The Burden of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Requiring Admission to ICU in the United States

Corticosteroids in critically ill patients: A narrative review

Corticosteroids have been utilized in modern medicine for decades. Many indications have been investigated across various treatment settings with both benefit and harm observed. Given the instability of critically ill patients, the increased risk of corticosteroid-related complications, and the pervasive comorbidities, patients who receive corticosteroids must be carefully managed. Common critical care disease states in which corticosteroids have been studied and are routinely utilized include acute respiratory distress syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, angioedema, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, community-acquired pneumonia, coronavirus disease 2019, septic shock, and spinal cord injury. Benefits of corticosteroids include an improvement in disease state-specific outcomes, decreased hospital length of stay, decreased mechanical ventilatory support, and decreased mortality. The harm of corticosteroids is well documented through adverse effects that include, but are not limited to, hyperglycemia, tachycardia, hypertension, agitation, delirium, anxiety, immunosuppression, gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid retention, and muscle weakness. Furthermore, corticosteroids are associated with increased health care costs through adverse effects as well as drug acquisition and administration costs. Given the assortment of agents, dosing, benefits, risks, and utilization in the critical care setting, there may be difficulty with identifying the appropriate places for use of corticosteroids in therapy. There currently exists no comprehensive report detailing the use of corticosteroids in the aforementioned disease states within the critical care setting. This narrative review sets out to describe these in detail.

Pneumonia diagnosis performance in the emergency department: a mixed-methods study about clinicians' experiences and exploration of individual differences and response to diagnostic performance feedback

OBJECTIVES

We sought to (1) characterize the process of diagnosing pneumonia in an emergency department (ED) and (2) examine clinician reactions to a clinician-facing diagnostic discordance feedback tool.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We designed a diagnostic feedback tool, using electronic health record data from ED clinicians' patients to establish concordance or discordance between ED diagnosis, radiology reports, and hospital discharge diagnosis for pneumonia. We conducted semistructured interviews with 11 ED clinicians about pneumonia diagnosis and reactions to the feedback tool. We administered surveys measuring individual differences in mindset beliefs, comfort with feedback, and feedback tool usability. We qualitatively analyzed interview transcripts and descriptively analyzed survey data.

RESULTS

Thematic results revealed: (1) the diagnostic process for pneumonia in the ED is characterized by diagnostic uncertainty and may be secondary to goals to treat and dispose the patient; (2) clinician diagnostic self-evaluation is a fragmented, inconsistent process of case review and follow-up that a feedback tool could fill; (3) the feedback tool was described favorably, with task and normative feedback harnessing clinician values of high-quality patient care and personal excellence; and (4) strong reactions to diagnostic feedback varied from implicit trust to profound skepticism about the validity of the concordance metric. Survey results suggested a relationship between clinicians' individual differences in learning and failure beliefs, feedback experience, and usability ratings.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Clinicians value feedback on pneumonia diagnoses. Our results highlight the importance of feedback about diagnostic performance and suggest directions for considering individual differences in feedback tool design and implementation.

Disease burden and high-risk populations for complications in patients with acute respiratory infections: a scoping review

Background

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) represent a significant public health concern in the U.S. This study aimed to describe the disease burden of ARIs and identify U.S. populations at high risk of developing complications.

Methods

This scoping review searched PubMed and EBSCO databases to analyze U.S. studies from 2013 to 2022, focusing on disease burden, complications, and high-risk populations associated with ARIs.

Results

The study included 60 studies and showed that ARI is associated with a significant disease burden and healthcare resource utilization (HRU). In 2019, respiratory infection and tuberculosis caused 339,703 cases per 100,000 people, with most cases being upper respiratory infections and most deaths being lower respiratory infections. ARI is responsible for millions of outpatient visits, especially for influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia, and indirect costs of billions of dollars. ARI is caused by multiple pathogens and poses a significant burden on hospitalizations and outpatient visits. Risk factors for HRU associated with ARI include age, chronic conditions, and socioeconomic factors.

Conclusion

The review underscores the substantial disease burden of ARIs and the influence of age, chronic conditions, and socioeconomic status on developing complications. It highlights the necessity for targeted strategies for high-risk populations and effective pathogen detection to prevent severe complications and reduce HRU.

P. G, Potdar V, Manna B, Amarchand R, Choudekar A, Gopal G, Sarda K, Lafond KE, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Saha S, Dar L, Krishnan A. Adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with pneumonia at age 60 or more: A prospective multi-centric hospital-based study in India

BACKGROUND

Limited data exists regarding risk factors for adverse outcomes in older adults hospitalized with Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in low- and middle-income countries such as India. This multisite study aimed to assess outcomes and associated risk factors among adults aged ≥60 years hospitalized with pneumonia.

METHODS

Between December 2018 and March 2020, we enrolled ≥60-year-old adults admitted within 48 hours for CAP treatment across 16 public and private facilities in four sites. Clinical data and nasal/oropharyngeal specimens were collected by trained nurses and tested for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses (ORV) using the qPCR. Participants were evaluated regularly until discharge, as well as on the 7th and 30th days post-discharge. Outcomes included ICU admission and in-hospital or 30-day post-discharge mortality. A hierarchical framework for multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models identified risk factors (e.g., demographics, clinical features, etiologic agents) associated with critical care or death.

FINDINGS

Of 1,090 CAP patients, the median age was 69 years; 38.4% were female. Influenza viruses were detected in 12.3%, RSV in 2.2%, and ORV in 6.3% of participants. Critical care was required for 39.4%, with 9.9% in-hospital mortality and 5% 30-day post-discharge mortality. Only 41% of influenza CAP patients received antiviral treatment. Admission factors independently associated with ICU admission included respiratory rate >30/min, blood urea nitrogen>19mg/dl, altered sensorium, anemia, oxygen saturation <90%, prior cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and private hospital admission. Diabetes, anemia, low oxygen saturation at admission, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation were associated with 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

High ICU admission and 30-day mortality rates were observed among older adults with pneumonia, with a significant proportion linked to influenza and RSV infections. Comprehensive guidelines for CAP prevention and management in older adults are needed, especially with the co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2.

