured and multifaceted approach which improves respiratory function, enhance physical fitness, reduces fatigue and the length of hospital stay, prevent recurrence and optimize overall quality of life. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of pulmonary rehabilitation in the treatment of pneumonia alongside Pulmonary Renal Syndrome. Keywords: pulmonary rehabilitation, pneumonia, pulmonary renal syndrome

Systematic investigation of the material basis, effectiveness and safety of Thesium chinense Turcz. and its preparation Bairui Granules against lung inflammation

BackgroundThesium chinense Turcz. (Named as Bai Rui Cao in Chinese) and its preparations (e.g., Bairui Granules) have been used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as acute mastitis, lobar pneumonia, tonsillitis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and upper respiratory tract infection. However, the material basis, pharmacological efficiency, and safety have not been illustrated.MethodsAnti-inflammatory activity-guided isolation of constituents has been performed using multiple column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and ECD calculations. The inhibitory effects on lung inflammation and safety of the crude ethanol extract (CE), Bairui Granules (BG), and the purified active constituents were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lung inflammation (ALI) mice model or normal mice.ResultsSeven new compounds (1–7) and fifty-six known compounds (8–63) were isolated from T. chinense, and fifty-four were reported from this plant for the first time. The new flavonoid glycosides 1–2, new fatty acids 4–5, new alkaloid 7 as well as the known constituents including flavonoid aglycones 8–11, lignans 46–54, alkaloids 34 and 45, coumarins 57, phenylpropionic acids 27, and simple aromatic compounds 39, 44 and 58 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that anti-inflammation of T. chinense was attributed to flavonoids and alkaloids by regulating inflammation-related proteins (e.g., TNF, NF-κB, TGF-β). Furthermore, constituents of T. chinense including kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside (KN, also named as Bairuisu I, 19), astragalin (AG, Bairuisu II, 12), and kaempferol (KF, Bairuisu III, 8), as well as CE and BG could alleviate lung inflammation caused by LPS in mice by preventing neutrophils infiltration and the expression of the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and COX-2. After a 28-day subacute toxicity test, BG at doses of 4.875 g/kg and 9.750 g/kg (equivalent to onefold and twofold the clinically recommended dose) and CE at a dose of 11.138 g/kg (equivalent to fourfold the clinical dose of BG) were found to be safe and non-toxic.ConclusionsThe discovery of sixty-three constituents comprehensively illustrated the material basis of T. chinense. T. chinense and Bairui Granules could alleviate lung inflammation by regulating inflammation-related proteins and no toxicity was observed under the twofold of clinically used doses.

P118 Patient-reported outcomes, disease activity and safety in UK patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with filgotinib: up to six-month interim results from a prospective observational study (FILOSOPHY)

