Respiratory infections unique to Asia

Abstract

Respiratory infections unique to AsiaTSANG KW, FILE TM Jr. Respirology 2008; 13: 937-949 Abstract: Asia is a highly heterogeneous region with vastly different cultures, social constitutions and populations affected by a wide spectrum of respiratory diseases caused by tropical pathogens. Asian patients with community-acquired pneumonia differ from their Western counterparts in microbiological aetiology, in particular the prominence of Gram-negative organisms, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the differences in socioeconomic and health-care infrastructures limit the usefulness of Western management guidelines for pneumonia in Asia. The importance of emerging infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza infection remain as close concerns for practising respirologists in Asia. Specific infections such as melioidosis, dengue haemorrhagic fever, scrub typhus, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, penicilliosis marneffei, malaria, amoebiasis, paragonimiasis, strongyloidiasis, gnathostomiasis, trinchinellosis, schistosomiasis and echinococcosis occur commonly in Asia and manifest with a prominent respiratory component. Pulmonary eosinophilia, endemic in parts of Asia, could occur with a wide range of tropical infections. Tropical eosinophilia is believed to be a hyper-sensitivity reaction to degenerating microfilariae trapped in the lungs.This article attempts to address the key respiratory issues in these respiratory infections unique to Asia and highlight the important diagnostic and management issues faced by practising respirologists.

Viral and bacterial infection among hospitalized-suspected influenza A/H5N1 patients in Indonesia, 2008-2009

“…This finding was similar with previous study where Streptococcus pneumoniae is the prominent pathogen causing community acquired pneumonia in Asian countries while Klebsiella pneumoniae and Haemophillus influenzae were the commonest bacterial pathogens in South East Asia. 9,22,23 Co-infection of viral and bacterial pathogen cases were found within the present study although only minor cases. Co-infections between one of viral pathogen such as; influenza A, Coronavirus 229E/NL 63, Rhinovirus, Bocavirus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza Virus, respiratory syncytial virus and bacterial, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophillus influenzae were detected.…”

“…6,7,9,21 Although Rhinovirus is associated with common cold as this virus is normally commensals in upper respiratory tract, Rhinovirus are also one of viral pathogen that cause severe lower ARI. 3,7 In addition, bacterial infections found in this study were commonly Klebsiella pneumoniae, Strptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophillus influenzae.…”

“…Human metapneumovirus, human bocavirus and several coronaviruses have been discovered. 1,8,9 Moreover, bacterial agents are also recognized as the cause of acute respiratory infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Enteric Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Mycoplasma, Chlamidophilla, and Legionella are commonly reported to be the cause of ARI.…”

“…Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Enteric Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Mycoplasma, Chlamidophilla, and Legionella are commonly reported to be the cause of ARI. 9,10 Following the H5N1 outbreak in poultry and human, influenza associated with the severe acute respiratory infection was given higher attention in Indonesia. Until March 2011, 176 confirmed cases of H5N1 were reported and 145 had been fatal, putting Indonesia as the country with the highest number of H5N1 human cases in the world.…”

Efficacy and Safety of Nemonoxacin versus Levofloxacin for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

“…It is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide (3,24,34). Approximately 1 million episodes of CAP have been estimated to occur annually in adults м65 years of age in the United States (24).…”