Clinical outcomes in combination versus mono antibiotic therapy in ICU admitted patients with a suspected infection - A substudy of the DIANA study

PURPOSE

In a retrospective cohort study of intensive care unit (ICU) admitted adult patients with suspected or confirmed infection, associations between combination versus mono empirical antibiotic therapy and clinical cure at day 7 as well as mortality at day 7 and 28, were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients from the DIANA study were grouped and analysed by combination versus mono antibiotic therapy. Clinical cure was defined as survival and resolution of all signs and symptoms related to the infection. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 1398 included patients, 568 patients (41%) received combination therapy. In total, 641(46%) patients achieved clinical cure and 135 (10%) patients had died as of day 7. There were no significant associations between combination and mono therapy relating to clinical cure and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found no differences in clinical cure and mortality between empirical combination versus mono therapy in a large cohort of ICU patients with a suspected infection.

[Predictive factors for HBsAg-negative seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B after antiviral therapy]

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative seroconversion (HBsAg < 0.05 IU/ml) is research hotspot in the field of hepatitis at this stage, and patients who achieve HBsAg negative seroconversion have significantly fewer liver-related complications. Presently, there are many studies with regard to HBsAg-negative seroconversion, but there are still relatively few indicators used in clinical practice to predict HBsAg-negative seroconversion. Low baseline HBsAg quantification and dynamic decline during treatment are currently recognized as the best indicators for predicting HBsAg-negative seroconversion. However, other factors such as viral genotype, elevated transaminases during treatment course, immune cell function and cytokine levels, and host factors can all influence HBsAg-negative seroconversion. This article reviews the relevant indicators and potential predictive factors for HBsAg-negative seroconversion.

[Progress in the clinical cure of the population of inactive hepatitis B surface antigen carriers]

The population of inactive HBsAg carriers (IHCs) is enormous, and it is often overlooked because of the insidious progression and mild severity of the disease. With the continuous enrichment and consolidation of research evidence, the population of IHC has obtained a high clinical cure rate through a treatment strategy based on pegylated interferon α and a stronger treatment intention. This article reviews the definition and treatment recommendations of IHCs in current domestic and international guidelines, as well as the disease progression and clinical cure research progress, so as to provide a reference and basis for scientific management and rational therapeutics.

[Analysis of the therapeutic efficacy and factors influencing sequential combination of nucleos(t)ide analogues with pegylated interferon alpha for 48~96 weeks in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B]

Objective: To explore the therapeutic efficacy and factors influencing the sequential combination of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) with pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN-α) in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: 144 CHB cases with NAs treatment for more than 1 year, HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) quantification < 3 000 IU/ml, treated with a sequential combination of Peg-IFN-α treatment for 48 to 96 weeks, and followed up were selected from the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between May 2018 and May 2020. Intention-to-treat analysis was used to measure the HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compute the cumulative HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the factors influencing HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks of sequential combination therapy. Univariate and multifactorial COX proportional hazard models were used to analyze the factors influencing HBsAg clearance following 96 weeks of prolonged PEG-IFN-α treatment. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the predictive value of factors influencing HBsAg clearance. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the measurement data between groups. The count data was compared using the χ(2) test between groups. Results: 41 (28.47%) cases achieved HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks of sequential combination therapy. The HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks was 40.28% (58/144) by intention-to-treat analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method computed that the cumulative HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks was 68.90%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HBsAg quantification at baseline (OR = 0.090, 95%CI: 0.034-0.240, P < 0.001) and a 24-week drop in HBsAg level (OR = 7.788, 95%CI: 3.408-17.798, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of HBsAg clearance in CHB patients treated sequentially in combination with NAs and Peg-IFN-α for 48 weeks. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the baseline HBsAg quantification [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 0.911, 95% CI: 0.852-0.952)] and 24-week drop in HBsAg level (AUC = 0.881, 95%CI: 0.814-0.930) had equally good predictive value for 48-week HBsAg clearance, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two (Z = 0.638, P = 0.523). The value of the combination of baseline HBsAg quantification and 24-week drop in HBsAg level (AUC = 0.981, 95%CI: 0.941-0.997) was superior to that of single baseline HBsAg quantification (Z = 3.017, P = 0.003) and 24-week drop in HBsAg level (Z = 3.214, P = 0.001) in predicting HBsAg clearance rate at 48 weeks. Multivariate COX proportional hazards model analysis showed that HBsAg quantification at 48 weeks (HR = 0.364, 95%CI: 0.176-0.752, P = 0.006) was an independent predictor of HBsAg clearance with a prolonged course to 96 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment. Conclusion: The HBsAg clearance rate can be accurately predicted with baseline HBsAg quantification combined with a 24-week drop in HBsAg level in patients with CHB who are treated with a sequential combination of NAs and Peg-IFN-α therapy for 48 weeks. Prolonging the course of Peg-IFN-α treatment can enhance the HBsAg clearance rate's capability. An independent predictor of HBsAg clearance is HBsAg quantification at 48 weeks of sequential combination therapy with a prolonged course of 96 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment.