Abstract Background/Aims FILOSOPHY (NCT04871919), an ongoing, observational Phase 4 study, will assess the effectiveness and safety of filgotinib, a JAK1-preferential inhibitor, in patients with RA in a real-world setting in Europe. We report interim UK data. Methods FILOSOPHY will enroll approximately 1,500 adults with moderate-to-severe active RA, upon first exposure to filgotinib, prescribed according to the product label and local standard-of-care. DAS28-CRP and CDAI were assessed at baseline, Month one, three and six and pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) and FACIT-Fatigue score at baseline, Week one, two and three and Month one, three and six. A reduction of ≥ 10 mm in VAS pain or increase of ≥ 4 in FACIT-Fatigue score were considered a clinically meaningful change from baseline (CFB). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) on study were reported. Results By January 31, 2023, 130 patients had been treated in the UK; baseline characteristics and study treatment are reported in the Table. Median (IQR) CFB in DAS28-CRP was -1.1 (-2.5, -0.5) at Month one (N = 29), -1.7 (-2.6, -1.2) at Month 3 (N = 32) and -2.5 (-3.2, -1.0) at Month six (N = 27). Median (IQR) CFB in CDAI was -15.0 (-26.0, -8.0) at Month one (N = 31), -17.0 (-27.0, -12.0) at Month three (N = 31) and -25.0 (-30.0, -16.0) at Month 6 (N = 30). The proportion of patients with a clinically meaningful CFB in FACIT-Fatigue score was 45.0% (n = 18/40) at Week 1 and 65.6% (n = 21/32) at Month six. For VAS pain, the proportions were 47.5% (n = 19/40) at Week 1 and 66.7% (n = 22/33) at Month six. Similar trends were seen in the monotherapy and combination groups. No unexpected TEAEs occurred. Six patients discontinued the study prematurely; there was one death (lobar pneumonia); none were lost to follow-up. Conclusion Interim UK data showed pain and fatigue improved with filgotinib treatment as early as Week one and disease activity as early as Month one, the first timepoint that DAS28-CRP and CDAI were assessed; improvements were maintained up to Month six. While conclusions regarding safety cannot be made due to the short follow-up and small sample size, no new safety findings were observed. Long-term follow-up is needed to further evaluate effectiveness and safety. Disclosure B. Kirkham: Consultancies; AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Member of speakers’ bureau; AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Grants/research support; Eli Lilly, Novartis. N.D. McKay: Consultancies; Gilead, UCB. Member of speakers’ bureau; Galapagos. Other; Registration for conference fees from AbbVie, Novartis, UCB. His department has received grants and payments from a wide range of pharmaceutical companies for research and education. A.G. Pratt: Consultancies; Inflection Biosciences (paid to Newcastle University). Grants/research support; Galapagos, GSK, Pfizer (paid to Newcastle University). J. Barry: Other; Employee of Galapagos. O. Bouzid: Consultancies; Galapagos. T.P.A. Debray: Consultancies; Biogen, Daiichi Sankyo, Galapagos, Gilead. S. Bhat: None. L. Robertson: Other; Financial support for conference attendance from UCB. J. Galloway: Consultancies; AbbVie, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer. Honoraria; AbbVie, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, UCB. Member of speakers’ bureau; AbbVie, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, UCB. Grants/research support; AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer.

Early predictors of delayed radiographic resolution of lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children: a retrospective study in China.

Lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a relatively difficult-to-treat pneumonia in children. The time of radiographic resolution after treatment is variable, a long recovery time can result in several negative effects, and it has attracted our attention. Therefore, exploring factors associated with delayed radiographic resolution will help to identify these children at an early stage and prepare for early intervention. The data of 339 children with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae were collected from the Department of Pediatrics of Fu Yang People's Hospital, China from January 2021 to June 2022. After discharge, the children were regularly followed up in the outpatient department and on the WeChat platform for > 8 weeks. According to whether pulmonary imaging (chest radiography or plain chest computed tomography) returned to normal within 8 weeks, the children were divided into the delayed recovery group (DRG) (n = 69) and the normal recovery group (NRG) (n = 270). The children's general information, laboratory examination findings, bronchoscopy results, and imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed. Single-factor analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for delayed radiographic resolution of lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the factors with statistically significant differences underwent multiple-factor logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was then performed to calculate the cutoff value of early predictive indicators of delayed radiographic resolution. Single-factor analysis showed that the following were significantly greater in the DRG than NRG: total fever duration, the hospitalization time, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, D-dimer level, pulmonary lesions involving two or more lobes, a large amount of pleural effusion, the time to interventional bronchoscopy, and mucus plugs formation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the hospitalization time, CRP level, LDH level, pulmonary lesions involving two or more lobes, and a large amount of pleural effusion were independent risk factors for delayed radiographic resolution of lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The cutoff values on the receiver operating characteristic curve were a hospitalization time of ≥ 10.5 days, CRP level of ≥ 25.92mg/L, and LDH level of ≥ 378 U/L. If patients with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae have a hospitalization time of ≥ 10.5 days, CRP level of ≥ 25.92mg/L, and LDH level ≥ 378 U/L, the time of radiographic resolution is highly likely to exceed 8 weeks. Pediatricians must maintain a high level of vigilance for these factors, control the infection as early as possible, strengthen airway management, and follow up closely to avoid complications and sequelae of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Risk factors for suspected pulmonary embolism in children: Complication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

