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Nielsen LE, Mahlen S, Sutter DE. Will Antigen Testing Remain Relevant in the Point-of-Care Testing Environment? Clin Lab Med 2023; 43:167-179. [PMID: 37169440 DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Before the molecular age, cell culture was the gold standard for confirmatory diagnosis of viral and atypical infectious diseases. Typical cell culture methodologies are costly, require days (or weeks) for results, and require significant technical expertise. As a result, cell culture is impractical for timely diagnostic testing in most of the health care environments. Traditional bacterial culture methods, also have disadvantages due to the need for incubation, subsequent identification of pathogens, and significant technical expertise. This article discusses the general considerations of antigen and molecular assays and the merits and factors to consider when implementing diagnostic assays for several common pathogens.
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Cipolla L, Rocca F, Armitano R, López B, Prieto M. [Legionnaires' disease in Argentina: Evolution of the laboratory diagnostic strategy]. Rev Argent Microbiol 2023:S0325-7541(22)00103-1. [PMID: 36604301 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Legionnaires' disease (LD) is severe acute pneumonia that occurs in sporadic or epidemic form, and generally requires hospitalization. The objective of this work was to describe the experience in the LD laboratory diagnostic approach in Argentina during the period 2016-2021. The laboratory analyzed 168 clinical specimens from 93 cases of suspected LD pneumonia. Laboratory tests included the detection of the soluble antigen of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in urine sample, detection of DNA of Legionella spp. in lower respiratory secretions by conventional and commercial molecular methods and isolation in selective medium. LD was confirmed in 12 patients. The urinary antigen allowed the diagnosis for 8 patients. L. pneumophila was isolated from the respiratory material of 6 patients suffering from health care-associated pneumonia, who had been previously diagnosed using the commercial molecular method. Fifty percent of these cases did not show detectable urinary antigen. A single patient did not shows neither detectable antigenuria nor isolation of Legionella from the respiratory sample and was diagnosed as a confirmed case of LD by the detection of DNA of Legionella spp. by PCR directly from the respiratory secretion and the epidemiological link with another case of confirmed LD by culture. Urinary antigen detection is the first-line diagnostic test. However, the incorporation of complementary molecular methods has proved to avoid false negatives and contributed to a better understanding of the true incidence of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Cipolla
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos Malbrán, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Rocca
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos Malbrán, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rita Armitano
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos Malbrán, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Beatriz López
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos Malbrán, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mónica Prieto
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos Malbrán, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Legionnaires' Disease: Update on Diagnosis and Treatment. Infect Dis Ther 2022; 11:973-986. [PMID: 35505000 PMCID: PMC9124264 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-022-00635-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Legionellosis is the infection caused by bacteria of the genus Legionella, including a non-pneumonic influenza-like syndrome, and Legionnaires’ disease is a more serious illness characterized by pneumonia. Legionellosis is becoming increasingly important as a public health problem throughout the world; although it is an underreported disease, studies have consistently documented a high incidence. In addition, health costs associated with the disease are high. Diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is based mainly on the detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine. However, there have been advances in detection tests for patients with legionellosis. New methodologies show greater sensitivity and specificity, detect more species and serogroups of Legionella spp., and have the potential for use in epidemiological studies. Testing for Legionella spp. is recommended at hospital admission for severe community-acquired pneumonia, and antibiotics directed against Legionella spp. should be included early as empirical therapy. Inadequate or delayed antibiotic treatment in Legionella pneumonia has been associated with a worse prognosis. Either a fluoroquinolone (levofloxacin or moxifloxacin) or a macrolide (azithromycin preferred) is the recommended first-line therapy for Legionnaires’ disease; however, little information is available regarding adverse events or complications, or about the duration of antibiotic therapy and its association with clinical outcomes. Most published studies evaluating antibiotic treatment for Legionnaires’ disease are observational and consequently susceptible to bias and confounding. Well-designed studies are needed to assess the usefulness of diagnostic tests regarding clinical outcomes, as well as randomized trials comparing fluoroquinolones and macrolides or combination therapy that evaluate outcomes and adverse events.