Comparing the efficacy of corticosteroids among patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the ICU versus non-ICU settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the potential of corticosteroids in treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), conflicting evidence exists regarding their effect on mortality. To address this gap and provide new insights, we conducted a pre-specified subgroup meta-analysis of corticosteroid use in CAP patients, focusing on the ICU versus non-ICU subsets.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and SCOPUS from inception to May 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcomes of interest were mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, need for ICU admission, and treatment failure. Secondary outcomes analysed were the need for hospital readmission, length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, secondary infections, and hyperglycaemic events. The results were analysed through the random-effects model. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Eighteen randomized controlled trials (n = 4472) analyzing patients withCAP were included. Our results suggest that corticosteroids significantly reduced the incidence of mortality (RR: 0.66; 95 % CI: 0.54, 0.81; P = <0.0001) and need for mechanical ventilation (RR: 0.57; 95 % CI: 0.44, 0.73; P = <0.00001). It was also observed that corticosteroids significantly decrease the lengths of ICU (MD: -1.67; 95 % CI: -2.97, -0.37; P = 0.01) and hospital stay (MD: -1.94; 95 % CI: -2.89, -0.98; P = 0.0001), while increasing the number of hyperglycemic events (RR: 1.68; 95 % CI: 1.32, 2.12; P = <0.0001) and hospital readmissions (RR: 1.19; 95 % CI: 1.04, 1.37; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this meta-analysis demonstrate that corticosteroids yield improved outcomes in CAP patients with regard to reduced mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation. It highlights the need for further large-scale RCTs with the proposed, specific stratifications.

Long-Term Outcomes in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is globally one of the major causes of hospitalization and mortality. Severe CAP (sCAP) presents great challenges and need a comprehensive understanding of its long-term outcomes. Cardiovascular events and neurological impairment, due to persistent inflammation and hypoxemia, contribute to long-term outcomes in CAP, including mortality. Very few data are available in the specific population of sCAP. Multiple studies have reported variable 1-year mortality rates for patients with CAP up to 40.7%, with a clear influence by age, comorbidities, and disease severity. In terms of treatment, the potential protective role of macrolides in reducing mortality emphasizes the importance of appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. This narrative review explores the growing interest in the literature focusing on the long-term implications of sCAP. Improved understanding of long-term outcomes in sCAP can facilitate targeted interventions and enhance posthospitalization care protocols.

New Guidelines for Severe Community-acquired Pneumonia

In 2023, the new European guidelines on severe community-acquired pneumonia, providing clinical practice recommendations for the management of this life-threatening infection, characterized by a high burden of mortality, morbidity, and costs for the society. This review article aims to summarize the principal evidence related to eight different questions covered in the guidelines, by also highlighting the future perspectives for research activity.

Antibiotic Strategies for Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Despite advancements in health systems and intensive care unit (ICU) care, along with the introduction of novel antibiotics and microbiologic techniques, mortality rates in severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) patients have not shown significant improvement. Delayed admission to the ICU is a major risk factor for higher mortality. Apart from choosing the appropriate site of care, prompt and appropriate antibiotic therapy significantly affects the prognosis of sCAP. Treatment regimens involving ceftaroline or ceftobiprole are currently considered the best options for managing patients with sCAP. Additionally, several other molecules, such as delafloxacin, lefamulin, and omadacycline, hold promise as therapeutic strategies for sCAP. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the key challenges in managing adults with severe CAP, focusing on essential aspects related to antibiotic treatment and investigating potential strategies to enhance clinical outcomes in sCAP patients.

Epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia caused by S treptococcus pneumoniae in older adults: a narrative review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review covers updated perspectives on different aspects of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (pCAP), including the epidemiology, clinical presentation, risk factors, antibiotic treatment, and existing preventive strategies in older adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

pCAP remains the most prevalent condition among lower respiratory tract infections in the older adults according to Global Burden of Diseases 2019. Older adults can display atypical symptoms such as confusion, general clinical deterioration, new onset of and exacerbation of underlying illness that might trigger clinical suspicion of pCAP. Older adults with pCAP often experience increased disease severity and a higher risk of pulmonary complications compared with younger individuals, owing to age-related changes in immunity and a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Vaccination stands fundamental for prevention, emphasizing the need for effective immunization strategies, specifically tailored for older adults. There is a pressing need to reinforce efforts aimed at boosting pneumococcal vaccination rates.

SUMMARY

Despite a high morbidity and mortality, the burden of pCAP, in particular hospital admission and occurrence of invasive infections, among the elderly population is not sufficiently documented. This review findings emphasize the substantial burden of pCAP in this vulnerable population, driven by factors such as advancing age and underlying comorbidities. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains further complicates treatment decisions and highlights the importance of tailored approaches for managing pCAP in older adults.

Definition, Epidemiology, and Pathogenesis of Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

The clinical presentation of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can vary widely among patients. While many individuals with mild symptoms can be managed as outpatients with excellent outcomes, there is a distinct subgroup of patients who present with severe CAP. In these cases, the mortality rate can reach approximately 25% within 30 days and even up to 50% within a year. It is crucial to focus attention on these patients who are at higher risk. Among the various definitions of severe CAP found in the literature, one commonly used criterion is the requirement for admission to intensive care unit. Notable epidemiological characteristics of these patients include the impact of acute cardiovascular diseases on clinical outcomes and the enduring, independent effect of pneumonia on long-term outcomes. Factors such as pathogen virulence, the presence of comorbidities, and the host response are important contributors to the pathogenesis of severe CAP. In these patients, the host response may be dysregulated and compartmentalized. Gaining a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of severe CAP will provide a foundation for the development of new therapies for this condition. This manuscript aims to review the definition, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of severe CAP, shedding light on important aspects that can aid in the improvement of patient care and outcomes.

