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Clinical Transplantation Oct 2022Antimicrobial prophylaxis is well-accepted in the liver transplant (LT) setting. Nevertheless, optimal regimens to prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections are...
What is the optimal antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent postoperative infectious complications after liver transplantation? A systematic review of the literature and expert panel recommendations.
BACKGROUND
Antimicrobial prophylaxis is well-accepted in the liver transplant (LT) setting. Nevertheless, optimal regimens to prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections are not defined.
OBJECTIVES
To identify the optimal antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent post-LT bacterial, fungal, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, to improve short-term outcomes, and to provide international expert panel recommendations.
DATA SOURCES
Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central.
METHODS
Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and recommendations using the GRADE approach derived from an international expert panel.
PROSPERO ID
CRD42021244976.
RESULTS
Of 1853 studies screened, 34 were included for this review. Bacterial, CMV, and fungal antimicrobial prophylaxis were evaluated separately. Pneumocystis jiroveccii pneumonia (PJP) antimicrobial prophylaxis was analyzed separately from other fungal infections. Overall, eight randomized controlled trials, 21 comparative studies, and five observational noncomparative studies were included.
CONCLUSIONS
Antimicrobial prophylaxis is recommended to prevent bacterial, CMV, and fungal infection to improve outcomes after LT. Universal antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended to prevent postoperative bacterial infections. The choice of antibiotics should be individualized and length of therapy should not exceed 24 hours (Quality of Evidence; Low | Grade of Recommendation; Strong). Both universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy are strongly recommended for CMV prevention following LT. The choice of one or the other strategy will depend on individual program resources and experiences, as well as donor and recipient serostatus. (Quality of Evidence; Low | Grade of Recommendation; Strong). Antifungal prophylaxis is strongly recommended for LT recipients at high risk of developing invasive fungal infections. The drug of choice remains controversial. (Quality of Evidence; High | Grade of Recommendation; Strong). PJP prophylaxis is strongly recommended. Length of prophylaxis remains controversial. (Quality of Evidence; Very Low | Grade of Recommendation; Strong).
Topics: Humans; Liver Transplantation; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Anti-Infective Agents; Postoperative Complications; Communicable Diseases; Mycoses; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 35257411
DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14631 -
BMJ Open Oct 2023We aimed to identify exercise tests that have been validated to support a safe discharge to home in patients with or without COVID-19. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to identify exercise tests that have been validated to support a safe discharge to home in patients with or without COVID-19.
STUDY DESIGN
Scoping review, using PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. Medline, PubMed, AMED, Embase, CINAHL and LitCovid databases were searched between 16 and 22 February 2021, with studies included from any publication date up to and including the search date.
INTERVENTION
Short exercise tests.
PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES
Safe discharge from hospital, readmission rate, length of hospital stay, mortality. Secondary outcomes measures: safety, feasibility and reliability.
RESULTS
Of 1612 original records screened, 19 studies were included in the analysis. These used a variety of exercise tests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suspected pulmonary embolism and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, heart failure or critical illness. Only six studies had examined patients with COVID-19, of these two were still recruiting to evaluate the 1 min sit-to-stand test and the 40-steps test. There was heterogeneity in patient populations, tests used and outcome measures. Few exercise tests have been validated to support discharge decisions. There is currently no support for short exercise tests for triage of care in patients with COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS
Further research is needed to aid clinical decision-making at discharge from hospital.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Patient Discharge; Exercise Test; Reproducibility of Results; Hospitals
PubMed: 37907292
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068169 -
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism Feb 2023Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that affects immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to describe the...
BACKGROUND
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that affects immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to describe the incidence of PJP among patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study of incident cases of GCA and PMR was conducted using claims data from the TriNetX database to describe the incidence of PJP during the first 6 months of therapy. Additionally, a systematic review was performed to identify other publications describing PJP among patients with GCA or PMR.
