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Query: UMLS:C0023241 (Legionella)
 6,990 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 10 month prospective study of all adults admitted to Waikato Hospital with community acquired pneumonia was performed to assess aetiology, mortality, hospital stay, and the value of a prognostic index based on that obtained from a British Thoracic Society study. The 92 patients in the survey had a mean age of 56 (range 13-97) years. A microbiological diagnosis was established in 72%; Streptococcus pneumoniae (33%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (18%), and influenza A virus (8%) were the most common microorganisms. Other causative organisms were Legionella pneumophila (4 cases), Staphylococcus aureus (3), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2), Haemophilus influenzae (2), Nocardia brasiliensis (1), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (1). Chlamydia sp, influenza B virus and adenovirus were each found in one case; all were cultured on nasopharygeal aspirates. Aspiration was considered to be the underlying cause in five patients, two with epilepsy and one with pseudobulbar palsy. Five of the six deaths that occurred were in patients over 75 years of age and the other was 69. In four of the six the established causative organisms were Chlamydia sp (1), K pneumoniae (1), and S aureus (2). Patients had a 16 fold increased risk of death if they had two or more of the following on admission: a respiratory rate of 30/minute or more, diastolic blood pressure of 60 mm Hg or less, and either confusion or a plasma urea concentration greater than 7.0 mmol/l.
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PMID:Community acquired pneumonia: aetiology and prognostic index evaluation. 190 34

Sera from 252 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were examined for the presence of antibodies to 15 antigens of 7 Legionella spp. by indirect immunofluorescent antibody testing. The sera had been collected as part of the British Thoracic Society/Public Health Laboratory Service study of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. We also examined sera from 20 patients with gram-negative sepsis. Using a limited range of antigens of L. pneumophila, nine cases of legionellosis were diagnosed in the original study. However, using antigens to other Legionella spp., we identified two further cases, caused by L. micdadei and L. gormanii respectively. Twenty-six other patients had titres of 16 or 32 to one or more antigens, most commonly L. bozemanii serogroup 1, L. micdadei and L. dumoffi. None of the patients with non-legionella pneumonia, however, had significant changes in legionella antibody titres. All of the patients with Gram-negative sepsis had titres of less than 16.
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PMID:Prevalance of antibodies to 15 antigens of Legionellaceae in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. 240 43

This cross-sectional and prospective one year study evaluated adults admitted to an inner city hospital with community-acquired pneumonia. The study used extensive diagnostic methods to evaluate the etiologies of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients with differing immunologic status. Of 385 study patients, concurrent problems associated with immunosuppression were noted in 221 (57%) patients, 180 of whom were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected. The five most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia were: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pneumocystis carinii, aspiration, Hemophilus influenzae, and gram-negative bacilli. Only 8.3% of patients had either Legionella, Chlamydia pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Despite use of state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques, no diagnosis was made in 46 of 180 (25.6%) HIV-infected patients, 56 of 164 (34.1%) immunocompetent patients, and 20 of 41 (48.8%) non-HIV-infected immunosuppressed patients. The diagnostic yield of pre-antibiotic sputum culture for conventional bacteria was 99/155 (63.9%) compared to 52 of 169 patients (32.7%) with adequate post-antibiotic sputum culture (p < 0.0001). Although S. pneumonia continues to be the most commonly identified etiologic agent of community-acquired pneumonia, it is surpassed by P. carinii in the HIV-infected patient population. The apparent decline in the frequency of S. pneumoniae in our series presumably reflects administration of antibiotics prior to procurement of sputum culture. The paucity of atypical agents in this study support the current American Thoracic Society guidelines for selective use of macrolide therapy in immunocompetent adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Community-acquired pneumonia: impact of immune status. 755 87

Pneumonia in the community affects between 1 and 5 per 1000 per year. The microbial aetiology is diverse and influenced by preexisting disease, seasonality, as well as animate and inanimate environmental sources; pneumococci, Legionella spp., Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and more recently Chlamydia pneumoniae are the predominant bacterial pathogens. Gram-negative enteric bacteria although less common are particularly virulent. Antibiotic resistance is well established for Haemophilus influenzae and Gram-negative bacillary infections, but has been a recent phenomenon in the case of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is numerically the leading pathogen. Despite the concerns raised by this reduced susceptibility to penicillin, evidence that this has been translated into increased clinical failures is currently difficult to establish. Macrolide and tetracycline resistance among pneumococci is more common. beta-Lactamase production by H. influenzae has now reached levels where, in those with severe pneumonia, beta-lactamase stable agents are preferred. Consensus Guidelines on the treatment of community acquired pneumonia have been published by the British Thoracic Society, the American Thoracic Society, and from Expert Panels in Canada and France. These emphasize severity assessment and differentiate management in the community or hospital setting. The recommended regimens are compared and contrasted. In conclusion, mild/moderate pneumonia, when pneumococcal in nature, is likely to still respond to amoxycillin or penicillin G, but in higher dosages where pneumococcal resistance is documented. However, in severe infection where pneumococcal resistance, other beta-lactamase-producing pathogens, or an atypical infection could be operating, it is important that initial empirical therapy be broad spectrum and promptly administered. Treating multiresistant pneumococcal disease in those allergic to beta-lactams presents a particular dilemma. Glycopeptides are currently preferred.
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PMID:Pneumonia: the impact of antibiotic resistance on its management. 915 49