Epidemiological and clinical management aspects of pneumonias diagnosed in the emergency department in elderly patients in Spain: Results of the EDEN-29 study

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the incidence of pneumonia diagnosis in elderly patients in Spanish emergency departments (ED), need for hospitalization, adverse events and predictive capacity of biomarkers commonly used in the ED.

METHODS

Patients ≥65 years with pneumonia seen in 52 Spanish EDs were included. We recorded in-hospitaland 30-day mortality as adverse events, as well as intensive care unit (ICU) admission among hospitalizedpatients. Association of 10 predefined variables with adverse events was calculated and expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), as well as predictive capacity of 5 commonly used biomarkers in the ED (leukocytes, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, glucose, creatinine) was investigated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC).

RESULTS

591 patients with pneumonia attended in the ED were included (annual incidence of 18,4 per 1000 inhabitants). A total of 78.0% were hospitalized. Overall, 30-day mortality was 14.2% and in-hospital mortality was 12.9%. Functional dependency was associated with both events (OR=4.453, 95%CI=2.361-8.400; and OR=3.497, 95%CI=1.578-7.750, respectively) as well as severe comorbidity (2.344, 1.363-4.030, and 2.463, 1.252-4.846, respectively). Admission to the ICU during hospitalization occurred in 3.5%, with no associated factors. The predictive capacity of biomarkers was only moderate for creatinine for ICU admission (AUC-ROC=0.702, 95% CI=0.536-0.869) and for leukocytes for post-discharge adverse event (0.669, 0.540-0.798).

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumonia is a frequent diagnosis in elderly patients consulting in the ED. Their functional dependence and comorbidity is the factor most associated with adverse events. The biomarkers analyzed do not have a good predictive capacity for adverse events.

β-Lactams plus doxycycline versus azithromycin for treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a significant source of hospital admissions and mortality. Atypical organisms are implicated in up to 40% of cases of CAP diagnoses. We studied the difference in outcomes of severe CAP patients treated with doxycycline versus azithromycin in addition to β-lactam therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective observational cohort study from March 2020 to July 2022 in a medical ICU (MICU) of an academic quaternary medical center. Adults ≥18 years admitted to the MICU receiving doxycycline or azithromycin in addition to β-lactam therapy for the treatment of CAP were included for analysis. The primary outcomes were in-hospital and 30 day mortality. Secondary outcomes were ICU and hospital length-of-stay, 30 day readmission, days of mechanical ventilation, escalation and duration of antibiotics, adverse effects such as Clostridioides difficile infection and QTc prolongation.

RESULTS

Sixty-three patients were in the azithromycin group and eighty-six patients in the doxycycline group. Both groups had similar APACHE IV and CURB-65 scores. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index score was higher for the doxycycline group compared with the azithromycin group (P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in in-hospital and 30 day mortality between the groups (P = 0.53, P = 0.57). There were no significant differences in any of the secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

MICU patients with severe CAP who received doxycycline versus azithromycin in addition to β-lactam treatment showed no significant differences in outcomes. These data offer support for inclusion of doxycycline as an alternative regimen in current IDSA recommendations.

Effect of oral probiotics on clinical efficacy and intestinal flora in elderly severe pneumonia patients

Complex microbial ecosystems in both gastrointestinal and respiratory systems have been found to have a significant impact on human health. Growing evidence has demonstrated that intestinal dysbiosis can increase vulnerability to pulmonary infections. However, changes in the composition and activity of the intestinal flora after probiotic supplementation may alter the disease state of the host. The effects of probiotics on the improvement of diseases, such as severe pneumonia (SP), in intensive care units (ICUs) remain controversial. We retrospectively included 88 patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia between April 2021 and June 2022. The patients were divided into 2 groups: a probiotic group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 48). In addition, changes in CRP, PCT, WBC, IL-6, Clostridium difficile toxin, and PSI pneumonia scores were assessed. Changes in the gut microbiome of the patients were assessed using amplicon sequencing. Compared to the control group, a significant reduction in the incidence of length of hospital stay was observed in the probiotic group, but there were no significant differences in the mortality rate, duration of fever, diarrhea, and constipation. After probiotic treatment, CRP, PCT, WBC, and PSI score were significantly lower than before, and better clinical efficacy was achieved in the probiotic group for the duration of antibiotic therapy. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the abundance of opportunistic pathogens (e.g., Massilia) increased remarkably at the genus level in the control group, and a significant increase in Erysipelotrichaceae_ge was observed after probiotic intervention. The control group showed an increase in opportunistic pathogens (Citrobacter, Massilia) during the antibiotic treatment. Probiotics interventions inhibit the growth of opportunistic pathogens. In addition, we found that the population of butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcaceae UCG-005) increased following probiotic treatment.

A nomogram based on the expression level of angiopoietin-like 4 to predict the severity of community-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND

The morbidity and mortality of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remain high among infectious diseases. It was reported that angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) could be a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for pneumonia. This study aimed to develop a more objective, specific, accurate, and individualized scoring system to predict the severity of CAP.

METHODS

Totally, 31 non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (nsCAP) patients and 14 severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) patients were enrolled in this study. The CURB-65 and pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores were calculated from the clinical data. Serum ANGPTL4 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After screening factors by univariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis of ANGPTL4 expression level and other risk factors was performed, and a nomogram was developed to predict the severity of CAP. This nomogram was further internally validated by bootstrap resampling with 1000 replications through the area under the ROC curve (AUC), the calibration curve, and the decision curve analysis (DCA). Finally, the prediction performance of the new nomogram model, CURB-65 score, and PSI score was compared by AUC, net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).