RESULTS
During 547 patient-years of follow-up time, no cases of PJP were identified among 1,168 cases of GCA (incident rate 0 per 1,000 person-years); during 7,446 patient-years of follow up time, one case of PJP was identified out of 15,575 cases of PMR (incident rate 0.07 cases per 1,000 patient-years). This patient was alive at last follow up. Our systematic review identified 1 case-control study, 4 cohort studies, and 18 case series / case reports of PJP among patients with GCA or PMR. The incident rate of PJP was reported from one additional study for GCA and was estimated at 0.08 cases per 1,000 person years; no additional cohort studies were identified for patients with PMR. Over the entirety of the published literature, the total number of cases identified among case series and case reports was 33, from which 4 total deaths were identified.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with newly diagnosed GCA or PMR rarely develop PJP. Existing data does not support routine prescribing of PJP prophylaxis for either group of patients.
Topics: Humans; Giant Cell Arteritis; Polymyalgia Rheumatica; Pneumocystis carinii; Case-Control Studies; Retrospective Studies; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 36563422
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152154 -
Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue Apr 2018To study the accuracy of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To study the accuracy of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).
METHODS
The data of this systemic review was retrieved from the PubMed, China Biology Medicine disc, Wanfang, Weipu and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases from establishment till to October 31st, 2017. Case-control studies about the diagnosis of PCP were enrolled. Enrolled studies were required that patients in case group ware PCP and patients in control group were lung diseases other than PCP. The QUADAS tool was used to evaluate the quality of studies. The RevMan 5.3 software was used to draw a forest plot. The StataMP 14 software was used to make subgroup analyses by drawing receiver operator characteristic (SROC) curves for the whole group, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) group, and the not all-AIDS group, and calculating their diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and 95% confidential interval (95%CI).
RESULTS
Thirteen studies, all in English, were included. There were 825 patients in the case group, in which 650 patients were AIDS. There were 1 341 patients in control group, in which 888 patients were AIDS and most of them were Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma, bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis etc. Although there were different positive values of LDH in different studies, from 200 U/L to 598 U/L, sensitivities were good, especially in AIDS patients all values were above 80% (80%-100%). The specificities had big fluctuations, from 6% to 85%, which made them poor. The DOR (95%CI) of LDH in PCP diagnosis of all patients, AIDS patients and not-all AIDS patients were 6.73 (3.19-14.21), 9.17 (3.79-22.18) and 5.07 (1.30-19.80) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity of LDH in the diagnosis of PCP is high, especially in AIDS group. In practice if LDH is negative, there should be more evidences to support the treatment of PCP.
Topics: Humans; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; China; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Oxidoreductases; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 29663992
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.2095-4352.2018.04.007 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jan 2006The majority of children with HIV infection live in low-income countries without access to antiretroviral drugs. The prevention and early treatment of opportunistic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The majority of children with HIV infection live in low-income countries without access to antiretroviral drugs. The prevention and early treatment of opportunistic infections are the mainstay of their medical management. Cotrimoxazole is cheap and effective against a wide range of organisms, including Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP), which is an important cause of death and illness in the first year of life. It is safe with relatively few side effects. Diagnosis of HIV in children is complicated by the presence of maternal antibodies in early life. Providing prophylaxis based initially on maternal status is one possible solution. However, routine prophylactic treatment is difficult to deliver in low-resource settings, and could also lead to increased resistance to the drug.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of routinely administered cotrimoxazole on death and illness episodes in children with HIV infection, and in infants of HIV-infected mothers.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane HIV/AIDS registry, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, LILACS, AIDSLINE, AIDSTRIALS and AIDSDRUGS databases, and proceedings and abstracts from AIDS and TB conferences (search date Feb 2005). We checked reference lists of pertinent articles, and contacted pharmaceutical companies and experts in the field.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised or quasi-randomised trials comparing routinely administered cotrimoxazole versus placebo or no treatment in children (age less than 15 years) with HIV infection, or children less than 18 months with HIV infected mothers.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers independently assessed trial eligibility and quality. Where data were incomplete or unclear trial authors were contacted for further details.