Clinical cure of hepatitis B: Delight and anticipation

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients achieving clinical cure represent individuals who have attained persistent virological suppression and immunological control. This is the ideal treatment goal in both domestic and international CHB management guidelines. Clinical practice has demonstrated promising outcomes for certain patient populations treated with optimized regimens involving nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) or immunomodulators (such as pegylated interferon α) administered sequentially or in combination. However, despite the gratifying progress in the clinical management of hepatitis B, a significant number of patients still cannot achieve the goal of clinical cure. Many challenges remain to be overcome to achieve better treatment outcomes. This article provides a brief overview of the current research progress and existing issues in the pursuit of clinical cure of hepatitis B.

Ceftolozane/tazobactam for the treatment of bacteremia: a systematic literature review (SLR)

Background

Bloodstream infections (BSIs), or bacteremia, are responsible for considerable disease burden. Increasing rates of antibiotic resistance and delays in selection of appropriate treatment lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and costs. Due to limitations of current standard treatments, especially for bacteremia caused by resistant pathogens, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to understand the utilization of ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) in bacteremia.

Methods

Electronic database searches of EMBASE^®, MEDLINE^®, CCTR and Northern Lights, as well as hand searches of conference proceedings from the last two annual meetings (i.e., 2018, 2019) of the European Congress of Clinical Microbiological and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s annual meeting (IDWeek) were conducted. A total of 23 studies reporting on patients with bacteremia receiving C/T were included in the review.

Results

Most studies were observational (k = 20 studies), though few interventional studies were also identified (k = 3). Heterogeneity was ubiquitous with respect to source of bacteremia (i.e., primary or secondary), source of infection (for secondary bacteremia), pathogen type, antibiotic resistance, C/T dose, and outcome definitions. This heterogeneity, along with limited data, and small sample sizes (n = 1 to 31) made it difficult to draw any substantial conclusions, though overall results were favorable to C/T with respect to the outcomes of interest. Nineteen studies reported clinical cure or success (primary bacteremia: k = 6, reported range: 33.3% to 100%; secondary bacteremia: k = 8, 60% to 100%; mixed/unspecified bacteremia: k = 10, 50% to 91.7%). Eight studies reported microbiological cure or eradication rates (primary: k = 3, all reporting 100%; secondary: k = 4, 68% to 80%; mixed/unspecified: k = 5, 60% to 80%). Thirteen studies reported mortality (primary: k = 4, 0% to 14%; secondary: k = 7, 0% to 100%; or mixed/unspecified bacteremia: k = 7, 0% to 51.6%). One study each also reported composite clinical response, relapse, hospital re-admission, and hospital length of stay.

Conclusions

Although the available evidence and observed trends for C/T in bacteremia should be interpreted with caution, the direction of effect would support the utilization of C/T for these difficult to treat infections. Future research should supplement the existing evidence by considering the impact of key treatment effect modifiers without contributing to the observed heterogeneity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12941-022-00528-0.