PurposePulmonary embolism (PE) is not a rare complication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children. We sought to determine the incidence of PE in children with MPP who underwent clinically indicated CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and to evaluate the risk factors for PE. MethodsAll 106 children with MPP who were clinically suspected of having PE and who underwent CTPA were retrospectively enrolled from June 2018 to December 2021. The clinical features, laboratory data, and radiological parameters were recorded (e.g., lung consolidation involved and the Qanadli score). A Cox proportional hazards model and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the risk factors and prognostic discriminatory capacity for PE. ResultsPE was detected in 26 of 106 (24.5 %) children (mean age, 6.2 years ± 3.3 years; 53 boys). Sixteen of the 26 (61.5 %) children with PE were boys. The mean age of the children with PE was 8.1 ± 2.9 years, and the mean Qanadli score was 15.3 ± 10.2. Children with PE had higher D-dimer levels (9.3 ± 7.1 mg/Lvs. 3.6 ± 3.8 mg/L) and a greater frequency of lung lobe consolidation (25 (96.2 %) vs. 64 (80.0 %)) (all P < 0.05). For children with MPP, age (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.96 (95 % CI1.04, 3.71; P = 0.037), D-dimer level (HR = 1.52, 95 % CI: 1.03, 2.24; P = 0.029), and bilateral lung consolidation (HR = 2.41, 95 % CI: 1.03, 5.58; P = 0.043) were found to be independent predictors of PE. ConclusionClinical and CT radiological predictors could be used to predict PE in children with MPP. The use of risk factor assessment as a tool has the potential to guide more appropriate use of CTPA in children.

Anaesthetic Management for Rt Emphysematous Pyelonephritis with Grade I Hydroureteronephrosis with Perinephric Abscess with Left Lobar Pneumonia

ntroduction: A perinephric abscess is usually a complication of urologic infection which results from fat necrosis. Before the era of antibiotics, perinephric abscesses were due to prolonged bacteremia. More than 3/4 of perinephric abscesses are now due to complications of urinary tract infections. Case Report: We present a 71 year old female case with Right Emphysematous Pyelonephritis Grade I Hydroureteronephrosis with left perinephric abscess, left lobar pneumonia posted for bilateral DJ stenting with perinephric drain placement under continuous spinal anesthesia. Presented with H/o lower back pain, associated with fever since 3 days and H/o burning micturition, since 6 months. She is known case of Type 2 DM since 23 years and on Inj. Biphasic Insulin, Tablet vildagliptin, Tablet Dapaglifazone, known case of hypothyroidism and on tablet Thyroxin 50 mg OD in morning. H/o stroke 20 years back right side Upper &amp; lower limb affected. H/o previous appendectomy 20 years back, CT–KKUB suggestive of Emphysematous Pyelonephritis, right side with grade I HUN, left perinephric fat with ill diffused hypodense area in upper lobe of left kidney. Non obstructive left renal calculus 4.0mm. ECG shows RBBB, Saturation was 92% on Roomair, On ABG analysis severe metabolic acidosis found. We planned to administer continuous spinal anesthesia. Patient was explained about the continuous spinal anesthesia &amp; written informed consent was taken. Tablet Alprazolam 0.25 mg, and tablet Rantac, 15 was given previous night and in morning on the day of surgery. Nil per oral is maintained 8 hours before surgery. A 18 Gauge IV cannula was secured, a 5 lead Electrocardiogram, Pulse Oximeter, NIBP and ETCo2 monitoring was done. Under strict aseptic precautions, L3 L4 space was identified and using 18G tuhoy needle, Lumbar puncture is done. Injection Bupivacaine 0.8cc given, block is achieved till T8 level. Surgery was lasted for one and half hour. Vitals were stable. Patient shifted to recovery room and was under observation for an hour, patient was shifted to post operative ward. Conclusion: This is an Original case report, which provide a successful management of anesthesia, of bilateral DJ stenting with perinephric drain placement under continuous spinal anesthesia. Anesthesia Management for Right Emphysematous Pylonephritis with grade I HUN. With perinephric abscess with left lobar Pneumonia.

Assessing the risk of concurrent mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children with tracheobronchial tuberculosis: retrospective study.

