acyclovir and Bacterial-Infections

Thanks to a simplification of surgical techniques, single or double lung transplants have expanded significantly in latter years. Infection remains an important cause for morbidity and mortality, more so in early rather than late stages. Bacterial infections cause approximately fifty per cent of all infections. They can be prevented in part by prophylaxis. Infections to CMV have become less frequent thanks to adequate prophylaxis with ganciclovir. Herpetic infections are prevented by acyclovir or ganciclovir. A better control of immunosuppression seems to be associated with fewer lymphoproliferative disorders secondary to the Epstein-Barr virus. Respiratory viruses remain a serious threat for these patients, although infections due to respiratory syncitial virus may be attenuated by ribavirine. Fungal infections are dangerous but prophylactic prescription of azole derivatives have reduced the incidence and severity. Prophylaxis of infections to Pneumocystis carinii is essential, the use of sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim is efficacious against this as well as nocardiosis. Infections to Mycobacterium tuberculosis are often atypical and should be looked for and anticipated whenever possible.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Antifungal Agents; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Chemoprevention; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Ganciclovir; Graft Survival; Heart-Lung Transplantation; Herpesviridae Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Lung Transplantation; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nocardia Infections; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Ribavirin; Survival Rate; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Tumor Virus Infections; Virus Diseases

Topics: Acyclovir; Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Cefotaxime; Cells, Cultured; Cephalosporins; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Erythromycin; Female; Fetal Diseases; Herpes Genitalis; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Penicillins; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prenatal Diagnosis; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Virus Diseases

The epidemiology of infections associated with orthotopic liver transplantation is summarized herein, and approaches to prophylaxis are outlined. Infection is a major complication following orthotopic liver transplantation, and more than half of transplant recipients develop at least one infection. The risk of infection is highest in the first month after transplantation, and the most common pathogens are bacteria and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Bacterial infections usually occur in the first month, arise in the abdomen, and are caused by aerobes. The peak incidence of CMV infection is late in the first month and early in the second month after transplantation. CMV syndromes include fever and neutropenia, hepatitis, pneumonitis, gut ulceration, and disseminated infection. Other significant problems are Candida intraabdominal infection, Herpes simplex mucocutaneous infection or hepatitis, adenovirus hepatitis, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Prophylaxis of infection in liver transplant recipients has not been well-studied. Several different regimens of parenteral, oral absorbable, and/or oral non-absorbable antibiotics active against bacteria and yeast have been used at various centers, but no randomized controlled trials have been conducted. Selective bowel decontamination appears to be a promising approach to the prevention of bacterial and Candida infections, while oral acyclovir may be a relatively convenient and effective agent for CMV prophylaxis.

Topics: Acyclovir; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Humans; Infections; Liver Transplantation; Mycoses; Parasitic Diseases; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Postoperative Complications; Premedication; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Virus Diseases

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Encephalitis; Humans; Meningitis; Meningitis, Viral

Topics: Acute Disease; Acyclovir; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Catheterization; Chickenpox; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Immunization; Immunization, Passive; Infection Control; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Mycoses; Protozoan Infections; Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim

In this multicenter, randomized study, cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive patients who received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant were provided high-dose intravenous acyclovir (500 mg/m(2) q8h) from the day of transplantation until engraftment. The patients were then randomly assigned to receive either oral valacyclovir, 2 g q.i.d. (n=83), or intravenous ganciclovir, 5 mg/kg q12h for 1 week, then 6 mg/kg once daily for 5 days per week (n=85), until day 100 after transplantation. CMV infection occurred in 12% of the patients who received valacyclovir and in 19% of the patients who received ganciclovir (hazard ratio [HR], 1.042; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.391-2.778; P=.934). CMV disease developed in only 2 patients who received valacyclovir and in 1 patient who received ganciclovir (HR, 1.943; 95% CI, 0.176-21.44; P=.588). Oral valacyclovir can be an effective alternative to intravenous ganciclovir for prophylaxis of CMV disease after bone marrow transplantation.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Female; Ganciclovir; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Sepsis; Survival Analysis; Transplantation, Homologous; Valacyclovir; Valine