Utility of the combination of hederagenin glucoside saponins and chromane hydrazone in the topical treatment of canine cutaneous leishmaniasis. An observational study

Canine cutaneous leishmaniasis (CCL) is an emerging zoonotic infection endemic in several countries of the world. Due to variable response to therapy and frequency of relapses, a more effective, safer, and inexpensive treatment is needed. Recently, it was reported that the hederagenin glucoside saponins (SS) and chromane-derived hydrazone (TC2) combined in a 1:1 ratio has high potential in antileishmanial therapy since both compounds alter the survival of Leishmania and the ability to infect adjacent macrophage. Not only the skin permeation and the absorption of an ointment containing 2% TC2 and 2% SS (w/w) was determined in this work, but also the acute dermal toxicity in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Last, the effectiveness and safety of the topical therapy with 2% TC2-2% SS ointment was evaluated in an observational study in dogs with diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Both TC2 and SS diffused through pig ear skin and traces of TC2 (but not SS) were detected in the stratum corneum of mice at 6-24 h. Neither TC2 nor SS was detected in plasma. The acute dermal toxicity was negative. Treatment with 2% TC2-2% SS ointment produced a complete long-term clinical cure in 56 dogs (24 females and 32 males) from the Orinoco and Amazonas regions in southeastern Colombia without adverse effects. All dogs have remained disease-free for the last 24 months. In conclusion, these results support the use of this topical therapy as a safer and new first-line local treatment of CCL that could help limit the spread of CL from dogs to humans.

[A short half-life of cccDNA offer or ignite hope for hepatitis B cure under nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment]

Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the template for HBV replication. Currently, there is a lack of therapeutic drugs that directly target cccDNA. Therefore, blocking cccDNA supplements as fast as possible and reducing the existing cccDNA is the key to achieving a complete cure of chronic hepatitis B. Previous studies have suggested that cccDNA had a long half-life, but a recent study showed that it only took a few months to update cycle of cccDNA pool, and its number was much less than previously predicted. In the future, with the advent of new antiviral drugs that can completely inhibit HBV replication, it is expected that the cccDNA pool will be completely cleared due to its supplement complete blockade, so as to achieve virological cure of chronic hepatitis B.

[Antiviral therapy and clinical cure for chronic hepatitis B in children: progress and challenges]

Chronic hepatitis B has become a global public health problem. Currently, children with chronic hepatitis B receiving antiviral treatment have become the focus of increasing attention. This article reviews the current status and progress of antiviral treatment, analyzes whether and when to treat, treatment regimen, efficacy and safety evaluation, and further explores the relevant factors for the clinical cure of chronic hepatitis B in children, with hope to provide a scientific basis for the clinical cure of chronic hepatitis B in adults.

[Early reduction of serum RANTES can predict HBsAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with peginterferon alpha]

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes of serum RANTES during the treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with pegylated interferon alpha (peginterferon-α), and further analyze the predictive effect of RANTES on HBsAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: 98 cases of chronic hepatitis B with quantitative HBsAg < 3 000 IU/ml and HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml after≥1 year NAs treatment were enrolled. Among them, 26 cases continued to receive NAs monotherapy, 72 cases received NAs combined with pegylated interferon alpha therapy. The changes in RANTES during treatment were observed. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the early changes of RANTES to predict the HBsAg clearance during 48 weeks. Results: During 48 weeks, 15 cases (20.83%) had achieved HBsAg clearance in combination group, while no patient had achieved HBsAg clearance in NAs group. The overall serum RANTES level had decreased from baseline in NAs and combination group. At week 48, in the combination group, the serum RANTES level was decreased more significantly in patients with HBsAg clearance than patients without. Further analysis showed that, in combination group, HBsAg clearance rate of patients with serum RANTES decreased at week 12 and 24 was higher than patients with elevated (29.17% vs. 4.17%, P = 0.014; 28.00% vs. 4.55%, P = 0.052), and quantitative HBsAg reduction was larger significantly [(1.49 ± 1.26) log(10)IU/ml vs. (0.73 ± 0.81) log(10)IU/ml, P = 0.017; (1.54 ± 1.27) log(10)IU/ml vs. (0.57 ± 0.56) log(10)IU/ml, P = 0.004]. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the baseline quantitative HBsAg and the reduction in quantitative HBsAg and serum RANTES during the early period were predictors of HBsAg clearance after 48-week combination therapy. Furthermore, the combination of baseline quantitative HBsAg and 12 - or 24-week reduction of serum RANTES were better predictors of HBsAg clearance than that of baseline quantitative HBsAg combined with HBsAg decrease at week 12 or 24. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the former was 0.925 and 0.939, while that of the latter was 0.909 and 0.929, respectively. Conclusion: Early reduction of serum RANTES at week 12 and 24 can predict HBsAg loss in CHB patients receiving addition of peginterferon-α to ongoing NAs Therapy, so serum RANTES could be one of the key immunological markers for predicting HBsAg clearance.

