Combined method of community-acquired pneumonia prevention in military staff

Efficacy of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine "Pneumo 23" or its combination with food products prepared from vegetative material for prevention of community-acquired pneumonias has been compared. Advantages of combined method of prophylaxis in setting where pneumonia caused by different pathogens have been noted. Variability in etiology of community-acquired pneumonia was demonstrated by serological tests of patients' blood. During spring-summer season antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were detected in 25.9, 2.5, and 7.0% of the patients respectively. During autumn-winter season antibodies to M. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae were detected in 30.0 and 50.0% of the patients respectively.     

Single tube real time PCR for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila from clinical samples of CAP

We designed a multiplex real time PCR for rapid, sensitive and specific detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The study cases consisted of 129 patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Bacteriological techniques were implemented for detection of the cultivable organisms. DNA were extracted from sputa, throat swabs, bronchoalveolar lavages and tracheal aspirates and used as templates in real time PCR. The primers and probes were designed for cbpA (S. pneumoniae), p1adhesin (M. pneumoniae), mip (L. pneumophila) and ompA (C. pneumoniae). After optimization of real time PCR for every organism, the experiments were continued in multiplex in a single tube. Of 129 CAP specimens, the positive cultures included 14 (10.85%) for S. pneumoniae, 9 (6.98%) for L. pneumophila and 3 (2.33%) for M. pneumoniae. Four specimens (3.10%) were positive for C. pneumoniae by real time PCR. The sensitivity of our real time PCR was 100% for all selected bacteria. The specificity of the test was 98.26%, 98.34%, 100% and 100% for S. pneumoniae, L. pneumophila, M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae, respectively. This is the first report on the use of multiplex real time PCR for detection of CAP patients in the Middle East. The method covers more than 90% of the bacterial pathogens causing CAP.     

Causes of atypical pneumonia: results of a 1-year prospective study.

In a protocol study of cases of atypical pneumonia over a 1-year period an etiologic agent was established in 16 cases: Legionella pneumophila in 8, Coxiella burnetii in 3, Chlamydia trachomatis in 2, Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 1, para-influenza 3 virus in 1 and cytomegalovirus in 1. In the remaining 11 cases no agent was identified; the illnesses in these cases tended to be less severe. The pneumonia took much longer to resolve in the patients with Legionnaires'' disease than in all the other patients (mean interval from onset of symptoms to clearing of the chest roentgenogram: 69 days v. an average of 16 days). However, the length of stay in hospital was similar for the three groups: those with Legionnaires'' disease, those with atypical pneumonia of unknown cause and those with atypical pneumonia of various other established causes. L. pneumophila infection may explain a proportion of atypical pneumonias that previously could not be diagnosed, although in this series the cause of 41% of the pneumonias remained unexplained.     

Urinary detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen for diagnosis of pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia. We evaluated a newly available rapid immunochromatographic test to detect S. pneumoniae in urine samples verifying its importance in the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia. Our data, obtained from 104 patients with community-acquired pneumonia, show that Now S. pneumoniae Urinary Test is characterized by a sensitivity value of 77.7%, a specifity of 98.8%: positive and negative predictive values are 93.3% and 95.5%, respectively. In conclusion, Now S. pneumoniae Urinary Test should be a useful test to establish the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia.     

Etiological structure of pneumonias in children and adults

The bacteriological study of sputa, nasopharyngeal smears and bronchial washings taken from pneumonia patients has shown that the leading etiological agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in the diagnostic titre (10(7) bacteria per ml) in 78.1% of the cases. Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, enterobacteria and yeast-like fungi have been found to play an insignificant role in the etiology of acute pneumonia (2.5 +/- +/- 0.9%). The results of the serological diagnosis by means of the complement fixation test have revealed that, alongside S. pneumoniae, the following infective agents are of etiological importance in cases of acute pneumonia: respiratory viruses (more than 50%), Mycoplasma pneumonia (10%), Chlamydia psittaci (6.4%) and Legionella pneumophila (3.8%). The study has first revealed that, under the conditions of Alma-Ata, serotypes 19, 23, 8 and 4 prevail among circulating pneumococci. This study has also shown that the use of M. pneumoniae antibody erythrocyte diagnosticum enhances the detection rate of mycoplasma infections in pneumonia patients.     