This study aimed to create a predictive model based on machine learning to identify the risk for tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) occurring alongside Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in pediatric patients. Clinical data from 212 pediatric patients were examined in this retrospective analysis. This cohort included 42 individuals diagnosed with TBTB and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (combined group) and 170 patients diagnosed with lobar pneumonia alone (pneumonia group). Three predictive models, namely XGBoost, decision tree, and logistic regression, were constructed, and their performances were assessed using the receiver's operating characteristic (ROC) curve, precision-recall curve (PR), and decision curve analysis (DCA). The dataset was divided into a 7:3 ratio to test the first and second groups, utilizing them to validate the XGBoost model and to construct the nomogram model. The XGBoost highlighted eight significant signatures, while the decision tree and logistic regression models identified six and five signatures, respectively. The ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.996 for XGBoost, significantly outperforming the other models (p < 0.05). Similarly, the PR curve demonstrated the superior predictive capability of XGBoost. DCA further confirmed that XGBoost offered the highest AIC (43.226), the highest average net benefit (0.764), and the best model fit. Validation efforts confirmed the robustness of the findings, with the validation groups 1 and 2 showing ROC and PR curves with AUC of 0.997, indicating a high net benefit. The nomogram model was shown to possess significant clinical value. Compared to machine learning approaches, the XGBoost model demonstrated superior predictive efficacy in identifying pediatric patients at risk of concurrent TBTB and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. The model's identification of critical signatures provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis of these conditions.

Sex-dependent vulnerability for Wistar rats model following intranasal instillation with Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 43816 causing lobar pneumonia

BackgroundKlebsiella pneumoniae has become one of the major threats to public health as it causes nosocomial and community-acquired infections like lobar pneumonia. This infection causes acute inflammation in the lung, characterized by the recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells, generating free radicals, and decreasing the endogenous antioxidant balance system. Many experimental studies have focused on the induction, progression and resolution of infection up to its peak, but these documented processes remain highly random and their sex dependence un-elicited. These fluctuations of physiopathological parameters would impact disease progression depending on the animal’s model and bacterial strain used. The present study investigated the sex-dependent vulnerability of Wistar rats to K. pneumoniae ATCC 43816 lobar pneumonia induced by the intranasal instillation method.MethodsExperimental pneumonia was induced by K. pneumoniae ATCC 43816 in male and female Wistar rats following intranasal instillation. The physiopathogenesis of the disease was studied by bacteriological and histopathological exams, histomorphometric analysis of the blood and/or lung tissue, and body weight loss in infected animals. In addition, the overall severity of lesions was determined by the total score obtained by averaging the individual scores from the same group of animals.ResultsThe K. pneumoniae ATCC 43816 strain showed inoculation dose-, incubation time of the disease- and sex-dependent- differences in its ability to induce lobar pneumonia. Evaluation of different parameters showed that the disease peaked on day 15 post-inoculation, with more pathogenic effects on female rats. This observed sex-dependence difference in Wistar rats was mainly highlighted by the determined lethal dose 50 (LD50), bacterial load count in whole blood and lung tissues, body weight loss, inflammatory granulomas forming and diffuse alveolar damages. The pathogenicity was confirmed by scoring the severity of pathologic lesions of lung tissues.ConclusionsThe results obtained highlighted the gender-dependency in the physiopathogenesis processes of K. pneumoniae ATCC 43816 induced-lobar pneumonia, in Wistar rats. Female Wistar rats’ susceptibility is useful in studying pathology and in preclinical trial investigations of new treatments for infectious pneumonia.

Imaging in pulmonary infections of immunocompetent adult patients.

Pneumonia is a clinical syndrome characterised by fever, cough and alveolar infiltration of purulent fluid, caused by infection with a microbial pathogen. It can be caused by infections with bacteria, viruses or fungi, but a causative organism is identified in less than half of cases. The most common type of pneumonia is community-acquired pneumonia, which is caused by infections acquired outside the hospital. Current guidelines for pneumonia diagnosis require imaging to confirm the clinical suspicion of pneumonia. Thus, imaging plays an important role in both the diagnosis and management of pneumonia, with each modality having specific advantages and limitations. Chest radiographs are commonly used but have limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Lung ultrasound shows high sensitivity and specificity. Computed tomography scans offer higher diagnostic accuracy but involve higher radiation doses. Radiological patterns, including lobar, lobular and interstitial pneumonia, provide valuable insights into causative pathogens and treatment decisions. Understanding these radiological patterns is crucial for accurate diagnosis. In this review, we will summarise the most important aspects pertaining to the role of imaging in pneumonia and will highlight the imaging characteristics of the most common causative organisms.

