Community-acquired pneumonia: the elusive quest for the best treatment strategy

Garin, Nicolás; Marti, Christophe

doi:10.21037/jtd.2016.05.13

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

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“…For these reasons, initial antibiotic therapy in CAP remains mainly empirical [128]. The adjunction of "atypical" coverage has been a matter of debate, and this appellation may be misleading [129][130][131]. Indeed, benefits of combination of antibiotics (beta-lactams and macrolides for example) might encompass effective treatment of atypical pathogens, synergistic or adjunctive effect on typical pathogens or intrinsic properties of the drug (e.g., anti-inflammatory activity of macrolides) [27].…”

Section: Evidence Regarding Empiric Coverage Of Atypical Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atypical Pathogens in Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Implications for Empiric Antibiotic Treatment: A Narrative Review

et al. 2022

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Atypical pathogens are intracellular bacteria causing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a significant minority of patients. Legionella spp., Chlamydia pneumoniae and psittaci, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Coxiella burnetii are commonly included in this category. M. pneumoniae is present in 5–8% of CAP, being the second most frequent pathogen after Streptococcus pneumoniae. Legionella pneumophila is found in 3–5% of inpatients. Chlamydia spp. and Coxiella burnetii are present in less than 1% of patients. Legionella longbeachae is relatively frequent in New Zealand and Australia and might also be present in other parts of the world. Uncertainty remains on the prevalence of atypical pathogens, due to limitations in diagnostic means and methodological issues in epidemiological studies. Despite differences between CAP caused by typical and atypical pathogens, the clinical presentation alone does not allow accurate discrimination. Hence, antibiotics active against atypical pathogens (macrolides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones) should be included in the empiric antibiotic treatment of all patients with severe CAP. For patients with milder disease, evidence is lacking and recommendations differ between guidelines. Use of clinical prediction rules to identify patients most likely to be infected with atypical pathogens, and strategies of narrowing the antibiotic spectrum according to initial microbiologic investigations, should be the focus of future investigations.

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Section: Evidence Regarding Empiric Coverage Of Atypical Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atypical Pathogens in Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Implications for Empiric Antibiotic Treatment: A Narrative Review

et al. 2022

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Personalizing the Management of Pneumonia

Gautam

Sharma

2018

Clinics in Chest Medicine

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Legionnaires' disease – a qualitative study on Swiss physicians' approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia

2022

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BACKGROUND: The number of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease has increased significantly over the last decade in Switzerland and abroad. Along with the number of cases, the volume of testing has increased as well, which has been partially attributed to a change in awareness of the disease. Yet, while there are numerous guidelines and recommendations for the case management of community-acquired pneumonia, little is known about how physicians in Switzerland perceive and manage Legionnaires' disease. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate physicians' awareness of Legionnaires' disease, their information resources and their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia (and thus Legionnaires' disease). Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted in-depth interviews with physicians from different levels of care and from the German-, French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland. RESULTS: We conducted 46 interviews with physicians from university, cantonal and regional hospitals as well as with general practitioners (GPs) from all three language regions. Overall, the physicians working in hospitals indicated a similar level of awareness of Legionnaires' disease, and comparable diagnosis and treatment approaches. The Legionella urine antigen test (UAT) was reported to be routinely performed in inpatients. In contrast, GPs indicated lower levels of awareness, reflecting the fact that they treat pneumonia cases empirically without identification of the causative agent, in accordance with current guidelines. The value of the diagnostic tests in general and the Legionella UAT in particular was considered to be dependent on the (preferred) antibiotic treatment approach. Some physicians saw the test as redundant, as its result would not influence treatment. This was tied to concerns about the UAT’s sensitivity and its limited use for the detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Lastly, extrinsic constraints, such as financial and time considerations also affected physicians' testing and treatment preferences. CONCLUSION: Awareness of Legionnaires' disease is overall high, yet cases are mainly diagnosed and reported by hospitals. Improved diagnostic tools are needed to support physicians in reducing underestimation of Legionnaires' disease and optimise antibiotic stewardship without compromising patient health outcomes.

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Community-acquired pneumonia: the elusive quest for the best treatment strategy

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Atypical Pathogens in Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Implications for Empiric Antibiotic Treatment: A Narrative Review

Atypical Pathogens in Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Implications for Empiric Antibiotic Treatment: A Narrative Review

Personalizing the Management of Pneumonia

Legionnaires' disease – a qualitative study on Swiss physicians' approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia

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