社区获得性肺炎非典型病原体分布及其流行特征

目的 了解社区获得性肺炎(CAP)非典型病原体感染的分布情况及其流行特征.方法 收集确诊为社区获得性肺炎患者278例,间接免疫荧光法(IFA)检测人血清中呼吸道9种主要的非典型性病原体的IgM抗体.结果 病原体检测阳性者150例,总阳性率54.O％.单一病原体感染中,肺炎支原体(MP) 125例(45.0％)、呼吸道合胞病毒( RSV) 27例(9.7％)、腺病毒22例(7.9％)、副流感病毒1、2和3型19例(6.8％)、乙型流感病毒16例(5.8％)、嗜肺军团菌血清1型13例(4.7％)、肺炎衣原体2例(0.7％)和甲型流感病毒1例(0.4％).混合感染共63例(22.7％),其中61例(21.9％)为MP与其他病原体的混合感染,病毒感染以RSV最常见,共27例(9.7％).CAP患者患有基础疾病共139例(50％),其余为无基础疾病者.基础疾病中以循环疾病和呼吸疾病最常见,各占总CAP患者的15,1％和13.0％.所有受检者MP阳性率最高,达45％,其中未成年组3～18岁中MP阳性率高达60.2％,而成人组18 ～50岁中MP阳性率高达81.8％.CAP春季病原体阳性检出率为46.9％,冬季病原体阳性检出率为63.8％(x2=7.752,P＜0.05).结论 非典型性病原体(特别是MP)感染在CAP患者中比例较大,其流行与分布跟病原体种类、基础疾病、年龄、季节等有一定的关系.     

Severe community-acquired pneumonia: etiology]

A complex microbiological (sputum, protected brush biopsy of the bronchial mucosa) and immunological examination of 40 male patients (the average age of 55.4 +/- 8.8 years) with severe community-acquired pneumonia (risk classes III-V according to Fine M.J. et al., 1997) revealed the disease etiology in 52.5 per cent of the cases. The leading pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae. It was detected in 61.6 per cent of the cases of the etiologically verified pneumonia. Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were also among the actual pathogens (14.3 and 14.3 per cent respectively). The Legionnaires infection was not confirmed in any of the patients (enzyme-linked immunological analysis of urine for the serotype 1-6 Legionella pneumophila antigen). In the absolute majority of the patients the isolated pneumococci were susceptible (E-test) to benzylpenicillin. Only in 1 patients with severe pneumonia and secondary bacteriemia the pneumococcal isolates were moderately resistant to benzylpenicillin (the MIC of 0.125 mg/ml). Still, they were susceptible to ceftriaxone (the MIC of 0.023 mg/ml). The data are useful in the development of a national (regional) programme for empirical antibacterial therapy of severe community-acquired pneumonia.     

Rapid detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in clinical samples by real-time PCR

M. pneumoniae is a common causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The diagnosis of such infections is usually based on serology using complement fixation or, more recently, enzyme-immuno assays. PCR has been shown to be a promising alternative. We have evaluated a real-time PCR assay targeting the P1 adhesion protein gene and compared it to a conventional semi-nested PCR assay with the 16S rDNA as target. Comparison of 147 specimens from 48 patients showed an overall agreement of 97.4%. Real-time PCR proved to be of equal value on clinical specimens as conventional PCR regarding sensitivity and specificity, but is clearly advantageous regarding speed, handling and number of samples that can be analyzed per run.     

Therapeutic experience with netilmicin.

Netilmicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, was used to treat 19 patients with urinary tract infection and 5 with systemic infection. The causal organisms were Escherichia coli (in 2), Klebsiella pneumoniae (in 4), Serratia marcescens (in 12) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in 7); 1 patient was infected with two of these organisms. All the isolates of causal organisms except one of Serratia were initially sensitive to netilmicin but many were resistant to other aminoglycosides. Sixteen of the urinary tract infections responded to netilmicin therapy, although relapse occurred in three patients. Two of the three patients with musculoskeletal infection responded to combined therapy with surgery and netilmicin; the other patient responded to the same regimen but with carbenicillin added. Netilmicin cured pneumonia in one patient but failed in the other patient with pneumonia, who had leukemia. Superinfection occurred in five patients with urinary tract infection. Adverse reactions to netilmicin were minor. Netilmicin may prove to be a useful agent, particularly for infections due to multiresistant Klebsiella or Serratia, or when prolonged aminoglycoside therapy is required.     