Clinical cure and liver fibrosis reversal after postoperative antiviral combination therapy in hepatitis B-associated non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high in China, and approximately 15%-20% of HCC cases occur in the absence of cirrhosis. Compared with patients with cirrhotic HCC, those with non-cirrhotic HCC have longer postoperative tumor-free survival. However, the overall survival time is not significantly increased, and the risk of postoperative recurrence remains. Strategies to improve the postoperative survival rate in these patients are currently required.

CASE SUMMARY

A 47-year-old man with a family history of HCC was found to have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection 25 years ago. In 2000, he was administered lamivudine for 2 years, and entecavir (ETV 0.5 mg) was administered in 2006. In October 2016, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor in the liver (5.3 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm); no intraoperative hepatic and portal vein and bile duct tumor thrombi were found; and postoperative pathological examination confirmed a grade II HCC with no nodular cirrhosis (G1S3). ETV was continued, and no significant changes were observed on imaging. After receiving pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG IFNα-2b) (180 μg) + ETV in February 2019, the HBsAg titer decreased significantly within 12 wk. After receiving hepatitis B vaccine (60 μg) in 12 wk, HBsAg serological conversion was realized at 48 wk. During the treatment, no obvious adverse reactions were observed, except for early alanine aminotransferase flares. The reexamination results of liver pathology were G2S1, and reversal of liver fibrosis was achieved.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic regimen of ETV+ PEG IFNα-2b + hepatitis B vaccine for patients with HBV-associated non-cirrhotic HCC following hepatectomy can achieve an HBV clinical cure and prolong the recurrence-free survival.

[Clinical cure of hepatitis B: consensus and controversy]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health issue. At present, clinical cure is the ideal endpoint for hepatitis B treatment. That is to say, after the completion of treatment, the serum hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) is negative, with or without the presence of antibody against hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBs), undetectable HBV DNA, liver biochemical indicators within normal range, and improved liver tissue lesions. However, it is difficult to achieve a satisfactory clinical cure effect based on the existing therapeutic drugs. To this end, scientists have conducted many explorations, whether it is a combination of nucleos(t)ide analogues and pegylated interferon therapy strategies, or timely termination of antiviral drug treatment, or accelerate the research and development of innovative drugs. The road to clinical cure of hepatitis B is obstructive and long, with full of opportunities and controversies, but the lead is about to come. We always believe that through unremitting efforts, the dream of helping chronic hepatitis B patients to obtain clinical cure or even complete cure will eventually come true.

Perspectives on the Early Quality of Evidence Guiding the Therapeutic Management of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Literature Review

Background

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is a serious health concern. Repurposing of existing drugs indicated for other conditions seems to be the first choice for immediate therapeutic management. The quality of early evidence favoring the different treatment options needs to be apprised for informed decision-making.

Methods

In this systematic literature review, we apprised the quality of available evidence for different therapeutic options and also the basis for different treatment guidelines. To include all studies that are in different stages of publication, we also included studies from the preprint servers BioRxiv and MedRxiv and published studies from PubMed.

Results

We retrieved 5621 articles and included 22 studies for the systematic review. Based on our study, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, either alone or in combination with azithromycin, remdesivir, corticosteroids, convalescent sera, ritonavir/lopinavir, tocilizumab and arbidol were evaluated as therapeutic options. The data from different study designs reveal contradictory findings except for convalescent sera for which the evidence available is only from case series. Based on this early evidence, various national guidelines recommend remdesivir, convalescent sera, corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine in different subsets of patients.

Conclusion

Establishing consensus with respect to the end points to be assessed for respiratory viruses may enhance the quality of evidence in case of future pandemics. The systematic review highlighted the lacuna and methodologic deficiency in early clinical evidence and included an update on different therapeutic management guidelines. Further clinical evidence from the ongoing trials may lead to evolution of treatment guidelines with the addition of more therapeutic options.

