InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. E. coli, P. mirabilis, and K. pneumoniae. First-generation cephalosporins are commonly used for infections caused by MSSA and streptococci (e.g., skin and soft tissue infections). Cefazolin is a popular choice for surgical prophylaxis against skin organisms. The second generation (cefamandole, cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefprozil, cefuroxime axetil, cefoxitin, cefotetan) has additional activity against H. influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Cefoxitin and cefotetan have potent activity against anaerobes as well. Second-generation cephalosporins are used to treat community-acquired pneumonia because of their activity against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. They are also used for other mild or moderate infections, such as acute otitis media and sinusitis. The third-generation cephalosporins are characterized by greater potency against gram-negative bacilli and reduced potency against gram-positive cocci. These cephalosporins, which include cefoperazone, cefotaxime,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. cephalosporins are characterized by greater potency against gram-negative bacilli and reduced potency against gram-positive cocci. These cephalosporins, which include cefoperazone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefdinir, cefixime, and cefpodoxime, are used for infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae, although resistance is an increasing concern. It is noteworthy that ceftazidime is the only third-generation cephalosporin with activity against P. aeruginosa but lacks activity against gram-positive bacteria. This drug is frequently used for pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis and febrile neutropenia. Ceftriaxone penetrates the CSF and can be used to treat meningitis caused by H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, and susceptible strains of S. pneumoniae. It is also used for the treatment of later-stage Lyme disease. The fourth generation includes cefepime and cefpirome, broad-coverage agents that provide potent activity against both gram-negative bacilli, including P. aeruginosa,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of later-stage Lyme disease. The fourth generation includes cefepime and cefpirome, broad-coverage agents that provide potent activity against both gram-negative bacilli, including P. aeruginosa, and gram-positive cocci. The fourth generation has clinical applications similar to those of the third generation and can be used in bacteremia, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Cefepime is also commonly used in febrile neutropenia. Ceftaroline, a fifth-generation cephalosporin, differs from the other cephalosporins in its added activity against MRSA, which is resistant to all other β-lactams. Ceftaroline’s gram-negative activity is similar to that of the third-generation cephalosporins but does not include P. aeruginosa. Ceftaroline is efficacious in community-acquired pneumonia and skin infections, but few data are available on its use for more serious infections, such as bacteremia.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Carbapenems With a few exceptions for cefepime, all penicillins and cephalosporins are ineffective in the presence of ESBLs. Carbapenems, including doripenem, imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem, offer the most reliable coverage for strains containing ESBLs. All carbapenems have broad activity against gram-positive cocci, gram-negative bacilli, and anaerobes. None is active against MRSA, but all are active against MSSA, Streptococcus species, and Enterobacteriaceae. Ertapenem is the only carbapenem that has poor activity against P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter. Imipenem is active against penicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis but not Enterococcus faecium. Carbapenems are not active against Enterobacteriaceae containing carbapenemases. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and some Bacillus species are intrinsically resistant to carbapenems because of a zinc-dependent carbapenemase.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Monobactams Aztreonam is the sole monobactam. Its activity is limited to gram-negative bacteria and includes P. aeruginosa and most other Enterobacteriaceae. This drug is inactivated by ESBLs and carbapenemases. The principal use for aztreonam is as an alternative to penicillins, cephalosporins, or carbapenems in patients with serious β-lactam allergy. Aztreonam is structurally related to ceftazidime and should be used cautiously in individuals with a serious ceftazidime allergy. It is commonly used in febrile neutropenia and intraabdominal Treatment and Prophylaxis of Bacterial Infections 942 infections. Aztreonam does not penetrate the CSF and should not be used for treatment of meningitis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Adverse Reactions to β-Lactam Drugs Agents within the β-lactam class are known for several adverse effects. Gastrointestinal side effects, mainly diarrhea, are common, but hypersensitivity reactions constitute the most common adverse effect of β-lactams. The reactions’ severity can range from rash to anaphylaxis, but the rate of true anaphylactic reactions is only 0.05%. An individual with an accelerated IgEmediated reaction to one β-lactam agent may still receive another agent within the class, but caution should be taken to choose a β-lactam that has a dissimilar side chain and a low level of cross-reactivity. For example, the second-, third-, and fourth-generation cephalosporins and the carbapenems display very low cross-reactivity in patients with penicillin allergy. Aztreonam is the only β-lactam that has no cross-reactivity with the penicillin group. In cases of severe allergy, desensitization (a graded challenge) to the indicated β-lactam, with close monitoring, may be


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InternalMed_Harrison. is the only β-lactam that has no cross-reactivity with the penicillin group. In cases of severe allergy, desensitization (a graded challenge) to the indicated β-lactam, with close monitoring, may be warranted if other antibacterial options are not suitable.