Significance of Legionella pneumophila in human respiratory pathology

The etiological structure of acute pneumonia and acute respiratory diseases was studied with a view to establishing the proportion of L. pneumophila among other causative agents of such diseases. A total of 299 patients were examined over time. The etiological diagnosis based on the data of serological examination was made in 70.6% of the patients with acute pneumonia and in 65% of the patients with acute respiratory viral infections and influenza. In the etiology of pneumonia, the leading role was found to belong to influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses, as well as to adenovirus, while in the etiology of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, to influenza B virus, adenovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The importance of L. pneumophila in the etiology of acute pneumonia and acute respiratory diseases was shown. The proportion of L. pneumophila proved to be, on the average, 9.9% in acute pneumonia and 9.8% in acute respiratory diseases. L. pneumophila occurred most frequently in mixed infections in combination with adenovirus and influenza B virus. Diseases of Legionella etiology were found to have a seasonal character, occurring mostly in winter and spring.     

Epidemiologic aspects of M. pneumoniae disease complications: a review

As early as the 1940s, erythema multiforme exudativum (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) and hemolytic anemia were associated with outbreaks of atypical pneumonia, a disease later found to be caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Epidemiologic evidence has also associated neurological complications, especially aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis, with M. pneumoniae infections. Urticarial and morbilliform skin rashes often appear late in the course of M. pneumoniae pneumonia. A multitude of other complications have been ascribed to M. pneumoniae infections, often reported as case reports diagnosed by serologic antibody titers only. More systematic investigations are needed to assess the frequency of complications to M. pneumoniae infections. Isolation of the agent, not only serologic titer rises, should be required before a syndrome is attributed to M. pneumoniae infection.     

Evaluation of the NucliSens miniMAG RNA extraction and real-time NASBA applications for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae in throat swabs

Nucleic acids were extracted from 215 throat swabs from patients with community-acquired pneumonia by the manual Boom extraction, the NucliSens miniMAG and the Qiagen DNA blood kit and amplified respectively by in-house real-time NASBA, NucliSens EasyQ reagents, and real-time PCR for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Five out of 215 throat swabs were found to be C. pneumoniae positive by all techniques used. A total of 11 out of 215 throat swabs were positive for M. pneumoniae; 10/215 by Qiagen extraction and PCR amplification and 9/215 by NucliSens miniMAG and NucliSens EasyQ amplification. The NucliSens miniMAG and NucliSens EasyQ applications were successfully coupled to detect both organisms in throat swabs.     

Experience of microbiologic diagnostics of acute pneumonia cases arose in town Verkhnyaya Pyshma in July-August 2007

Bacteriologic, serologic, and PCR tests of blood, sputum, serum and autopsy samples from 91 patients were performed during outbreak of pneumonia in town Verkhnyaya Pyshma in July-August 2007. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from 20% of diagnostically meaningful samples of sputum and from 50% of autopsy samples. Diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease was confirmed in 48% of cases. It was shown that association of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila determined the affect during such pneumonia. Need for establishment of diagnostic procedure for patients with pneumonia including those caused by atypical agents was revealed.     

Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in pneumonia patients in four major hospitals in Trinidad

The prevalence of current Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in patients with pneumonia in Trinidad, and the relationship between pneumonia and risk factors were investigated. Blood samples were collected from 132 patients diagnosed by attending physicians, as suffering from pneumonia at four hospitals in Trinidad. Serum samples were tested for M. pneumoniae IgM and IgG and C. pneumoniae IgM by the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). In addition, C. pneumoniae IgM and IgG were detected using microimmunofluorescence (MIF). A comprehensive questionnaire which addressed demographic information as well as risk factors for pneumonia was administered to patients. All analyses were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 9. Seroprevalences of 46.0% (58 of 126) were found for C. pneumoniae Ig M/G, and 66.7% (88 of 132) for M. pneumoniae Ig M/G. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01; chi2). Thirty-four percent (43 of 125) for C. pneumoniae Ig M/acute Ig G and 28.8% (36 of 125) of M. pneumoniae IgM were not statistically significant (p > 0.05; chi2). Hospital, gender and ethnicity of patients did not significantly (p > 0.05; chi2) affect the seroprevalence of the bacteria assayed for. However, the prevalence of C. pneumoniae (23.3%) in patients under 21 years old compared to other age groups was statistically significant (p = 0.043; chi2). Overall, the seroprevalence to both pathogens was not significantly (p > 0.05; chi2) affected by comorbidities and signs/symptoms. It was concluded that new infections by C. pneumoniae in pneumonia patients may be an important aetiological agent for the condition in Trinidad.     