A Case Report of Disseminated Nocardiosis in a Patient with HIV Infection: Concurrent Liver, Pulmonary, and Brain Involvements

Introduction: Disseminated nocardiosis is a rare but life-threatening infectious disease that occurs most often in immunocompromised individuals. This report presents a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient with disseminated nocardiosis in the liver, lung, and brain. Case Presentation: A 38-year-old woman who had recently been diagnosed with HIV infection complained of fever, abdominal pain, productive coughs, and occasional headaches from 2 months ago. Imaging findings of her abdomen and lungs displayed evidence of pyogenic liver abscess and lobar pneumonia with abscess formation, respectively. The patient underwent percutaneous liver abscess drainage and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the genome of Nocardia farcinica was detected in the specimens obtained from both procedures. Besides, she had seizures during hospitalization. Based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, the specimen was positive for N. farcinica. Brain imaging also revealed evidence of multiple bacterial abscess formation. She was diagnosed with disseminated nocardiosis and treated with intravenous imipenem, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and amikacin, followed by appropriate oral agents. After a 6-month follow-up, the patient had no symptoms. Additionally, the lesions improved on brain imaging. Conclusions: Patients who are HIV-positive are particularly prone to opportunistic infections. Health care providers should consider all pathogens, even rare ones, like Nocardia spp., to establish a diagnosis if they're present. Furthermore, in cases initially diagnosed with localized nocardiosis, other body organs should also be reviewed so that the disseminated form of the disease can be diagnosed and treated immediately.

Low-dose radiation therapy for COVID-19

Background. Radiation therapy is one of the most effective treatments in patients with malignant neoplasms, it also plays an important role in the treatment of non-oncological di­seases. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted a review of the long-forgotten idea of using low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) in patients with lobar and interstitial pneumonia. Historically, from 1905 to the mid-1940s, LDRT was used to treat pneumonia, and evidence suggests that it might improve survival and provide rapid relief of respiratory symptoms. The purpose was to summarize current information about ­using low-dose radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with ­COVID-19. Materials and methods. A selection of publications was carried out, which covered information on the possibilities of using low-dose radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. At the first stage, a search was conducted for lite­rary sources using the keywords: COVID-19, low-dose radiation therapy. At the second stage, summaries of articles were studied and publications that did not meet the research criteria were excluded. At the third stage, the full texts of the selected articles were studied for compliance with the criteria for inclusion in the reference list and research relevance. Results. As of August 1, 2023, according to ClinicalTrials.gov, among 9,244 clinical trials associated with COVID-19, sixteen are currently being conduc­ted. They examine the effectiveness of LDRT in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 and already involve 1,038 patients. The largest number of studies is conducted in European countries. It has been shown that LDRT selectively attenuates oxidative stress to an inflammatory stimulus and inhibits the nitric oxide production pathway. This may contribute to its anti-inflammatory and vascular effects. At the same time, heme oxygenase 1 and other antioxidants are induced, they are mediated by Nrf2, which is the main regulator of endogenous antioxidant, anti-stress, analgesic reactions, and is also closely related to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and the metabolic pathway of pentose phosphate. Nrf2 may be critical for pain relief associated with edema formation and possibly plays a major role in the effects of LDRT, whereas direct functional effects of low-dose radiation on the autonomic nervous system and nociception are likely to be smaller. Conclusions. From 1905 to 1946, researchers published the results of more than 15 clinical studies on the effectiveness of radiotherapy for inflammatory lung diseases, which included more than 850 patients and demonstrated the high therapeutic effectiveness of radiation therapy in the indicated pathology. Today, there are 16 ongoing clinical trials in the world devoted to the study of LDRT effectiveness in the treatment of patients with COVID-19, in which 1,038 patients have already been involved. The risk of radiation-induced lung and breast cancer in a 25-year-old woman exposed to 1 Gy whole chest radiation may be as high as 5.9 and 5.5 %, respectively.