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InternalMed_Harrison. β-Lactams can rarely cause serum sickness, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, nephropathy, hematologic reactions, and neurotoxicity. Neutropenia appears to be related to high doses or prolonged use. Neutropenia and interstitial nephritis caused by β-lactams generally resolve upon discontinuation of the agent. Imipenem and cefepime are associated with an increased risk of seizure, but this risk is likely a class effect and related to high doses or doses that are not adjusted in renal impairment. The glycopeptide antibiotics include vancomycin and telavancin. Vancomycin has activity against staphylococci (including MRSA and coagulase-negative staphylococci), streptococci (including


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InternalMed_Harrison. S. pneumoniae), and enterococci. It is not active against gram-negative organisms. Vancomycin also displays activity against Bacillus species, Corynebacterium jeikeium, Listeria monocytogenes, and gram-positive anaerobes such as Peptostreptococcus, Actinomyces, Clostridium, and Propionibacterium species. Vancomycin has several important clinical uses. It is used for serious infections caused by MRSA, including health care–associated pneumonia, bacteremia, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis. It is also commonly used for skin and soft tissue infections. Oral vancomycin is not absorbed systemically and is reserved for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. Vancomycin is also an alternative for the treatment of infections caused by MSSA in patients who cannot tolerate β-lactams. Resistance to vancomycin is a rising concern. Strains of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are not uncommon. Vancomycin appears to be a


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. β-lactams. Resistance to vancomycin is a rising concern. Strains of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are not uncommon. Vancomycin appears to be a concentration-dependent killer, with AUC/MIC ratio being the best predictor of efficacy (Fig. 170-2). Guidelines recommend targeting a vancomycin trough level of 15–20 μg/mL in MRSA infections in order to maintain an AUC/MIC ratio >400. When using vancomycin, clinicians should monitor for nephrotoxicity. The risk increases when trough levels are >20 μg/ mL. Concomitant therapy with other nephrotoxic agents, such as aminoglycosides, also increases the risk of nephrotoxicity. Ototoxicity was reported with early formulations of vancomycin but is currently uncommon because purer formulations are available. Both of these adverse effects are reversible upon discontinuation of vancomycin. Clinicians should be aware of the “red man syndrome,” a common reaction that presents as a rapid onset of


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InternalMed_Harrison. available. Both of these adverse effects are reversible upon discontinuation of vancomycin. Clinicians should be aware of the “red man syndrome,” a common reaction that presents as a rapid onset of erythematous rash or pruritus on the head, face, neck, and upper trunk. This reaction is caused by histamine release from basophils and mast cells and can be treated with diphenhydramine and slowing of the vancomycin infusion.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Telavancin, dalbavancin, and oritavancin are structurally similar to vancomycin and are referred to as lipoglycopeptides. They have antibacterial activity against S. aureus (including MRSA and some strains of VISA and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus [VRSA]), streptococci, and enterococci. They also have good activity against anaerobic gram-positive organisms except for Lactobacillus and some Clostridium species. The clinical efficacy of telavancin has been demonstrated in both skin and soft tissue infections and nosocomial pneumonia, and the efficacy of dalbavancin and oritivancin has been shown in skin and soft tissue infections. The vancomycin resistance phenotype may reduce the potency of all three lipoglycopeptides, but the rate of resistance to these drugs among S. aureus and enterococci has been low. Adverse effects of telavancin include insomnia, a metallic taste, nephrotoxicity, and gastrointestinal side effects. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and enterococci has been low. Adverse effects of telavancin include insomnia, a metallic taste, nephrotoxicity, and gastrointestinal side effects. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for electrocardiographic QTc prolongation that can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias when telavancin is used concomitantly with other QTc-prolonging agents. Telavancin may interfere with certain coagulation tests (e.g., causing false elevations in prothrombin time). Dalbavancin and oritavancin have safety profiles similar to that of vancomycin.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic with activity against a broad range of gram-positive organisms. This drug is active against staphylococci (including MRSA and coagulase-negative staphylococci), streptococci, and enterococci. Daptomycin remains active against enterococci that are resistant to vancomycin. In addition, it exhibits activity against Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Clostridium species. Daptomycin’s pharmacodynamic parameter for efficacy is concentration-dependent killing. Resistance to daptomycin is rare, but MICs may be higher for VISA strains. Daptomycin is efficacious in skin and soft tissue infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis. It is an important alternative for MRSA and other gram-positive infections when bactericidal therapy is needed and vancomycin cannot be used. Daptomycin is generally well tolerated, and its main toxicity consists of elevation of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels and myopathy. CPK should be monitored


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and vancomycin cannot be used. Daptomycin is generally well tolerated, and its main toxicity consists of elevation of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels and myopathy. CPK should be monitored during daptomycin treatment, and the drug should be discontinued if muscular toxicities occur. There have also been case reports of reversible eosinophilic pneumonia associated with daptomycin use.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The aminoglycosides are a class of antibacterial agents with concentration-dependent activity against most gram-negative organisms. The most commonly used aminoglycosides are gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin, although others, such as streptomycin, kanamycin, neomycin, and paromomycin, may be used in special circumstances. Aminoglycosides have a significant dose-dependent post-antibiotic effect, meaning that they have an antibacterial effect even after serum drug levels are undetectable. The postantibiotic effect and concentration-dependent killing form the rationale behind extended-interval aminoglycoside dosing, in which a larger dose is given once daily rather than smaller doses multiple times daily. Aminoglycosides are active against gram-negative bacilli, such as Enterobacteriaceae,


