brl-28500 and Pneumonia--Bacterial

The purpose of this study was to assess the value of tracheal aspirate as a predictor of pneumonia after coronary artery bypass grafting and to evaluate the efficacy of prolonged perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.. Tracheal aspirates of 500 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were taken immediately after intubation and analyzed for microorganisms by Gram stain and semiquantitative microbiologic cultures. All patients received 2 g ceftriaxone as a single-dose perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis before operation. Results of Gram stains were available before the patients were transferred to the intensive care unit. After the results were known, both groups of patients (positive Gram stain, group 1; negative Gram stain, group 2) were randomly assigned to either conventional antibiotic prophylaxis (A), consisting of ceftriaxone 2 g on postoperative day 1, or prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis (B), with ticarcillin + clavulanic acid 3 x 5.2 g during 72 hours.. From 500 patients, 91 had a positive Gram stain whereas 409 had a negative one. The incidence of pneumonia was significantly higher in patients with preoperative positive tracheal aspirates (15.3%) than in patients with a negative one (3.6%; p < 0.01). However, prolonged prophylaxis did not reduce the rate of postoperative pneumonia, which was as high as 13% in untreated positive patients versus 17% in treated positive patients, and 2% in untreated negative patients versus 4% in treated patients. In patients who had pneumonia, there was a high correlation between the microorganisms found in preoperative aspirates and those observed when aspirates were repeated (100% correlation in patients with conventional antibiotic prophylaxis and 87% in those with prolonged prophylaxis).. Early postoperative pneumonia (<7 days) is most likely caused by microorganisms that colonize the respiratory tract before operation. The risk of pulmonary infection after coronary artery bypass grafting can be predicted from the preoperative tracheal aspirates. Prolonged perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis has no efficacy in reducing the incidence of pulmonary infections.

Topics: Aged; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Bacteriological Techniques; Ceftriaxone; Clavulanic Acids; Coronary Artery Bypass; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Ticarcillin; Trachea

Efficacy of ticarcillin/clavulanate was studied in the treatment of 11 patients with severe community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia in an open controlled trial. The drug was administered in a dose of 3.1 g every 4 or 6 hours depending on the infection severity. When pneumonia was due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, amikacin was additionally used. The positive clinical effect of ticarcillin/clavulanate was stated in 73 per cent of the patients. The pathogen eradication was stated in all the patients. However, in 2 cases superinfection due to P.aeruginosa developed. Mild adverse effects were observed in 2 cases. It is concluded that ticarcillin/clavulanate is highly efficient in the treatment of patients with severe or complicated pneumonia. In cases with ventilator-associated pneumonia it is advisable to use ticarcillin/clavulanate in combination with an aminoglycoside.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Clavulanic Acids; Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Lung Abscess; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Ticarcillin; Time Factors

Aztreonam, cefepime, and ceftazidime are anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics which have been previously reported to be administered by continuous infusion (CI) in pediatric CF patients. We present two cases administering intravenous (IV) meropenem and ticarcillin-clavulanate by CI in pediatric CF patients. The delivery of beta-lactam antibiotics via CI should be considered in order to optimize the pharmacodynamics (PD) of beta-lactams in the treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations (APE).

Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clavulanic Acids; Cystic Fibrosis; Female; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Meropenem; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas Infections; Rhodospirillaceae; Thienamycins; Ticarcillin