Clinical course of herpes zoster was assessed in 119 immuno-competent and in 28 immuno-compromised hosts. Complications of herpes zoster were observed in one third cases. However, the frequency of post-herpetic neuralgia was lower than that seen by other authors. Despite severe underlying diseases in compromised hosts, good outcome of herpes zoster was obtained. It may be related to the use of aciclovir in all these cases. Early and rational treatment with aciclovir is important for decreasing of the frequency of severe complications of herpes zoster.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Female; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Male; Middle Aged; Neuralgia; Opportunistic Infections; Polyradiculoneuropathy; Treatment Outcome

To compare the efficacy of ceftazidime and imipenem monotherapy for fever and neutropenia, and to determine whether fewer antimicrobial modifications (additions or changes) are required by the broader-spectrum agent, imipenem.. Adult and pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors, leukemias, or lymphomas were randomized to receive open-label ceftazidime or imipenem on presentation with fever and neutropenia. Success with or without modifications of the initial antibiotic was defined as survival through neutropenia; failure was death due to infection. Comparisons were based on numbers of modifications made to each monotherapy during the course of neutropenia, in patients stratified as having unexplained fever or a documented infection.. Among 204 ceftazidime and 195 imipenem recipients, the overall success rate with or without modification was more than 98%, regardless of initial antibiotic regimen. Modifications occurred in half of all episodes, primarily in patients with documented infections on either monotherapy. Antianaerobic agents were more frequently added to ceftazidime (P < .001), but addition of other antibiotics, including vancomycin and aminoglycosides, was similar between the two monotherapy groups. Imipenem therapy was associated with significantly greater toxicity, manifested by Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and by nausea and vomiting, which required discontinuation of imipenem in 10% of recipients.. Ceftazidime and imipenem are both effective in the management of fever and chemotherapy-related neutropenia, provided that modifications are made in response to clinical and microbiologic data that emerge during the course of neutropenia. Imipenem, despite its broader antimicrobial spectrum, does not significantly decrease the overall need for antibiotic modifications and is more often complicated by gastrointestinal toxicity.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bacterial Infections; Cause of Death; Ceftazidime; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fever; Fever of Unknown Origin; Humans; Imipenem; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Neutropenia; Prospective Studies; Vancomycin

Topics: Acyclovir; Bacterial Infections; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Graft Rejection; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Incidence; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Opportunistic Infections; Retrospective Studies; Virus Diseases

We prospectively tested the hypothesis that prevention of herpes simplex virus infection with acyclovir might also reduce the incidence of bacterial infections in adult patients with acute leukaemia. During the first induction therapy a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study was undertaken. Fifty-two patients were treated with 200 mg acyclovir orally four times daily throughout the induction period, whereas 55 patients received placebo. The groups were comparable with regard to age, cytotoxic chemotherapy and duration of neutropenia. Bacteraemias were significantly fewer in the acyclovir group (20 versus 41 episodes; P = 0.007). The number of isolated microorganisms causing bacterial or fungal infections was also lower during acyclovir prophylaxis (52 isolates, versus 93 isolates; P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to the number of clinically documented infections or fevers of unknown origin. Herpes simplex virus isolations occurred only in the placebo group (P = 0.001). Thus, oral acyclovir prophylaxis was associated with reductions of all microbiologically documented infections suggesting that prevention of herpes simplex virus reactivation in acute leukaemia patients may reduce the occurrence of other infections.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bacteremia; Bacterial Infections; Double-Blind Method; Fever; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Incidence; Ketoconazole; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prospective Studies

To describe the characteristics of infants evaluated for serious bacterial infection, focusing on empirical testing and treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and describe the characteristics of HSV-positive patients.. We included infants aged 0 to 60 days undergoing evaluation for serious bacterial infection in the emergency department. This descriptive study was conducted between July 2010 and June 2014 at a tertiary-care children's hospital. Eligible patients were identified on the basis of age at presentation to the hospital and laboratory specimens. Infant characteristics, symptoms on presentation, and laboratory workup were compared between HSV-positive and HSV-negative patients by using the 2-sample. A total of 1633 infants were eligible for inclusion, and 934 (57.2%) were 0 to 28 days of age. HSV was diagnosed in 19 infants, 11 of whom had disseminated disease. Compared with those without HSV, HSV-positive infants were younger, less likely to be febrile and to present with nonspecific symptoms, and more likely to have a mother with HSV symptoms (. The absence of fever should not preclude a workup for HSV in neonates, and when a workup is initiated, emphasis should be placed on obtaining samples from serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and surface specimens. Physicians may benefit from a guideline for evaluation of HSV with specific guidance on high-risk features of presentation and recommended testing.