RESULTS

A nomogram for predicting the severity of CAP was developed using three factors (C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and ANGPTL4). According to the internal validation, the nomogram showed a great discrimination capability with an AUC of 0.910. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the approximately fitting calibration curve suggested a satisfactory accuracy of prediction. The results of DCA exhibited a great net benefit. The AUC values of CURB-65 score, PSI score, and the new prediction model were 0.857, 0.912, and 0.940, respectively. NRI comparing the new model with CURB-65 score was found to be statistically significant (NRI = 0.834, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

A robust model for predicting the severity of CAP was developed based on the serum ANGPTL4 level. This may provide new insights into accurate assessment of the severity of CAP and its targeted therapy, particularly in the early-stage of the disease.

Novel pneumonia score based on a machine learning model for predicting mortality in pneumonia patients on admission to the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Scores for predicting the long-term mortality of severe pneumonia are lacking. The purpose of this study is to use machine learning methods to develop new pneumonia scores to predict the 1-year mortality and hospital mortality of pneumonia patients on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

The study population was screened from the MIMIC-IV and eICU databases. The main outcomes evaluated were 1-year mortality and hospital mortality in the MIMIC-IV database and hospital mortality in the eICU database. From the full data set, we separated patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) for subgroup analysis. We used common shallow machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, multilayer perceptron and XGBoost.

RESULTS

The full data set of the MIMIC-IV database contained 4697 patients, while that of the eICU database contained 13760 patients. We defined a new pneumonia score, the "Integrated CCI-APS", using a multivariate logistic regression model including six variables: metastatic solid tumor, Charlson Comorbidity Index, readmission, congestive heart failure, age, and Acute Physiology Score III. The area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy of the integrated CCI-APS were assessed in three data sets (full, CAP, and VAP) using both the test set derived from the MIMIC-IV database and the external validation set derived from the eICU database. The AUC value ranges in predicting 1-year and hospital mortality were 0.784-0.797 and 0.691-0.780, respectively, and the corresponding accuracy ranges were 0.723-0.725 and 0.641-0.718, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The main contribution of this study was a benchmark for using machine learning models to build pneumonia scores. Based on the idea of integrated learning, we propose a new integrated CCI-APS score for severe pneumonia. In the prediction of 1-year mortality and hospital mortality, our new pneumonia score outperformed the existing score.

Management of pneumonia in the critically ill

Pneumonias continue to be major public health issues and are commonly encountered in the intensive care setting. The most common types of pneumonia leading to critical illness include severe community acquired pneumonia, hospital acquired pneumonia, and ventilator associated pneumonia. Early evaluation, diagnosis, and escalation to appropriate levels of care are imperative to improving survival. Treatment remains challenging with the need to balance antibiotic stewardship and minimizing patient harm. As evidenced in the most recent society guidelines, the identification of risk factors for severe disease and the causative pathogens are crucial in guiding the most appropriate therapy.

Case Report: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing assists in dynamic pathogen monitoring: powerful tool for progressing severe pneumonia

Background

Severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) is life-threatening and characterized by intensive care unit (ICU) admission and high mortality. And they are vulnerable to hospital-acquired infection. In such a severe condition, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) outperforms for short turnaround time and broad detection spectrum.

Case presentation

A 15-year-old male with severe influenza and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia progressed rapidly, initially misdiagnosed as influenza co-infected with Aspergillus for misleading bronchoscopy manifestations. The turnaround time of mNGS is 13 h, which has the potential to expedite the clinical medication process. With the powerful support of mNGS and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), anti-infective therapy was adjusted accordingly, and vital signs gradually stabilized. After tortuous treatment and unremitting efforts, the patient recovered well.

Conclusions

Rapid mNGS applications, timely medication adjustments, strong ECMO support and active family compliance contribute to this miracle of life. False-negative or false-positive results are alarming, anti-infective medications should be adjusted after a comprehensive review of physical status and other indicators.

Development and validation of an in-hospital mortality risk prediction model for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

A high mortality rate has always been observed in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU); however, there are few reported predictive models regarding the prognosis of this group of patients. This study aimed to screen for risk factors and assign a useful nomogram to predict mortality in these patients.

METHODS

As a developmental cohort, we used 455 patients with SCAP admitted to ICU. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for death. A mortality prediction model was built based on statistically significant risk factors. Furthermore, the model was visualized using a nomogram. As a validation cohort, we used 88 patients with SCAP admitted to ICU of another hospital. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by analysis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), calibration curve analysis, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

Lymphocytes, PaO2/FiO2, shock, and APACHE II score were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in the development cohort. External validation results showed a C-index of 0.903 (95% CI 0.838-0.968). The AUC of model for the development cohort was 0.85, which was better than APACHE II score 0.795 and SOFA score 0.69. The AUC for the validation cohort was 0.893, which was better than APACHE II score 0.746 and SOFA score 0.742. Calibration curves for both cohorts showed agreement between predicted and actual probabilities. The results of the DCA curves for both cohorts indicated that the model had a high clinical application in comparison to APACHE II and SOFA scoring systems.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a predictive model based on lymphocytes, PaO2/FiO2, shock, and APACHE II scores to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with SCAP admitted to the ICU. The model has the potential to help physicians assess the prognosis of this group of patients.

Establishment of risk model for elderly CAP at different age stages: a single-center retrospective observational study

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the main reasons of mortality and morbidity in elderly population, causing substantial clinical and economic impacts. However, clinically available score systems have been shown to demonstrate poor prediction of mortality for patients aged over 65. Especially, no existing clinical model can predict morbidity and mortality for CAP patients among different age stages. Here, we aimed to understand the impact of age variable on the establishment of assessment model and explored prognostic factors and new biomarkers in predicting mortality. We retrospectively analyzed elderly patients with CAP in Minhang Hospital, Fudan University. We used univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses to study the prognostic factors of mortality in each age-based subgroup. The prediction accuracy of the prognostic factors was determined by the Receiver Operating Characteristic curves and the area under the curves. Combination models were established using several logistic regressions to save the predicted probabilities. Four factors with independently prognostic significance were shared among all the groups, namely Albumin, BUN, NLR and Pulse, using univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Then we built a model with these 4 variables (as ABNP model) to predict the in-hospital mortality in all three groups. The AUC value of the ABNP model were 0.888 (95% CI 0.854-0.917, p < 0.000), 0.912 (95% CI 0.880-0.938, p < 0.000) and 0.872 (95% CI 0.833-0.905, p < 0.000) in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. We established a predictive model for mortality based on an age variable -specific study of elderly patients with CAP, with higher AUC value than PSI, CURB-65 and qSOFA in predicting mortality in different age groups (66-75/ 76-85/ over 85 years).