Antimicrobial de-escalation in the critically ill patient and assessment of clinical cure: the DIANA study

Purpose

The DIANA study aimed to evaluate how often antimicrobial de-escalation (ADE) of empirical treatment is performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to estimate the effect of ADE on clinical cure on day 7 following treatment initiation.

Methods

Adult ICU patients receiving empirical antimicrobial therapy for bacterial infection were studied in a prospective observational study from October 2016 until May 2018. ADE was defined as (1) discontinuation of an antimicrobial in case of empirical combination therapy or (2) replacement of an antimicrobial with the intention to narrow the antimicrobial spectrum, within the first 3 days of therapy. Inverse probability (IP) weighting was used to account for time-varying confounding when estimating the effect of ADE on clinical cure.

Results

Overall, 1495 patients from 152 ICUs in 28 countries were studied. Combination therapy was prescribed in 50%, and carbapenems were prescribed in 26% of patients. Empirical therapy underwent ADE, no change and change other than ADE within the first 3 days in 16%, 63% and 22%, respectively. Unadjusted mortality at day 28 was 15.8% in the ADE cohort and 19.4% in patients with no change [p = 0.27; RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.60–1.14)]. The IP-weighted relative risk estimate for clinical cure comparing ADE with no-ADE patients (no change or change other than ADE) was 1.37 (95% CI 1.14–1.64).

Conclusion

ADE was infrequently applied in critically ill-infected patients. The observational effect estimate on clinical cure suggested no deleterious impact of ADE compared to no-ADE. However, residual confounding is likely.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00134-020-06111-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Clinical characteristics of chronic hepatitis B cured by peginterferon in combination with nucleotide analogs

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cured by antiviral therapy.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with CHB were enrolled. All patients had been treated with peginterferon (Peg-IFN) in combination with nucleoside analogue (NA) therapy for variable amounts of time, and all had been successfully cured of the disease.

RESULTS

The combined treatment time for all participants was 124.7 ± 58.8 weeks, and the average Peg-IFN treatment time was 102.6 ± 56.1 weeks. At 24 weeks, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) had decreased more than 50% from baseline. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the week 96 HBsAg-clearing group and the non-HBsAg-clearing group showed a statistically significant difference in baseline HBV DNA levels and week 48 HBsAg levels. Those which baseline HBV DNA was < 2.75 log₁₀ IU/mL, and week 48 HBsAg levels were < 0.88 log₁₀ IU/mL were more likely to achieve rapid HBsAg clearance at 96 weeks. This suggests that low levels of baseline HBV DNA and week 48 HBsAg are a predictor of rapid HBsAg clearance at 96 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Individualized extension of combination therapy to more than 96 weeks depending on the patient's response and adverse reaction conditions can help achieve a clinical cure. Patients with low baseline HBV DNA and low HBsAg levels at 48 weeks achieve HBsAg clearance more quickly than other populations.

[The expert consensus on clinical cure (functional cure) of chronic hepatitis B]

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major world public health problem. Current guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have suggested clinical cure (also known as functional cure) as the ideal therapeutic goal, which is associated with decreased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical cure is defined as sustained, undetectable serum HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA with or without seroconversion to anti-HBs, but with the persistence of residual cccDNA, accompanied by resolution of liver injury after the completion of a finite course of treatment. Accumulating data from a series of randomized controlled trials as well as clinical practice have confirmed certain clinical benefit of optimal sequential/ combination strategies of direct acting antiviral drugs (DAA) [such as nucleoside analogues (NA)] or immunomodulators (such as pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN)] for appropriately selected CHB patients. This consensus provides an updated and comprehensive analysis of the data supporting the use of combination therapies and summarizes the roadmap towards clinical cure of CHB to guide decision-making in clinical practice.

Clinical and laboratory profiles of patients with early spontaneous healing in cutaneous localized leishmaniasis: a historical cohort study

BACKGROUND

Skin ulcers in American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) may heal spontaneously after months/years. However, few cases may present quick heal even during diagnosis procedure (early spontaneous healing- ESH). The main objective of this study was to compare ESH patients with cases requiring specific treatment [non-ESH (NESH)].