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is one of the major health problems in developing countries such as Indonesia. According to the National Household Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 1992, LRTIs still rank fourth as the main cause of death in Indonesia. The problem of LRTIs could be simply managed as long as the causative organism can be identified and the proper antibiotic known. In some occasions, it is not quite so easy to identify the causative micro-organism, especially in lower tract infections. There are several methods of obtaining specimens from LRTIs for cultures. The easiest, most simple way is to collect expectorated sputum. Unfortunately, because of the high rate of contamination by upper respiratory tract flora, this method is not reliable. Recognizing the difficulties with routine expectorated sputum cultures, two alternative approaches have been suggested. One approach is to bypass potential expectorated sputum 'contaminants' in the oropharynx by transtracheal aspiration or transthoracic aspiration. The second approach is to modify the usual technique of processing expectorated sputum by either washing techniques or by quantitative cultures. Azithromycin and clarithromycin are chemically related to macrolide erithromycin. Both antibiotics retain the traditional macrolide spectrum of activity against gram-positive and atypical pneumonia pathogens, while demonstrating improved activity against gram-negative bacteria. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommended the use of macrolide for outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia, without comorbidity and 60 years of age or younger. A total of 34 outpatients with acute LRTIs were open-comparative, randomly allocated to treatment with the new macrolide in Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta, 1996. The purposes of this study were: (i) to identify the causative micro-organisms; and (ii) to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the new macrolide in these infections. Azithromycin 500 mg was given orally once a day for 3 days and was administered 1 h before or 2 h after every meal. Clarithromycin 500 mg was given orally every 12 h for 10 days. The diagnosis of the patients were: 16 with pneumonia, 10 with acute bronchitis and 8 with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. In this study of 34 patients, the sputum specimens were washed with N acetylcysteine before culture and we could only detect micro-organisms in one patient. Before treatment, we found 47 strains in 33 (97.05%) patients and after treatment we found five strains. From serological examination, only four (11.76%) atypical bacterial were detected. The most frequently found microorganisms were 23 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (40.42%), 10 of Streptococcus alpha haemolyticus (21.26%), five of Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.63%) and five of Staphylococcus aureus (10.63%). The atypical bacterial were: two Legionella pneumophila, one Mycoplasma pneumoniae and one Chlamydia pneumoniae. The clinical efficacy of new macrolides were 100% and the bacteriological responses with eradication of 94.12% vs 70.59% of isolates in the azithromycin and clarithromycin groups are shown in Table 1. There were no adverse reactions detected in the two treatment groups until the end of the study.
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PMID:The pattern of micro-organisms and the efficacy of new macrolide in acute lower respiratory tract infections. 969 20

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has published guidelines for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common etiologic agent, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila are also important causes. For all suspected CAP patients, particularly those requiring hospitalization, chest radiographs are strongly recommended to confirm the diagnosis. The IDSA guidelines, in contrast to those published by the American Thoracic Society, emphasize the use of sputum Gram's stain and culture in all patients, whenever possible, to establish etiology. This information can be used not only to guide therapy but also to track trends in the etiologic pathogens for CAP and their antibiotic susceptibility. In light of the better outcomes with the earliest possible interventions, the IDSA recommends initial empiric antimicrobial therapy until laboratory results can be obtained to guide more specific therapy. Macrolides, doxycycline, and fluoroquinolones are suggested for primary empiric therapy, since each has activity against common bacterial pathogens and atypical agents. Detailed antibiotic recommendations are made for various pathogens. For inpatients, attempts should be made to cover Legionella and other common pathogenic bacteria. Alternative antibiotics are recommended for patients with structural diseases of the lung, penicillin allergy, or suspected aspiration pneumonia. Switch to an appropriate oral antibiotic is recommended as soon as the patient's condition is stable and he or she can tolerate oral therapy, often within 72 h.
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PMID:Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia--IDSA guidelines. Infectious Diseases Society of America. 1008 53