MAIN RESULTS
One study was identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. It studied 534 children with HIV infection in Lusaka, Zambia. The study was conducted in an area of high bacterial resistance to cotrimoxazole (60-80%). A reduction in mortality of 33% was seen in the cotrimoxazole group as compared to placebo, relative risk 0.67 (95% CI 0.53 - 0.85). There was also a beneficial effect on hospitalisation, relative risk 0.77 (95% CI 0.62 - 0.96). There was no difference in adverse events between groups, and the beneficial effect was seen across all ages and CD4%.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
A single trial has shown a beneficial effect from the use of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in HIV infected children in Zambia. It must be decided whether this can be extrapolated to other resource-poor settings.
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-Infective Agents; Child; Humans; Infant; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
PubMed: 16437457
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003508.pub2 -
The British Journal of Radiology Feb 2021Chest imaging is often used as a complementary tool in the evaluation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, helping physicians to augment their clinical...
Chest imaging is often used as a complementary tool in the evaluation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, helping physicians to augment their clinical suspicion. Despite not being diagnostic for COVID-19, chest CT may help clinicians to isolate high suspicion patients with suggestive imaging findings. However, COVID-19 findings on CT are also common to other pulmonary infections and non-infectious diseases, and radiologists and point-of-care physicians should be aware of possible mimickers. This state-of-the-art review goal is to summarize and illustrate possible etiologies that may have a similar pattern on chest CT as COVID-19. The review encompasses both infectious etiologies, such as non-COVID viral pneumonia, , , and pulmonary granulomatous infectious, and non-infectious disorders, such as pulmonary embolism, fat embolism, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, non-specific interstitial pneumonia, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, and acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.
Topics: Adult; Aged; COVID-19; Community-Acquired Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Embolism, Fat; Female; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic; Humans; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Viral; Pulmonary Embolism; Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Radiography, Thoracic; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 33296607
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20200703 -
Systematic Reviews Mar 2021Even when resting pulse oximetry is normal in the patient with acute Covid-19, hypoxia can manifest on exertion. We summarise the literature on the performance of...
BACKGROUND
Even when resting pulse oximetry is normal in the patient with acute Covid-19, hypoxia can manifest on exertion. We summarise the literature on the performance of different rapid tests for exertional desaturation and draw on this evidence base to provide guidance in the context of acute Covid-19.
MAIN RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What exercise tests have been used to assess exertional hypoxia at home or in an ambulatory setting in the context of Covid-19 and to what extent have they been validated? 2. What exercise tests have been used to assess exertional hypoxia in other lung conditions, to what extent have they been validated and what is the applicability of these studies to acute Covid-19?
METHOD
AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE MEDLINE, Cochrane and PubMed using LitCovid, Scholar and Google databases were searched to September 2020. Studies where participants had Covid-19 or another lung disease and underwent any form of exercise test which was compared to a reference standard were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS 2. A protocol for the review was published on the Medrxiv database.
RESULTS
Of 47 relevant papers, 15 were empirical studies, of which 11 described an attempt to validate one or more exercise desaturation tests in lung diseases other than Covid-19. In all but one of these, methodological quality was poor or impossible to fully assess. None had been designed as a formal validation study (most used simple tests of correlation). Only one validation study (comparing a 1-min sit-to-stand test [1MSTST] with reference to the 6-min walk test [6MWT] in 107 patients with interstitial lung disease) contained sufficient raw data for us to calculate the sensitivity (88%), specificity (81%) and positive and negative predictive value (79% and 89% respectively) of the 1MSTST. The other 4 empirical studies included two predictive studies on patients with Covid-19, and two on HIV-positive patients with suspected pneumocystis pneumonia. We found no studies on the 40-step walk test (a less demanding test that is widely used in clinical practice to assess Covid-19 patients). Heterogeneity of study design precluded meta-analysis.
DISCUSSION
Exertional desaturation tests have not yet been validated in patients with (or suspected of having) Covid-19. A stronger evidence base exists for the diagnostic accuracy of the 1MSTST in chronic long-term pulmonary disease; the relative intensity of this test may raise safety concerns in remote consultations or unstable patients. The less strenuous 40-step walk test should be urgently evaluated.
Topics: COVID-19; Dyspnea; Exercise; Exercise Test; Humans; Hypoxia; Lung Diseases; Oxygen; Physical Exertion; Predictive Value of Tests; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 33726854
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01620-w -
The Journal of International Medical... Mar 2022The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients treated with rituximab (RTX) who developed severe pneumonia in the...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients treated with rituximab (RTX) who developed severe pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU).