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A Tale of Four Danish Cities: Legionella pneumophila Diversity in Domestic Hot Water and Spatial Variations in Disease Incidence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052530. [PMID: 35270223 PMCID: PMC8909801 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Denmark has one of the highest Legionnaires' disease notification rates within Europe, averaging 4.7 cases per 100,000 population annually (2017 to 2020). The relatively high incidence of disease is not uniform across the country, and approximately 70% of all domestically acquired cases in Denmark are caused by Legionella pneumophila (LP) strains that are considered less virulent. The aim of this study was to investigate if colonization rates, levels of colonization, and/or types of LP present in hot water systems were associated with geographic differences in Legionnaires' disease incidence. Domestic water systems from four cities in Denmark were analyzed via culture and qPCR. Serogrouping and sequence typing was performed on randomly selected isolates. Single nucleotide polymorphism was used to identify clonal relationship among isolates from the four cities. The results revealed a high LP colonization rate from 68% to 87.5% among systems, composed primarily of non-serogroup 1. LP serogroup 1 reacting with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3/1 was not identified in any of the systems tested, while MAb 3/1 negative serogroup 1 strains were isolated from 10 systems (9.6%). We hypothesize that a combination of factors influences the incidence rate of LD in each city, including sequence type and serogroup distribution, colonization rate, concentration of Legionella in Pre-flush and Flush samples, and potentially building characteristics such as water temperature measured at the point of use.
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Renaud C, Kollef MH. Classical and Molecular Techniques to Diagnose HAP/VAP. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 43:219-228. [PMID: 35042263 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Nosocomial pneumonia, including hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), are the most common nosocomial infections occurring in critically ill patients requiring intensive care. However, challenges exist in making a timely and accurate diagnosis of HAP and VAP. Under diagnosis of HAP and VAP can result in greater mortality risk, especially if accompanied by delays in the administration of appropriate antimicrobial treatment. Over diagnosis of HAP and VAP results in the unnecessary administration of broad spectrum antibiotics that can lead to further escalation of antibiotic resistance. Optimal diagnosis and management of HAP and VAP require a systematic approach that combines clinical and radiographic assessments along with proper microbiologic techniques. The use of more invasive sampling methods (bronchoalveolar lavage and protected specimen brush) may enhance specimen collection resulting in more specific diagnoses to limit unnecessary antibiotic exposure. Molecular techniques, currently in use and investigational technique, may improve the diagnosis of HAP and VAP by allowing more rapid identification of offending pathogens, if present, thus increasing both appropriate antibiotic treatment and avoiding unnecessary drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie Renaud
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Marin H Kollef
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Caldas JP, Silva-Pinto A, Faustino AS, Figueiredo P, Sarmento A, Santos L. Septic shock due to co-infection with Legionella pneumophila and Saprochaete clavata. IDCases 2021; 27:e01369. [PMID: 35024339 PMCID: PMC8724953 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Septic shock is the most dreaded presentation of an infection, carrying a reserved prognosis. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy is therefore the mainstay of treatment, alongside organ support as needed. Legionnaires' disease is mainly due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 but it can be caused by other serogroups and species not detected by the urinary antigen test. Anti-tumour necrosis factor α therapy may increase the risk of invasive fungal infection, which carry a poor prognosis. We present a challenging case of a septic shock due to Legionella pneumophila and Saprochaete clavata infections, with a review of the two infections presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Caldas
- Infectious Diseases Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal
| | - André Silva-Pinto
- Infectious Diseases Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Faustino
- Infectious Diseases Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Figueiredo
- Infectious Diseases Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal
| | - António Sarmento
- Infectious Diseases Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Lurdes Santos
- Infectious Diseases Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal
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Gleason JA, Cohn PD. A review of legionnaires' disease and public water systems - Scientific considerations, uncertainties and recommendations. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 240:113906. [PMID: 34923288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Legionella is an opportunistic premise plumbing pathogen and causative agent of a severe pneumonia called Legionnaires' Disease (LD). Cases of LD have been on the rise in the U.S. and globally. Although Legionella was first identified 45 years ago, it remains an 'emerging pathogen." Legionella is part of the normal ecology of a public water system and is frequently detected in regulatory-compliant drinking water. Drinking water utilities, regulators and public health alike are increasingly required to have a productive understanding of the evolving issues and complex discussions of the contribution of the public water utility to Legionella exposure and LD risk. This review provides a brief overview of scientific considerations important for understanding this complex topic, a review of findings from investigations of public water and LD, including data gaps, and recommendations for professionals interested in investigating public water utilities. Although the current literature is inconclusive in identifying a public water utility as a sole source of an LD outbreak, the evidence is clear that minimizing growth of Legionella in public water utilities through proper maintenance and sustained disinfectant residuals, throughout all sections of the water utility, will lead to a less conducive environment for growth of the bacteria in the system and the buildings they serve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie A Gleason
- Environmental and Occupational Health Surveillance Program, New Jersey Department of Health, 135 E. State Street, P.O. Box 369, Trenton, NJ, 08625, USA.
| | - Perry D Cohn
- Retired, Environmental and Occupational Health Surveillance Program, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 369, Trenton, NJ, 08625, USA.