Interventions to improve outcomes in community-acquired pneumonia

INTRODUCTION

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection associated with high morbimortality and a highly deleterious impact on patients' quality of life and functionality. We comprehensively review the factors related to the host, the causative microorganism, the therapeutic approach and the organization of health systems (e.g. setting for care and systems for allocation) that might have an impact on CAP-associated outcomes. Our main aims are to discuss the most controversial points and to provide some recommendations that may guide further research and the management of patients with CAP, in order to improve their outcomes, beyond mortality.

AREA COVERED

In this review, we aim to provide a critical account of potential measures to improve outcomes of CAP and the supporting evidence from observational studies and clinical trials.

EXPERT OPINION

CAP is associated with high mortality and a highly deleterious impact on patients' quality of life. To improve CAP-associated outcomes, it is important to understand the factors related to the patient, etiology, therapeutics, and the organization of health systems.

ERS/ESICM/ESCMID/ALAT guidelines for the management of severe community-acquired pneumonia

PURPOSE

Severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and whilst European and non-European guidelines are available for community-acquired pneumonia, there are no specific guidelines for sCAP.

METHODS

The European Respiratory Society (ERS), European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), and Latin American Thoracic Association (ALAT) launched a task force to develop the first international guidelines for sCAP. The panel comprised a total of 18 European and four non-European experts, as well as two methodologists. Eight clinical questions for sCAP diagnosis and treatment were chosen to be addressed. Systematic literature searches were performed in several databases. Meta-analyses were performed for evidence synthesis, whenever possible. The quality of evidence was assessed with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Evidence to Decision frameworks were used to decide on the direction and strength of recommendations.

RESULTS

Recommendations issued were related to diagnosis, antibiotics, organ support, biomarkers and co-adjuvant therapy. After considering the confidence in effect estimates, the importance of outcomes studied, desirable and undesirable consequences of treatment, cost, feasibility, acceptability of the intervention and implications to health equity, recommendations were made for or against specific treatment interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

In these international guidelines, ERS, ESICM, ESCMID, and ALAT provide evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for diagnosis, empirical treatment, and antibiotic therapy for sCAP, following the GRADE approach. Furthermore, current knowledge gaps have been highlighted and recommendations for future research have been made.

Hydrocortisone in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Whether the antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of glucocorticoids may decrease mortality among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia is unclear.

METHODS

In this phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned adults who had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe community-acquired pneumonia to receive intravenous hydrocortisone (200 mg daily for either 4 or 7 days as determined by clinical improvement, followed by tapering for a total of 8 or 14 days) or to receive placebo. All the patients received standard therapy, including antibiotics and supportive care. The primary outcome was death at 28 days.

RESULTS

A total of 800 patients had undergone randomization when the trial was stopped after the second planned interim analysis. Data from 795 patients were analyzed. By day 28, death had occurred in 25 of 400 patients (6.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9 to 8.6) in the hydrocortisone group and in 47 of 395 patients (11.9%; 95% CI, 8.7 to 15.1) in the placebo group (absolute difference, -5.6 percentage points; 95% CI, -9.6 to -1.7; P = 0.006). Among the patients who were not undergoing mechanical ventilation at baseline, endotracheal intubation was performed in 40 of 222 (18.0%) in the hydrocortisone group and in 65 of 220 (29.5%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.86). Among the patients who were not receiving vasopressors at baseline, such therapy was initiated by day 28 in 55 of 359 (15.3%) of the hydrocortisone group and in 86 of 344 (25.0%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.82). The frequencies of hospital-acquired infections and gastrointestinal bleeding were similar in the two groups; patients in the hydrocortisone group received higher daily doses of insulin during the first week of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia being treated in the ICU, those who received hydrocortisone had a lower risk of death by day 28 than those who received placebo. (Funded by the French Ministry of Health; CAPE COD ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02517489.).

ERS/ESICM/ESCMID/ALAT guidelines for the management of severe community-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and while European and non-European guidelines are available for community-acquired pneumonia, there are no specific guidelines for sCAP.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

The European Respiratory Society (ERS), European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and Latin American Thoracic Association (ALAT) launched a task force to develop the first international guidelines for sCAP. The panel comprised a total of 18 European and four non-European experts, as well as two methodologists. Eight clinical questions for sCAP diagnosis and treatment were chosen to be addressed. Systematic literature searches were performed in several databases. Meta-analyses were performed for evidence synthesis, whenever possible. The quality of evidence was assessed with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Evidence to Decision frameworks were used to decide on the direction and strength of recommendations.

RESULTS

Recommendations issued were related to diagnosis, antibiotics, organ support, biomarkers and co-adjuvant therapy. After considering the confidence in effect estimates, the importance of outcomes studied, desirable and undesirable consequences of treatment, cost, feasibility, acceptability of the intervention and implications to health equity, recommendations were made for or against specific treatment interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

In these international guidelines, ERS, ESICM, ESCMID and ALAT provide evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for diagnosis, empirical treatment and antibiotic therapy for sCAP, following the GRADE approach. Furthermore, current knowledge gaps have been highlighted and recommendations for future research have been made.