METHODS
We systematically reviewed the medical records of 40 patients who received RTX and developed severe pneumonia in the ICU at our hospital from January 2009 to January 2019 to evaluate the underlying conditions, clinical course, and possible prognostic factors.
RESULTS
Most patients had underlying hematologic malignancies (n = 21, 52.5%), followed by rheumatologic diseases (n = 17, 42.5%). The most frequent causative pathogens were fungi (n = 11, 27.5%), followed by bacteria (n = 9, 22.5%) and pneumonia (n = 8, 20%). Thirty patients (75%) died, and the other 10 patients (25%) survived. Compared with survivors, patients who died were significantly older (60.6 ± 10.6 vs 44.4 ± 18.3 years) and had chronic lung disease (40% vs 0%).
CONCLUSION
Older age and chronic lung disease were significantly associated with mortality in patients treated with RTX.
Topics: Humans; Intensive Care Units; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Rituximab
PubMed: 35350908
DOI: 10.1177/03000605211063281 -
Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires Dec 2004In spite of CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia and corticosteroids-induced immune suppression, the risk of opportunistic infection is not usually considered to be increased in... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
In spite of CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia and corticosteroids-induced immune suppression, the risk of opportunistic infection is not usually considered to be increased in sarcoidosis.
METHODS
We describe 5 cases of opportunistic infection in patients with sarcoidosis and CD4+ T- lymphocytopenia. A systematic review of the literature was done.
RESULTS
We describe 2 cases of chronic necroziting aspergillosis, one case of Mycobacterium avium complex pneumonia, one case of pneumocystis pneumonia, and one case of cryptoccocal meningitidis in five patients with sarcoidosis. Four patients were receiving corticosteroids at time of diagnosis. Four patients had CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia. In the literature, we documented 65 cases reports of sarcoidosis complicated by opportunistic infection. At the time of infection diagnosis, 36 patients were receiving corticosteroids. CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia was present in 5 of 11 reported cases. Cryptococcosis was the most common reported infection.
CONCLUSION
Opportunistic infectious complications are rare in patients with sarcoidosis. Opportunistic infections mainly occur in patients receiving corticosteroids, and with CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia. Except for cryptococcosis, sarcoidosis by itself does not appear to be a risk factor of opportunistic infection.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Opportunistic Infections; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 15767952
DOI: 10.1016/s0761-8425(04)71582-x -
PloS One 2024The epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated pneumocystosis (HAP) is poorly described on a worldwide scale. We searched related databases between... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated pneumocystosis (HAP) is poorly described on a worldwide scale. We searched related databases between January 2000 and December 2022 for studies reporting HAP. Meta-analysis was performed using StatsDirect (version 2.7.9) and STATA (version 17) according to the random-effects model for DerSimonian and Laird method and metan and metaprop commands, respectively. Twenty-nine studies with 38554 HIV-positive, 79893 HIV-negative, and 4044 HAP populations were included. The pooled prevalence of HAP was 35.4% (95% CI 23.8 to 47.9). In contrast, the pooled prevalence of PCP among HIV-negative patients was 10.16% (95% CI 2 to 25.3). HIV-positive patients are almost 12 times more susceptible to PCP than the HIV-negative population (OR: 11.710; 95% CI: 5.420 to 25.297). The mortality among HAP patients was 52% higher than non-PCP patients (OR 1.522; 95% CI 0.959 to 2.416). HIV-positive men had a 7% higher chance rate for PCP than women (OR 1.073; 95% CI 0.674 to 1.706). Prophylactic (OR: 6.191; 95% CI: 0.945 to 40.545) and antiretroviral therapy (OR 3.356; 95% CI 0.785 to 14.349) were used in HAP patients six and three times more than HIV-positive PCP-negatives, respectively. The control and management strategies should revise and updated by health policy-makers on a worldwide scale. Finally, for better management and understanding of the epidemiology and characteristics of this coinfection, designing further studies is recommended.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; HIV; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Prevalence; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity
PubMed: 38526997
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297619