Topics: Acyclovir; Bacterial Infections; Child; Female; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Retrospective Studies; Simplexvirus

Topics: Acute Disease; Acyclovir; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Cephalosporins; Ciprofloxacin; Female; Humans; Male; Pancreatitis; Retrospective Studies; Tertiary Care Centers; Treatment Outcome; Virus Diseases

Fatal problems encountered in allogeneic stem cell transplantation include EBV reactivation and post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) with high mortality rates. We performed a retrospective analysis in all consecutive adult and pediatric EBV reactivations and PTLD during a period of 8.5 years. There were 26 patients with EBV reactivation/PTLD out of a total of 854 transplantations giving an overall incidence of 3.0%. Specifically, the incidence of EBV-PTLD was 1.3%, whereas that of EBV reactivation was 1.8%. Median age was 46.0 and 11.0 years in the adult and pediatric patients, respectively. There were high rates (54%) of concomitant bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections at the time of EBV manifestation. Variable treatment regimens were applied including in most cases an anti-CD20 regimen often in combination with virustatic compounds, polychemotherapy or donor lymphocytes. The mortality rates were 9 of 11 (82%) in patients with EBV-PTLD and 10 of 15 (67%) in patients with reactivation. Only 7 of 26 patients (27%) are alive after a median follow-up of 758 days (range 24-2751). The high mortality rates of EBV reactivation and of EBV-PTLD irrespective of multimodal treatment approaches emphasize standardization and optimization of post transplant surveillance and treatment strategies to improve control of these often fatal complications.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Child; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Graft vs Host Disease; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Histocompatibility Testing; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Parasitic Diseases; Stem Cell Transplantation; Tissue Donors; Virus Activation

To report a case of bilateral herpes simplex keratitis with unilateral secondary bacterial keratitis resulting in corneal perforation in a patient with pityriasis rubra pilaris.. Case report.. A 77-year-old female with pityriasis rubra pilaris was referred for a perforated corneal ulcer of the left eye. Cultures were positive in both eyes for Herpes simplex and in the left eye for Pseudomonas fluorescens and Staphylococcus aureus A microbiological cure was obtained with a combination of tectonic keratoplasty, fortified topical antibiotics, and systemic acyclovir.. Pityriasis rubra pilaris is a rare, inflammatory dermatologic disease that may predispose patients to bilateral Herpes simplex keratitis, secondary bacterial superinfection, and a tendency toward rapid stromal ulceration with risk of perforation.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Infections; Cefazolin; Ceftazidime; Corneal Transplantation; Corneal Ulcer; Female; Humans; Keratitis; Keratitis, Herpetic; Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris; Pseudomonas fluorescens; Pseudomonas Infections; Staphylococcal Infections