Early platelet level reduction as a prognostic factor in intensive care unit patients with severe aspiration pneumonia

Introduction: This study investigates risk factors underlying the prognosis of severe aspiration pneumonia (SAP) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and attempts to provide early prognosis reference for clinical tasks. Methods: Patients diagnosed with SAP and admitted to the ICU of Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, between January 2021 and December 2021 were recruited in this retrospective cohort study. Clinical data on a patient's general condition, underlying diseases, laboratory indicators, and 90-day outcomes (survival or death) were recorded. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a low platelet count was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of death (OR = 6.68, 95% CI:1.10-40.78, β = 1.90, P = 0.040). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of variables; cut-off values were calculated and the area under the curve was 0.7782 [(95% CI:0.686-0.871), p < 0.001] for the prediction of death at 90 days in all patients. The Kaplan-Meier curve used for survival analysis showed that, compared with the normal platelet group, the overall survival rate of patients with low platelet levels was significantly lower, and the difference was statistically significant [HR = 2.11, (95% CI:1.47-3.03), p = 0.0001, z = 4.05, X ² = 14.89]. Cox regression analysis, used to further verify the influence of prognostic risk factors, showed that a concurrent low platelet count was the most important independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of SAP (HR = 2.12 [95% CI:1.12-3.99], X² = 50.95, p = 0.021). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate an association between SAP mortality and platelet levels on admission. Thus, platelet level at admission may be used as a readily available marker for assessing the prognosis of patients with SAP.

How and when to manage respiratory infections out of hospital

Lower respiratory infections include acute bronchitis, influenza, community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbation of COPD and acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis. They are a major cause of death worldwide and often affect the most vulnerable: children, elderly and the impoverished. In this paper, we review the clinical presentation, diagnosis, severity assessment and treatment of adult outpatients with lower respiratory infections. The paper is divided into sections on specific lower respiratory infections, but we also dedicate a section to COVID-19 given the importance of the ongoing pandemic. Lower respiratory infections are heterogeneous entities, carry different risks for adverse events, and require different management strategies. For instance, while patients with acute bronchitis are rarely admitted to hospital and generally do not require antimicrobials, approximately 40% of patients seen for community-acquired pneumonia require admission. Clinicians caring for patients with lower respiratory infections face several challenges, including an increasing population of patients with immunosuppression, potential need for diagnostic tests that may not be readily available, antibiotic resistance and social aspects that place these patients at higher risk. Management principles for patients with lower respiratory infections include knowledge of local surveillance data, strategic use of diagnostic tests according to surveillance data, and judicious use of antimicrobials.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia

Severe community-acquired pneumonia is the most life-threatening form of community-acquired pneumonia, characterised by intensive care unit admission and high morbidity and mortality. In this review article, we cover in depth six aspects of severe community-acquired pneumonia that are still controversial: use of PCR molecular techniques for microbial diagnosis; the role of biomarkers for initial management; duration of treatment, macrolides or quinolones in the initial empirical antibiotic therapy; the use of prediction scores for drug-resistant pathogens to modify initial empiric therapy; the use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation and high-flow nasal oxygen; and the use of corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Incorporation of Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 into Random Survival Forests for Enhancing Prediction of Short-Term Prognosis in Community-ACQUIRED Pneumonia

(1) Background: Biomarker and model development can help physicians adjust the management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by screening for inpatients with a low probability of cure early in their admission; (2) Methods: We conducted a 30-day cohort study of newly admitted adult CAP patients over 20 years of age. Prognosis models to predict the short-term prognosis were developed using random survival forest (RSF) method; (3) Results: A total of 247 adult CAP patients were studied and 208 (84.21%) of them reached clinical stability within 30 days. The soluble form of suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) was an independent predictor of clinical stability and the addition of sST2 to the prognosis model could improve the performance of the prognosis model. The C-index of the RSF model for predicting clinical stability was 0.8342 (95% CI, 0.8086–0.8598), which is higher than 0.7181 (95% CI, 0.6933–0.7429) of CURB 65 score, 0.8025 (95% CI, 0.7776–8274) of PSI score, and 0.8214 (95% CI, 0.8080–0.8348) of cox regression. In addition, the RSF model was associated with adverse clinical events during hospitalization, ICU admissions, and short-term mortality; (4) Conclusions: The RSF model by incorporating sST2 was more accurate than traditional methods in assessing the short-term prognosis of CAP patients.

Validity of the ROX index in predicting invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in pneumonia

Background

The ROX index (Respiratory rate-OXygenation) has been described as a prediction tool to identify the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure treated with high-flow nasal cannula in order to avoid delay of a necessary intubation. However, its use in predicting the need for ventilatory support in hospitalised patients with CAP has not been validated.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study including subjects with CAP treated in the general ward, emergency service or intensive care unit of a third-level centre in Cundinamarca, Colombia, between January 2001 and February 2020. The ROX index was estimated as the ratio of oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen to respiratory rate.

Results

A total of 895 patients were included, of whom 93 (10%) required IMV. The ROX index proved to be a good predictor, presenting an area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) of 0.733 (95% CI 0.671 to 0.795, p<0.001) when determined by pulse oximetry and an AUROC of 0.779 (95% CI 0.699 to 0.859, p<0.001) when estimated by arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters, with an intraclass correlation of 0.894. The estimated cut-off point was 14.8; a score less than 14.8 indicates high risk of requiring IMV.

Conclusion

The ROX index is a good predictor of IMV in hospitalised patients with CAP. It presents good performance when calculated through pulse oximetry and can replace the one calculated by ABG.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia in Reunion Island: Epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics, 2016–2018

Purpose

No data are available on severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the French overseas department of Reunion Island. This is unfortunate as the microorganisms responsible for the disease are likely to differ from those in temperate regions due to a tropical climate and proximity to other islands of the Indian Ocean region. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological, clinical, prognosis, and microbiological characteristics of patients with severe CAP in Reunion Island.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study evaluated all patients with CAP aged >18 years and hospitalized in one of the two intensive care units of Reunion Island between 2016 and 2018. Microorganisms were identified by culture from blood and respiratory samples, multiplex polymerase chain reaction from respiratory samples, urinary antigen tests, and serology.