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Scaturro M, Rota MC, Caporali MG, Girolamo A, Magoni M, Barberis D, Romano C, Cereda D, Gramegna M, Piro A, Corbellini S, Giagulli C, Rezza G, Caruso A, Ricci ML. A community-acquired Legionnaires' disease outbreak caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2: an uncommon event, Italy, August to October 2018. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 26. [PMID: 34169820 PMCID: PMC8229375 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.25.2001961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In September 2018 in Brescia province, northern Italy, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (LD) caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2 (Lp2) occurred. The 33 cases (two fatal) resided in seven municipalities along the Chiese river. All cases were negative by urinary antigen test (UAT) and most were diagnosed by real-time PCR and serology. In only three cases, respiratory sample cultures were positive, and Lp2 was identified and typed as sequence type (ST)1455. In another three cases, nested sequence-based typing was directly applied to respiratory samples, which provided allelic profiles highly similar to ST1455. An environmental investigation was undertaken immediately and water samples were collected from private homes, municipal water systems, cooling towers and the river. Overall, 533 environmental water samples were analysed and 34 were positive for Lp. Of these, only three samples, all collected from the Chiese river, were Lp2 ST1455. If and how the river water could have been aerosolised causing the LD cases remains unexplained. This outbreak, the first to our knowledge caused by Lp2, highlights the limits of UAT for LD diagnosis, underlining the importance of adopting multiple tests to ensure that serogroups other than serogroup 1, as well as other Legionella species, are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Scaturro
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Michele Magoni
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Barberis
- Public Health Laboratory, Agency for Health Protection of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Romano
- Public Health Laboratory, Agency for Health Protection of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Danilo Cereda
- Public Health Managment of Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Gramegna
- Public Health Managment of Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Piro
- Agency for Health Protection of Valpadana, Mantova, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Microbiology and Virology unit, Spedali Civili Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Microbiology unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rezza
- Department of Health Prevention, Ministery of Health, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Section of Microbiology, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Ricci
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Legionella pneumophila-Epidemiology and Characterization of Clinical Isolates, Slovenia, 2006-2020. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11071201. [PMID: 34359283 PMCID: PMC8308060 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11071201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of severe Legionnaires’ disease (LD). Although an increasing number of LD cases have been observed, published data from Slovenia are very limited and data on molecular epidemiology are even scarcer. The present retrospective study (2006–2020) reports the results of the microbiological diagnosis of LD, as well as the epidemiology and characterization of the Legionella clinical isolates. We tested urine samples from 15,540 patients with pneumonia symptoms for L. pneumophila infection by urine antigen test, of which 717 (4.6%) tested positive. Isolation of L. pneumophila was successfully performed from 88 clinical specimens, with 82 (93.2%) being identified as L. pneumophila sg 1 and six (6.8%) as L. pneumophila sg 2–14. Sequence-based typing (SBT) identified 33 different sequence types (STs), the most frequent being ST1 and ST23. Sequence type 1 mainly comprised isolates belonging to the Philadelphia subgroup, and ST23 mostly to Allentown/France. The standard SBT scheme, as well as Dresden phenotyping for L. pneumophila, presented a high diversity among isolates.
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Nakanishi M, Shiroshita A, Nakashima K, Takeshita M, Kiguchi T, Yamada H. Clinical and computed tomographic features of Legionella pneumonia with negative urine antigen test results. Respir Investig 2020; 59:204-211. [PMID: 33339738 DOI: 10.1016/j.resinv.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Legionella spp. can cause severe pneumonia and most Legionella pneumonia (LP) cases are diagnosed using the urine antigen test (UAT). However, diagnosis of LP with negative UAT results (LPNUAT) is challenging. We investigated the clinical and radiological features of LPNUAT. METHODS We retrospectively collected LP cases with positive UAT (LPPUAT) and cases of suspected LP with negative UAT that were examined by Legionella culture between July 2014 and March 2020. We investigated the clinical and CT findings for LP that showed negative UAT results and was diagnosed by culture and compared these findings with those for other pneumonias suspicious for LP with negative results in UAT and Legionella culture (OPSLP). RESULTS Eight LPNUAT, 20 LPPUAT, and 19 OPSLP cases were included in this study. There were no significant differences in the clinical and CT findings between LPPUAT and LPNUAT when examined by UAT. In LPNUAT, dyspnea, renal dysfunction, liver dysfunction, and bilateral lesions were more commonly observed and inflammatory changes and the number of affected lobes were significantly higher when examined by culture than when examined by UAT. Comparison to OPSLP, LPNUAT did not show such differences, but rather showed disturbances in consciousness, hyponatremia and rhabdomyolysis. Furthermore, lobar consolidation was observed more frequently and bronchial wall thickening and centrilobular nodules were observed less frequently in LPNUAT. CONCLUSIONS LP characteristics such as disturbance of consciousness, hyponatremia, rhabdomyolysis, lobar consolidation, and less bronchial wall thickening and centrilobular nodule contribute to the diagnosis of LP in patients with negative UAT results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Nakanishi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ichinomiya-nishi Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan.
