Respiratory antimicrobial therapy

Antimicrobial treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication of ventilatory support for patients with acute respiratory failure and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs. Optimal antimicrobial therapy is an essential part of successful management of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Numerous safe and effective antimicrobial drugs are available, and their efficacy can be optimi...

Sequential antimicrobial therapy: treatment of severe lower respiratory tract infections in children.

Although there have been a number of studies in adults, to date there has been little research into sequential antimicrobial therapy (SAT) in paediatric populations. The present study evaluates the impact of a SAT protocol for the treatment of severe lower respiratory tract infection in paediatric patients. The study involved 89 paediatric patients (44 control and 45 SAT). The SAT patients had ...

Microbiology and antimicrobial management of sinusitis.

The growing resistance to antimicrobial agents of all respiratory tract bacterial pathogens has made the management of sinusitis more difficult. The upper respiratory tract including the nasopharynx serves as the reservoir for pathogenic bacteria that can cause respiratory infections including sinusitis. During a viral respiratory infection, potential pathogens can relocate from the nasopharynx...

An Overview of Community-acquired Respiratory Tract Infections

Community-acquired respiratory tract infections continue to be among the most common and important infections seen by practicing clinicians. These infections not surprisingly have some common aspects in regards to the microbes involved as well as their pathogenesis and typically involve the sinuses, the airways, and the lungs. Acute respiratory tract infections can be caused by a wide variety o...

Streamlining antimicrobial therapy for lower respiratory tract infections.

Antimicrobial streamlining is the practice of converting a broad-spectrum empirical regimen to therapy with either a single, narrow-spectrum parenteral agent or an oral agent as soon as possible. This practice results in many benefits for the patient and the hospital. When intravenous catheters can be removed early, the frequencies of catheter-associated bacteremias and phlebitis are reduced, t...

Effect of Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Testing and Antimicrobial Stewardship on Antimicrobial Therapy of Respiratory Infections