Results

Over the study period, 573 cases of severe CAP were recorded, with a mean incidence of 22 per 100,000 person-years. The most frequently isolated microorganism was influenza (21.9%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (12%). The influenza virus was detected in affected patients all year round. Twenty-four patients with severe CAP came from another island of the Indian Ocean region (4.2%), mainly Madagascar (>50%). Two of these patients presented with melioidosis and 4 were infected with Acinetobacter spp.

Conclusions

Our findings have major implications for the management of severe CAP in tropical regions. The most frequently isolated microorganism in patients with severe CAP in Reunion Island is influenza followed by S. pneumoniae. Physicians should be aware that influenza is the main cause of severe CAP in patients living in or returning from Reunion Island, where this virus circulates all year round.

Methodology of a Large Multicenter Observational Study of Patients with COVID-19 in Spanish Intensive Care Units

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic created tremendous challenges for health-care systems. Intensive care units (ICU) were hit with a large volume of patients requiring ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and other organ support with very high mortality. The Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), a network of Spanish researchers to investigate in respiratory disease, commissioned the current proposal in response to the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) call.

METHODS

CIBERESUCICOVID is a multicenter, observational, prospective/retrospective cohort study of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Spanish ICUs. Several work packages were created, including study population and ICU data collection, follow-up, biomarkers and miRNAs, data management and quality.

RESULTS

This study included 6102 consecutive patients admitted to 55 ICUs homogeneously distributed throughout Spain and the collection of blood samples from more than 1000 patients. We enrolled a large population of COVID-19 ICU-admitted patients including baseline characteristics, ICU and MV data, treatments complications, and outcomes. The in-hospital mortality was 31%, and 76% of patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. A 3-6 month and 1 year follow-up was performed. Few deaths after 1 year discharge were registered. Low anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody levels predict mortality in critical COVID-19. These antibodies contribute to prevent systemic dissemination of SARS-CoV-2. The severity of COVID-19 impacts the circulating miRNA profile. Plasma miRNA profiling emerges as a useful tool for risk-based patient stratification in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We present the methodology used in a large multicenter study sponsored by ISCIII to determine the short- and long-term outcomes in patients with COVID-19 admitted to more than 50 Spanish ICUs.

Clinical Usefulness of Red Cell Distribution Width/Albumin Ratio to Discriminate 28-Day Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Pneumonia Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, Compared with Lacate/Albumin Ratio: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The value of the red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with prognosis in critically ill patients. A simplex combined index—the RDW/albumin ratio—has been proposed for the prediction of mortality, as has the lactate/albumin ratio. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of the RDW/albumin ratio regarding 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with pneumonia. Clinical data of critically ill patients with pneumonia who were hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit from May 2018 to December 2020, and received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), were reviewed retrospectively. The values of RDW, lactate, and albumin measured at the time of IMV, were used for the index calculations. Of the 234 patients, the median age was 76 years, and 74.2% were male. The 28-day mortality rate was 47.3%. The median RDW/albumin ratio was significantly higher in non-survivors than survivors at 28 days (5.8 vs. 4.9, p < 0.001). A higher RDW/albumin ratio was significantly associated with increased 28-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.338, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.094–1.637, p = 0.005). The area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) was 0.694 (95% CI: 0.630–758, p < 0.005) to discern 28-day mortality without significant difference, compared with that of the lactate/albumin ratio. Our data suggest that high RDW/albumin ratio has a similar predictability to the lactate/albumin ratio in critically ill patients with pneumonia receiving IMV.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia and type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

The present study was performed to investigate the impacts of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) and to develop a novel prediction model for mortality in SCAP patients with T2DM.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study conducted in consecutive adult patients with SCAP admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China, between September 2011 and September 2019. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis model with a 1:2 ratio was used for the comparisons of clinical characteristics and outcomes between T2DM and nondiabetic patients. The independent risk factors were identified via univariate and then multivariable logistic regression analysis and were then used to establish a nomogram.

RESULTS

In total, 1262 SCAP patients with T2DM and 2524 matched patients without T2DM were included after PSM. Patients with T2DM had longer ICU length of stay (LOS) (13 vs. 12 days, P = 0.016) and higher 14-day mortality (15% vs. 10.8%, P < 0.001), 30-day mortality (25.7% vs. 22.7%, P = 0.046), ICU mortality (30.8% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.005), and hospital mortality (35.2% vs. 31.0%, P = 0.009) than those without T2DM. In SCAP patients with T2DM, the independent risk factors for hospital mortality were increased numbers of comorbidities and diabetes-related complications; elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and blood lactate; as well as decreased blood pressure on admission. The nomogram had a C index of 0.907 (95% CI: 0.888, 0.927) in the training set and 0.873 (95% CI: 0.836, 0.911) in the testing set, which was superior to the pneumonia severity index (PSI, AUC: 0.809, 95% CI: 0.785, 0.833). The calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) also demonstrated its accuracy and applicability.

CONCLUSIONS

SCAP patients with T2DM had worse clinical outcomes than nondiabetic patients. The nomogram has good predictive performance for hospital mortality and might be generally applied after more external validations.

Management of pneumonia in critically ill patients

Severe pneumonia is associated with high mortality (short and long term), as well as pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications. Appropriate diagnosis and early initiation of adequate antimicrobial treatment for severe pneumonia are crucial in improving survival among critically ill patients. Identifying the underlying causative pathogen is also critical for antimicrobial stewardship. However, establishing an etiological diagnosis is challenging in most patients, especially in those with chronic underlying disease; those who received previous antibiotic treatment; and those treated with mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, as antimicrobial therapy must be empiric, national and international guidelines recommend initial antimicrobial treatment according to the location's epidemiology; for patients admitted to the intensive care unit, specific recommendations on disease management are available. Adherence to pneumonia guidelines is associated with better outcomes in severe pneumonia. Yet, the continuing and necessary research on severe pneumonia is expansive, inviting different perspectives on host immunological responses, assessment of illness severity, microbial causes, risk factors for multidrug resistant pathogens, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic options.