We prospectively analyzed the clinical and laboratory features of 74 patients with community-acquired pneumonia who required hospitalization between May 1996 and October 1997. Typical pathogens were identified in 47, and atypical pathogens in 27. The average age was higher in patients affected by typical pathogens (73.9 years), than in patients affected by atypical pathogens (50.9 years). Univariable analysis found that atypical pneumonias were more frequent in healthy patients than typical pneumonias. Moreover, the presence of relatives with symptoms of airway infection, headache, and earache was more common among the patients with atypical pneumonias, while leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein levels were more frequent among patients with typical pneumonias. Typical pathogens accounted for up to 79.6% of the cases of pneumonia with in older patients (aged 60 years or more), whereas atypical pathogens accounted for up to 80% of the cases of pneumonia in younger patients (aged under 60 years). This difference was statistically significant. Of all 74 patients, 39 (52.7%) were afflicted by severe community-acquired pneumonia, as categorized by American Thoracic Society guidelines. The most common pathogen among these patients was Streptococcus pneumoniae. Legionella was one of the top four. Selection of the initial antimicrobial treatment is an important clinical decision that should be made on the basis of clinical features at admission, age, and severity of the patient's illness.
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PMID:[Comparative study of clinical features of typical and atypical pneumonias]. 1041 May 41

Cefuroxime has been recommended as a component of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in guidelines produced by several groups, including the US and British Thoracic Societies. It is effective in vitro against the major bacterial pathogens in CAP but it needs to be given with an agent that is active against Mycoplasma, Chlamydia or Legionella spp. if the presence of any of these organisms is suspected. Cefuroxime penetrates respiratory tissue effectively after either parenteral or oral administration, and it has a pharmacodynamic profile which suggests that adequate cover can be achieved with oral therapy for respiratory pathogens susceptible to cefuroxime concentrations of 4 mg/L or less. This break-point is applicable to oral monotherapy and to sequential therapy regimens for the treatment of pneumonia. Cefuroxime can be used either orally or parenterally and it is approved in many countries for the treatment of adult pneumonia by either route. The oral form, cefuroxime axetil, has been used extensively in the treatment of children aged over 3 months but its use in paediatric pneumonia has not been reviewed. The present review summarises clinical experience in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia, of varying severity, in children. The data show that children with severe pneumonia, including those with pleural effusion or complications, can be treated with a full course of intravenous cefuroxime therapy, whereas hospitalised children whose pneumonia stabilises rapidly after initial intravenous therapy can change to oral cefuroxime axetil after 24 to 72 hours and may be able to return home. Oral cefuroxime axetil was appropriate for patients with milder pneumonia managed either in hospital or at home.
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PMID:Clinical use of cefuroxime in paediatric community-acquired pneumonia. 1102 95

Legionella pneumophila is the second cause of severe community acquired pneumonia. In Chile, however, there are few reports of pneumonia caused by Legionella. We report eight patients (6 men, aged 42 to 72 years old) with community-acquired pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, confirmed by the measurement of urinary antigen. Clinical presentation was characterized by fever or hypothermia (in one case), cough, dyspnea and neurological abnormalities in four patients. Cigarette smoking was the most frequently identified risk factor. All patients had at least one American Thoracic Society severity criteria. Complications observed were acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in seven patients, shock in four, renal failure in four and need for mechanical ventilation in three. No patient died.
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PMID:[Community acquired pneumonia. Report of 8 cases of severe pneumonia by serogroup 1 Legionella pneumophila in Chile]. 1204 74

Patients with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) need continuous surveillance and monitoring at intensive care units (ICU), where they can receive specialized support as mechanical ventilation and/or hemodynamic support. Patients that require ICU admittance represent 10 to 30% of all patients interned because a pneumonia. In this category, high complication rate, prolonged hospital stay and high mortality rate are the rule. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria for severe pneumonia establishes the following main criteria: necessity of mechanical ventilation and presence of septic shock; minor criteria: systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, radiological multilobar involvement and PaO2/FiO2 < 250 mmHg. British Thoracic Society (BTS) criteria for severe CAP are: respiratory rate over 30 breaths/min, diastolic blood pressure under 60 mmHg, BUN > 20 mg/dl and mental confusion. In all patients with CAP it is recommended the evaluation of its severity at admission. This evaluation should be done in conjunction with an experienced physician, and if criteria for poor prognosis are met, an early admission to ICU is recommended. ATS and BTS modified criteria (CURB) are useful in this procedure. In severely ill patients with CAP it is recommended to perform the following microbiological analysis: sputum Gram stain and culture, blood culture, pleural fluid Gram stain and culture, if present and tapped, Legionella pneumophila urine antigen test, influenza A and B antigen detection tests (epidemic period: autumn and winter), and serology for atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae).
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PMID:[Severe community-acquired pneumonia in adults]. 1616 19


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