The extent and duration of neutropenia and the characteristics of the underlying disease are determinant factors for the prognosis of febrile syndromes. Despite the fact that traditionally the peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) were considered to cause high risk neutropenia, in all probability the neutropenia observed in the PBSCT in some solid tumours could be considered moderate risk. Febrile episodes in patients with these characteristics were evaluated.. We prospectively analysed 132 autologus PBSCT in patients with breast cancer (1994-1999). Conditioning regime: STAMP V. Antibacterial prophylaxis: ofloxacin (400 mg/12 hrs PO). Classification of the febrile syndrome: bacteremia, microbiologically documented infection withut bacteremia, clinical infection and a fever of unknown origin.. 122 patients had a fever (92%), mean age: 45 years (range: 27-61). There were 32 (26%) bacteremias, 13 (11%) microbiologically documented infections without bacteremia and 54 (44%) clinical infections. The mean number of days with a neutrophil count of <1x109/1 was 14 (range: 11-20). In the 74 patients (61%) that had a granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), the mean number of days to reach a 0,5x109/I neutrophil count (7,6) and the average number of days in hospital (26) were significantly less. There was a main infectious point in 80 patients (65%): the most frequent being oropharynx in 33 cases (46%) and digestive in 29 cases (41%). 48 gram negative (GN) 29 gram positive (GP) bacteria were isolated (71% of the GN's were resistant to ofloxacin). Between 1997-1999 the GN/GP ratio was 2,3. There were no deaths related to the infection.. Given the excellent evolution of our patients we can consider their neutropenia to be moderate or low risk, and they are a long way from the death rates caused by infections published by other types of hemopoietic transplants. The predominance of GN over the last few years and their limited sensitivity to quinolones means that their prophylactic use in these patients should be reconsidered.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Anti-Infective Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Antiviral Agents; Bacteremia; Bacterial Infections; Breast Neoplasms; Carboplatin; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Resistance; Female; Fever; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Incidence; Infection Control; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Ofloxacin; Premedication; Prospective Studies; Transplantation Conditioning; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Topics: Acyclovir; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Chancroid; Chlamydia Infections; Epididymitis; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Genital Diseases, Male; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Mumps; Orchitis; Prostatitis; Syphilis; Urethritis

Topics: Acyclovir; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Humans; Incidence; Liver Transplantation; Pneumonia; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acyclovir; Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Drug Therapy, Combination; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Intestine, Small; Liver Transplantation; Male; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Postoperative Complications; Sulfamethoxazole; Surgical Wound Infection; Time Factors; Trimethoprim; Virus Diseases

Topics: Acyclovir; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Agranulocytosis; Bacterial Infections; Breast Neoplasms; Candidiasis; Female; Herpes Zoster; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Neutropenia

Topics: Acyclovir; Bacterial Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Infant, Newborn

Primary varicella-zoster (VZ) infection in eight children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection tended to be severe, prolonged, complicated by bacterial infections and in one case fatal. Depletion of CD4-lymphocytes was associated with chronic and recurrent VZ infection. In some patients convalescent VZ antibody titers were low and did not correlate with recurrence of VZ lesions. Administration of acyclovir appeared to be beneficial in suppressing VZ in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children with primary or recurrent VZ infection.

Topics: Acyclovir; Bacterial Infections; Chickenpox; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Male; Pneumonia, Viral; Recurrence

Of 13 patients with chickenpox pneumonia (12 of them adults) treated during 1979-87, 10 received antiviral drugs--nine acyclovir and one vidarabine. Three died despite intensive treatment. Serious secondary infections occurred in six cases. There were no clear indications that antiviral treatment altered the natural history of the condition. Acyclovir may at present be used too late in the course of chickenpox pneumonia to alter its outcome.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adolescent; Adult; Bacterial Infections; Chickenpox; Female; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Viral; Radiography; Vidarabine

Topics: Acyclovir; Amphotericin B; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Herpes Labialis; Humans; Mouth Diseases; Mycoses; Neoplasms

Considerable progress has been made in the supportive care of patients undergoing cancer therapy. This progress has been associated with the improved survival of some patients. However, infection continues to be the major fatal complication in cancer. patients. The response of granulocytopenic patients with infections to some of the current available antibiotics is suboptimal. Since neutropenia is common during cancer treatment, there is a continual risk of infection in cancer patients; thus it is important for medical oncologists to become aware of these complications and their management. The most frequent types of acute infections, their clinical manifestations, and available antibiotic therapies were reviewed.

Topics: Acyclovir; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Fever; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid; Neoplasms; Neutropenia; Vidarabine; Virus Diseases

Topics: Acyclovir; Bacterial Infections; Cryptococcosis; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Drug Combinations; Humans; Infection Control; Infections; Kidney Transplantation; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Postoperative Complications; Prognosis; Sulfamethoxazole; Toxoplasmosis; Trimethoprim; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Virus Diseases