Lefamulin in Patients with Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia Caused by Atypical Respiratory Pathogens: Pooled Results from Two Phase 3 Trials

Lefamulin was the first systemic pleuromutilin antibiotic approved for intravenous and oral use in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia based on two phase 3 trials (Lefamulin Evaluation Against Pneumonia [LEAP]-1 and LEAP-2). This pooled analysis evaluated lefamulin efficacy and safety in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Chlamydia pneumoniae). In LEAP-1, participants received intravenous lefamulin 150 mg every 12 h for 5–7 days or moxifloxacin 400 mg every 24 h for 7 days, with optional intravenous-to-oral switch. In LEAP-2, participants received oral lefamulin 600 mg every 12 h for 5 days or moxifloxacin 400 mg every 24 h for 7 days. Primary outcomes were early clinical response at 96 ± 24 h after first dose and investigator assessment of clinical response at test of cure (5–10 days after last dose). Atypical pathogens were identified in 25.0% (91/364) of lefamulin-treated patients and 25.2% (87/345) of moxifloxacin-treated patients; most were identified by ≥1 standard diagnostic modality (M. pneumoniae 71.2% [52/73]; L. pneumophila 96.9% [63/65]; C. pneumoniae 79.3% [46/58]); the most common standard diagnostic modality was serology. In terms of disease severity, more than 90% of patients had CURB-65 (confusion of new onset, blood urea nitrogen > 19 mg/dL, respiratory rate ≥ 30 breaths/min, blood pressure <90 mm Hg systolic or ≤60 mm Hg diastolic, and age ≥ 65 years) scores of 0–2; approximately 50% of patients had PORT (Pneumonia Outcomes Research Team) risk class of III, and the remaining patients were more likely to have PORT risk class of II or IV versus V. In patients with atypical pathogens, early clinical response (lefamulin 84.4–96.6%; moxifloxacin 90.3–96.8%) and investigator assessment of clinical response at test of cure (lefamulin 74.1–89.7%; moxifloxacin 74.2–97.1%) were high and similar between arms. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar in the lefamulin (34.1% [31/91]) and moxifloxacin (32.2% [28/87]) groups. Limitations to this analysis include its post hoc nature, the small numbers of patients infected with atypical pathogens, the possibility of PCR-based diagnostic methods to identify non-etiologically relevant pathogens, and the possibility that these findings may not be generalizable to all patients. Lefamulin as short-course empiric monotherapy, including 5-day oral therapy, was well tolerated in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and demonstrated high clinical response rates against atypical pathogens.

Comparing Clinical Characteristics of Influenza and Common Coronavirus Infections Using Electronic Health Records

Background

We compared outcomes in inpatients and outpatients, pre-COVID-19, who were infected with either coronavirus or influenza.

Methods

Using deidentified electronic health records data from the Geisinger-Regeneron partnership, we compared patients with RT-PCR–positive tests for the 4 common coronaviruses (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43) or influenza (A and B) from June 2016 to February 2019.

Results

Overall, 52 833 patients were tested for coronaviruses and influenza. For patients ≥21 years old, 1555 and 3991 patient encounters had confirmed positive coronavirus and influenza tests, respectively. Both groups had similar intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates (7.2% vs 6.1%, P = .12), although patients with coronavirus had significantly more pneumonia (15% vs 7.4%, P < .001) and higher death rate within 30 days (4.9% vs 3.0%, P < .001). After controlling for other covariates, coronavirus infection still had a higher risk of death and pneumonia than influenza (odds ratio, 1.64 and 2.05, P < .001), with no significant difference in ICU admission rates.

Conclusions

Common coronaviruses cause significant morbidity, with potentially worse outcomes than influenza. Identifying a subset of patients who are more susceptible to poor outcomes from common coronavirus infections may help plan clinical interventions in patients with suspected infections.

Lefamulin efficacy and safety in a pooled phase 3 clinical trial population with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and common clinical comorbidities

Background

Lefamulin, a first-in-class pleuromutilin antibiotic approved for intravenous and oral use in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), was noninferior to moxifloxacin in the Lefamulin Evaluation Against Pneumonia (LEAP) 1 intravenous-to-oral switch study and the LEAP 2 oral-only study. Using pooled LEAP 1/2 data, we examined lefamulin efficacy/safety overall and within subgroups of patients presenting with comorbidities typical in CABP management.

Methods

In LEAP 1, adults with CABP were randomized to receive intravenous lefamulin (150 mg every 12 h) for 5‒7 days or moxifloxacin (400 mg every 24 h) for 7 days, with optional intravenous-to-oral switch if predefined improvement criteria were met. In LEAP 2, adults with CABP were randomized to receive oral lefamulin (600 mg every 12 h) for 5 days or moxifloxacin (400 mg every 24 h) for 7 days. Both studies assessed early clinical response (ECR) at 96 ± 24 h after first study drug dose and investigator assessment of clinical response (IACR) at test-of-cure (5‒10 days after last dose). Pooled analyses of the overall population used a 10% noninferiority margin.

Results

Lefamulin (n = 646) was noninferior to moxifloxacin (n = 643) for ECR (89.3% vs 90.5%, respectively; difference  − 1.1%; 95% CI  − 4.4 to 2.2); IACR success rates at test-of-cure were similarly high (≥ 85.0%). High efficacy with both lefamulin and moxifloxacin was also demonstrated across all well-represented patient subgroups, including those with advanced age, diabetes mellitus, a history of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmia) or chronic lung diseases (e.g., asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), elevated liver enzymes, or mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction. No new safety signals were identified.

Conclusions

Lefamulin may provide a valuable intravenous/oral monotherapy alternative to fluoroquinolones or macrolides for empiric treatment of patients with CABP, including cases of patients at risk for poor outcomes due to age or various comorbidities.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov LEAP 1 (NCT02559310; Registration Date: 24/09/2015) and LEAP 2 (NCT02813694; Registration Date: 27/06/2016).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-021-01472-z.