241 例儿童社区获得性肺炎支原体感染的临床分析

目的：总结2011-2012 年黄岛地区儿童社区获得性肺炎(CAP)患儿中支原体的感染情况,以指导临床诊断和治疗。方法：选取 2011-2012 年间因CAP住院的患儿241 例,所有CAP 患儿均于住院第2 天采集空腹血行9 项呼吸道感染病原体IgM检查,包括 肺炎支原体、嗜肺军团菌、Q热立克次体、肺炎衣原体、腺病毒、呼吸道合胞病毒、甲型流感病毒、乙型流感病毒、副流感病毒。结 果：241 例社区获得性肺炎患儿中支原体感染阳性74 例(30.7%),其中132例男性CAP患儿中支原体感染38 例(28.8%),109 例女 性CAP 患儿中支原体感染36 例;＞3 岁患儿的感染率为41.2%,1-3 岁患儿感染率26.2%,＜1 岁婴幼儿感染率为5.4%;2011 年 CAP患儿支原体感染率为19.4%,而2012 年为34.6%;74 例支原体阳性患儿合并其他感染者6 例。结论：黄岛地区儿童社区获得 性肺炎中支原体感染占重要地位,且有升高趋势,应重视婴幼儿支原体感染及难治性支原体肺炎的诊治。     

241例儿童社区获得性肺炎支原体感染的临床分析

目的：总结2011-2012年黄岛地区儿童社区获得性肺炎（CAP）患儿中支原体的感染情况,以指导临床诊断和治疗。方法：选取2011-2012年间因CAP住院的患儿241例,所有CAP患儿均于住院第2天采集空腹血行9项呼吸道感染病原体IgM检查,包括肺炎支原体、嗜肺军团菌、Q热立克次体、肺炎衣原体、腺病毒、呼吸道合胞病毒、甲型流感病毒、乙型流感病毒、副流感病毒。结果：241例社区获得性肺炎患儿中支原体感染阳性74例（30.7%）,其中132例男性CAP患儿中支原体感染38例（28.8%）,109例女性CAP患儿中支原体感染36例;〉3岁患儿的感染率为41.2%,1-3岁患儿感染率26.2%,〈1岁婴幼儿感染率为5.4%;2011年CAP患儿支原体感染率为19.4%,而2012年为34.6%;74例支原体阳性患儿合并其他感染者6例。结论：黄岛地区儿童社区获得性肺炎中支原体感染占重要地位,且有升高趋势,应重视婴幼儿支原体感染及难治性支原体肺炎的诊治。     

Amelioration of pneumonia with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection by inoculation with a vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in a non-human primate mixed infection model

Background  Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection has a high mortality rate in humans. Secondary bacterial pneumonia with HPAIV infection has not been reported in human patients, whereas seasonal influenza viruses sometimes enhance bacterial pneumonia, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. Therefore, if HPAIV infection were accompanied by bacterial infection, an increase in mortality would be expected. We examined whether a vaccine against HPAIV prevents severe morbidity caused by mixed infection with HPAIV and bacteria.
Methods  H7N7 subtype of HPAIV and Streptococcus pneumoniae were inoculated into cynomolgus macaques with or without vaccination of inactivated whole virus particles .
Results  Vaccination against H7N7 HPAIV decreased morbidity caused by HPAIV and pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae . Bacterial replication in lungs was decreased by vaccination against HPAIV, although the reduction in bacterial colonies was not significant.
Conclusions  Vaccination against HPAIV reduces pneumonia caused by bacterial superinfection and may improve prognosis of HPAIV-infected patients.     

Assessment of real-time PCR for diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in pediatric patients

We developed a real-time PCR to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae with a primer set designed for the 16S rRNA gene. Clinical samples (n=937) were collected from children with community-acquired pneumonia between April 2002 and March 2004 at 12 Japanese medical institutions. Sensitivity of real-time PCR was calculated as 10 colony-forming units per reaction tube using a pMP01 plasmid carrying a 225-bp target DNA fragment of the 16S rRNA gene in M. pneumoniae M129, a standard strain. Results, obtained within 2 h, were compared with those of conventional culture and serologic methods. Of all cases tested, 151 (16.4%) and 129 (13.8%) were positive for M. pneumoniae by real-time PCR and by culture, respectively. Among the 151 cases, almost all of those tested serologically by passive agglutination showed a rise in M. pneumoniae antibody titre between acute and convalescent sera. We conclude that this real-time PCR can identify M. pneumoniae rapidly and fulfills the need for rapid identification, high sensitivity, and high specificity.     

Etiology and treatment of pneumonia in children]

The most widespread pathogens of pneumonia in children i.e. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae and their antibiotic susceptibility are described. The ways of selecting starting antibacterial drugs for the treatment of community-acquired and hospital pneumonia are recommended proceeding from the original findings and some literature data. Oral drugs for the treatment of uncomplicated pneumonia are shown to be preferential. In the treatment of nosocomial or hospital pneumonia the starting regimen should allow for the previous antibacterial therapy.