METHODS

A historical cohort study of ACL patients (n = 445) were divided into 2 groups: ESH - spontaneously healed patients (n = 13; 2.90%), and NESH- treated patients (n = 432; 97.10%). We compared clinical and laboratorial findings at diagnosis, including the lesion healing process.

RESULTS

ESH patients had a higher percentage of single lesions (p = 0.027), epithelialized lesion on initial examination (p = 0.001), lesions located in the dorsal trunk (p = 0.017), besides earlier healing (p < 0.001). NESH presents higher frequency of ulcerated lesions (p = 0.002), amastigotes identified in histopathology exams (p = 0.005), positive cultures (p = 0.001), and higher positivity in ≥3 parasitological exams (p = 0.030). All ESH cases were positive in only a single exam, especially in PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

ESH group apparently presented a lower parasitic load evidenced by the difficulty of parasitological confirmation and its positivity only by PCR method. The absence or deficiency of specific treatment is commonly identified as predisposing factors for recurrence and metastasis in ACL. However, due to the drugs toxicity, the treatment of cases which progress to early spontaneous healing is controversial. ESH patients were followed for up to 5 years after cure, with no evidence of recrudescence, therefore suggesting that not treating these patients is justifiable, but periodic dermatological and otorhinolaryngological examinations are advisable to detect a possible relapse.

Prolonged versus Intermittent Infusion of β-Lactams for the Treatment of Nosocomial Pneumonia: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The primary objective of this meta-analysis is aimed at determining whether β-lactams prolonged infusion in patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) results in higher cure rate and improved mortality compared to intermittent infusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant studies were identified from searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from inception to September 1st, 2015. All published articles which evaluated the outcome of extended/continuous infusion of antimicrobial therapy versus intermittent infusion therapy in the treatment of NP were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of ten studies were included in the analysis involving 1,051 cases of NP. Prolonged infusion of β-lactams was associated with higher clinical cure rate (OR 2.45, 95% CI, 1.12, 5.37) compared to intermittent infusion. However, there was no significant difference in mortality (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.63-1.15) between the two groups. Subgroup analysis for β-lactam subclasses and for severity of illness showed comparable outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The limited data available suggest that reduced clinical failure rates when using prolonged infusions of β-lactam antibiotics in critically ill patients with NP. More detailed studies are needed to determine the impact of such strategy on mortality in this patient population.

Characteristics of an ideal nebulized antibiotic for the treatment of pneumonia in the intubated patient

Gram-negative pneumonia in patients who are intubated and mechanically ventilated is associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as higher healthcare costs compared with those who do not have the disease. Intravenous antibiotics are currently the standard of care for pneumonia; however, increasing rates of multidrug resistance and limited penetration of some classes of antimicrobials into the lungs reduce the effectiveness of this treatment option, and current clinical cure rates are variable, while recurrence rates remain high. Inhaled antibiotics may have the potential to improve outcomes in this patient population, but their use is currently restricted by a lack of specifically formulated solutions for inhalation and a limited number of devices designed for the nebulization of antibiotics. In this article, we review the challenges clinicians face in the treatment of pneumonia and discuss the characteristics that would constitute an ideal inhaled drug/device combination. We also review inhaled antibiotic options currently in development for the treatment of pneumonia in patients who are intubated and mechanically ventilated.

Immunotherapy and the concept of a clinical cure

Immunotherapy has entered a new phase in its history, i.e. the phase of being broadly accepted as a key component of therapeutic strategies to control and cure cancer. Immune-modulation by checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated to be capable of inducing long lasting tumour responses. Breaking tolerance by ipilimumab has been a crucial event in the past recent years, but PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies have forever changed the landscape in oncology in 2013. The most mature results have been obtained in advanced melanoma patients. High response rates of high quality with prolonged duration have been demonstrated in melanoma, renal cancer and in lung cancer. The broad potential is now being explored across a wide range of tumours. Importantly, synergy with ipilimumab has been demonstrated in melanoma, indicating a bright further future. Long term tumour control now seems achievable and thus the concept of a "clinical cure" is emerging. These antibodies bring immunotherapy to the forefront and indicate that immune-modulation will be a key component of therapeutic strategies from now on. All these observations indicate that "clinical cures" can only be achieved when the immune system is involved, and so the true renaissance of immunotherapy has arrived.