| | - Akihiro Shiroshita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ichinomiya-nishi Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Nakashima
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ichinomiya-nishi Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan
| | - Masafumi Takeshita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ichinomiya-nishi Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan
| | - Takao Kiguchi
- Department of Radiology, Ichinomiya-nishi Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamada
- Department of Radiology, Ichinomiya-nishi Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan
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Falcone M, Russo A, Tiseo G, Cesaretti M, Guarracino F, Menichetti F. Predictors of intensive care unit admission in patients with Legionella pneumonia: role of the time to appropriate antibiotic therapy. Infection 2020; 49:321-325. [PMID: 33315182 PMCID: PMC7734452 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-020-01565-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Legionella spp. pneumonia (LP) is a cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) that requires early intervention. The median mortality rate varies from 4 to 11%, but it is higher in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). The objective of this study is to identify predictors of ICU admission in patients with LP. Methods A single-center, retrospective, observational study conducted in an academic tertiary-care hospital in Pisa, Italy. Adult patients with LP consecutively admitted to study center from October 2012 to October 2019. Results During the study period, 116 cases of LP were observed. The rate of ICU admission was 20.7% and the overall 30-day mortality rate was 12.1%. Mortality was 4.3% in patients hospitalized in medical wards versus 41.7% in patients transferred to ICU (p < 0.001). The majority of patients (74.1%) received levofloxacin as definitive therapy, followed by macrolides (16.4%), and combination of levofloxacin plus a macrolide (9.5%). In the multivariate analysis, diabetes (OR 8.28, CI 95% 2.11–35.52, p = 0.002), bilateral pneumonia (OR 10.1, CI 95% 2.74–37.27, p = 0.001), and cardiovascular events (OR 10.91, CI 95% 2.83–42.01, p = 0.001), were independently associated with ICU admission, while the receipt of macrolides/levofloxacin therapy within 24 h from admission was protective (OR 0.20, CI 95% 0.05–0.73, p = 0.01). Patients who received a late anti-Legionella antibiotic (> 24 h from admission) underwent urinary antigen test later compared to those who received early active antibiotic therapy (2 [2–4] vs. 1 [1–2] days, p < 0.001). Conclusions Admission to ICU carries significantly increased mortality in patients with diagnosis of LP. Initial therapy with an antibiotic active against Legionella (levofloxacin or macrolides) reduces the probability to be transferred to ICU and should be provided in all cases until Legionella etiology is excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Falcone
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Russo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giusy Tiseo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Cesaretti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Guarracino
- Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Menichetti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Dhesi Z, Enne VI, O'Grady J, Gant V, Livermore DM. Rapid and Point-of-Care Testing in Respiratory Tract Infections: An Antibiotic Guardian? ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:401-417. [PMID: 32551433 PMCID: PMC7233852 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
![]()
This
is a narrative review on the potential of rapid and point-of-care
microbiological testing in pneumonia patients, focusing particularly
on hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia, which have
substantial mortality and diverse microbiology. This work is written
from a United Kingdom perspective, but much of it is generalizable
internationally. In a world where antimicrobial resistance is a major
international threat, the use of rapid molecular diagnostics has great
potential to improve both the management of pneumonia patients and
the stewardship of antibiotics. Rapid tests potentially can distinguish
patients with bacterial versus viral infection and can swiftly identify
bacterial pathogens and their resistances. We seek to answer the question:
“Can such tests be used as an antibiotic guardian?”
Their availability at the bedside rather than in the laboratory should
best ensure that results are swiftly used to optimize patient management
but will raise new challenges, not the least with respect to maintaining
quality control and microbiology/infection control input. A further
challenge lies in assessing the degree of trust that treating clinicians
will place in these molecular diagnostic tests, particularly when
early de-escalation of antibiotic therapy is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaneeta Dhesi
- University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Virve I Enne
- University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Justin O'Grady
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom
| | - Vanya Gant
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London NW1 2PG, United Kingdom
| | - David M Livermore
- University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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