tebipenem and Pneumonia--Bacterial

We assessed the clinical efficacy of tebipenem pivoxil (TBPM-PI) in 30 children with pneumonia who, despite having received oral administration of beta-lactam antibiotics at the standard dose for at least 3 days, had no relief of symptoms and showed an abnormal shadow on the chest X-ray and elevated serum CRP levels of 3.0 mg/dl or more between December 2009 and November 2010. TBPM-PI was administered at a single dose of 4 mg/kg twice a day for 3 days. The children ranged in age from 8 months to 5 years. The serum CRP level ranged from 3.05 to 12.9 mg/dl. In 28 of the 30 children, either Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae or both were detected. Of the 28 children, 7 carried penicillin resistant S. pneumoniae; 9 carried beta-lactamase nonproducing ampicillin resistant H. influenzae; and 3 carried both. In all children, defervescence was observed within 48 hours of the start of TBPM-PI administration, and the severity of coughing/wheezing reduced significantly by the 3rd to 5th day. Thus, TBPM-PI was determined to be effective. Diarrhea or loose stool was observed as an adverse reaction in 4 children (13.3%).

Topics: Administration, Oral; Amdinocillin Pivoxil; Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Lactams; Carbapenems; Child, Preschool; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Haemophilus Infections; Haemophilus influenzae; Humans; Infant; Male; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Treatment Failure; Treatment Outcome

We investigated the usefulness of the novel oral carbapenem antibiotic tebipenem pivoxil (TBPM-PI) for treating bacterial pneumonia in children. Sputum and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected simultaneously, and causative organisms were identified by conventional bacterial culture together with exhaustive bacterial and viral identification by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The subjects were eight patients diagnosed with mild or moderate pneumonia at Sotobo Children's Clinic Outpatient Department between October 2006 and June 2007. TBPM-PI was administered at the recommended clinical dose of 4 mg/kg b.i.d. to five patients and at a high dose of 6 mg/kg b.i.d. to three patients. Sputum was collected from all patients, and 11 strains were detected from washed sputum culture. Causative organisms were mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae (3 strains) and Haemophilus influenzae (6 strains), and nasopharyngeal swabs showed the same organisms as coughed-up sputum. Real-time PCR for individual viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae identified four cases of only bacterial infection, one case of M. pneumoniae coinfection, two cases of viral coinfection, and one case of both viral and M. pneumoniae coinfection. The clinical results indicated efficacy in all patients, and causative organisms were 100% eliminated. In the four patients with only bacterial infection, the average fever of 38.9 degrees C at the start of treatment normalized the following day, showing excellent efficacy. No clinically problematic adverse events occurred, and compliance was good. We consider that these cases provide valuable insights into the identity of pathogenic organisms of pneumonia in children and the possible role of TBPM-PI in outpatient treatment.

Topics: Adolescent; Carbapenems; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nasopharynx; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Sputum