Evaluation of clindamycin and other antibiotics in the treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections of the lung

Pyogenic lung abscess in an infectious disease unit: a 20-year retrospective study

Background:

Pyogenic lung abscesses are rare and poorly described infections. This study aimed to describe their prognostic factors.

Methods:

We retrospectively included all patients hospitalized between 1 January 1998 and 1 June 2018, with an International Classification of Diseases, version 10 (IDC-10) diagnosis of pyogenic lung abscess, from the Diamm based medical records (Micro6, Nancy, France). Parasitic, fungal, or mycobacterial lung abscesses were excluded.

Results:

A total of 64 patients were included. Abscesses were associated with immunosuppression in 28 patients, including HIV infection and immunosuppressive therapy for eight and 12 patients, respectively. Bacterial identification was obtained for 36 patients. Nine patients (14%) developed lung abscesses after hematogenous dissemination. They differed from bronchogenic abscesses by their younger age (p = 0.03), the absence of smoking or emphysema (p = 0.05), Staphylococcus aureus (p = 0.001) or Streptococcus spp. (p = 0.05) isolation, and the smaller size of their abscess (p = 0.02). Overall, evolution was marked by radiological sequelae (46.9%), relapse (12.5%), and death (4.8%). Radiological sequelae occurred more frequently during the course of bronchogenic abscesses (p = 0.02), particularly when they spontaneously discharged (p = 0.04). Relapses were more frequent in patients with emphysema (p = 0.04) and when Haemophilus influenzae was isolated (p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis, poor outcomes, including death, sequelae, and relapse occurred more frequently in patients who had bronchogenic abscess (p = 0.02), and in those who received antibiotics during less than 6 weeks (p = 0.05).

Conclusion:

A duration of antibiotic treatment of less than 6 weeks and bronchogenic presentation were globally associated with poor outcome of pyogenic lung abscesses. These data should be considered when proposing guidelines for the care of pyogenic lung abscesses.

The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

Guideline for low-cost antimicrobial use in the outpatient setting

In an effort to increase appropriate prescribing of low-cost antimicrobials in the outpatient setting, an evidence-based guideline was created to identify situations when low-cost medications can be used. A literature search identified relevant clinical trials describing the efficacy of antimicrobials used in the outpatient setting. These were analyzed to identify low-cost medications defined as $15 or less. The information was put into guideline format that includes the level of evidence for recommending the drug and information about cost. Sixteen common infections and their treatments were included in the guideline. The efficacy data were similar for the low-cost and higher-cost antimicrobials for all infections included. We created a low-cost antimicrobial guideline for common infections treated in the outpatient setting. The treatment options have similar efficacy to higher cost medications. This guideline will serve as an information source for providers to help them rapidly determine the low-cost treatments for common infections. In addition, it can serve as a template for the development of similar guidelines in other therapeutic classes. These guidelines should be customized before implementation at other health care organizations, with consideration of local resistance patterns, drug availability and patient factors. The effect of guideline implementation on future prescribing habits and providers' opinions about availability of cost information and subsequent conversations with patients and prescribers of medications deserves further study.

Clinical presentation and management of empyema, lung abscess and pleural effusion

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pleural effusions, lung abscess and empyema remain a commonly encountered clinical problem and a significant source of morbidity. The aim of this review is to summarize recent developments with emphasis on controlled trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is wide variation in the management of infectious pleural effusions, partly because of the relative lack of randomized controlled trials. The recent MRC/BTS UK controlled trial of interapleural streptokinase for pleural infection assessed the efficacy of intrapleural streptokinase compared with placebo in complicated parapneumonic effusions. The study showed no difference in the primary end point, mortality, or in the need for surgery or length of the hospital stay among patients with pleural infection. The first large report published for over a decade has suggested that the bacteriological characteristics of lung abscess have changed.

SUMMARY

The major recent development in the management of pleural infections is the finding that we should dampen the ardor for the routine use of fibrinolytic agents in all patients with pleural infections. We strongly recommend the necessity for additional, well-designed trials to help determine optimal care for these seriously ill patients.

Piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of polymicrobial infections

Polymicrobial infections are characterized by the presence of micro-organisms from more than one group of bacteria. Empirical treatment of polymicrobial infections requires an agent active against both anaerobic and aerobic/facultative bacteria. An aminoglycoside used in combination with an anti-anaerobe agent is commonly used to treat polymicrobial infections. However, aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity and treatment failures raise questions about the use of such regimens. Among non-aminoglycoside treatment regimens such as penicillin and cephalosporins, effectiveness has been compromised by bacteria producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases. Cefoxitin shows satisfactory results for treatment of intra-abdominal infections. Other studies have shown good results with imipenem, cefotetan and piperacillin used as single agents. Piperacillin/tazobactam, a new combination broad-spectrum antibiotic and potent beta-lactamase inhibitor, can be used for the treatment of infections caused by piperacillin-sensitive micro-organisms as well as beta-lactamase-producing, piperacillin-resistant organisms. This broad-spectrum activity is appropriate for infections traditionally treated empirically by double or triple antibiotic therapy.