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InternalMed_Harrison. P. aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter. They also enhance the activity of cell wall–active agents such as β-lactams or vancomycin in some gram-positive bacteria, including staphylococci and enterococci. This combination therapy is termed synergistic because the effect of both agents provides a killing effect greater than would be predicted from the effects of either agent alone. Amikacin and streptomycin have activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and amikacin has activity against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. The aminoglycosides do not have activity against anaerobes, S. maltophilia, or Burkholderia cepacia. Aminoglycosides are used in clinical practice in a variety of infections caused by gram-negative organisms, including bacteremia and urinary tract infections. They are frequently used alone or in combination for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection. When used in combination with a cell wall–active agent, gentamicin and streptomycin are also important for the treatment


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InternalMed_Harrison. used alone or in combination for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection. When used in combination with a cell wall–active agent, gentamicin and streptomycin are also important for the treatment of gram-positive bacterial endocarditis. All aminoglycosides can cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. The risk of nephrotoxicity is related to the dose and duration of therapy as well as the concomitant use of other nephrotoxic agents. Nephrotoxicity is usually reversible, but ototoxicity can be irreversible.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin) and ketolides (telithromycin) are classes of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis. Compared with erythromycin (the older antibiotic), azithromycin and clarithromycin have better oral absorption and tolerability. Azithromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin all have broader spectra of activity than erythromycin, which is less frequently used. These agents are commonly used in the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract infections caused by S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, and atypical organisms (e.g., Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae); group A streptococcal pharyngitis in penicillin-allergic patients; and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections (e.g., caused by M. marinum and


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. M. chelonae) as well as in the prophylaxis and treatment of M. avium-intracellulare infection in patients with HIV/AIDS and in combination therapy for H. pylori infection and bartonellosis. Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas species, and Acinetobacter species are intrinsically resistant to macrolides as a result of decreased membrane permeability, although azithromycin is active against gram-negative diarrheal pathogens. The major adverse effects of this drug class include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, prolongation of QTc interval, exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, and tinnitus. Azithromycin specifically has been associated with an increased risk of death, especially among patients with underlying heart disease, because of the risk of QTc interval prolongation and torsades de pointes. Erythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin inhibit the CYP3A4 hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme and can result in increased levels of coadministered drugs, including benzodiazepines,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. de pointes. Erythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin inhibit the CYP3A4 hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme and can result in increased levels of coadministered drugs, including benzodiazepines, statins, warfarin, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus. Azithromycin does not inhibit CYP3A4 and lacks these drug–drug interactions.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic and is bacteriostatic against some organisms and bactericidal against others. It is used most often to treat bacterial infections caused by anaerobes (e.g., B. fragilis, Clostridium perfringens, Fusobacterium species, Prevotella melaninogenicus, and Peptostreptococcus species) and susceptible staphylococci and streptococci. Clindamycin is used for treatment of dental infections, anaerobic lung abscess, and skin and soft tissue infections. It is used together with bactericidal agents (penicillins or vancomycin) to inhibit new toxin synthesis in the treatment of streptococcal or staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. Other uses include treatment of infections caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a component of combination therapy for malaria and babesiosis, and therapy for toxoplasmosis. Clindamycin has excellent oral bioavailability. Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, C. difficile–associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and therapy for toxoplasmosis. Clindamycin has excellent oral bioavailability. Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, C. difficile–associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis, maculopapular rash, and (rarely) Stevens-Johnson syndrome.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The tetracyclines (doxycycline, minocycline, and tetracycline) and the glycylcyclines (tigecycline) inhibit protein synthesis and are bacteriostatic. These drugs have wide clinical uses. They are used in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive cocci (including MRSA), spirochetal infections (e.g., Lyme disease, syphilis, leptospirosis, and relapsing fever), rickettsial infections (e.g., Rocky Mountain spotted fever), atypical pneumonia, sexually transmitted infections (e.g., Chlamydia trachomatis infection, lymphogranuloma venereum, and granuloma inguinale), infections with Nocardia and Actinomyces, brucellosis, tularemia, Whipple’s disease, and malaria. Tigecycline, the only approved agent in the glycylcycline class, is a derivative of minocycline and is indicated in the treatment of infections due to MRSA, vancomycin-sensitive enterococci, many Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroides species. Tigecycline has no activity against P. aeruginosa. It has been


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. in the treatment of infections due to MRSA, vancomycin-sensitive enterococci, many Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroides species. Tigecycline has no activity against P. aeruginosa. It has been used in combination with colistin for the treatment of serious infections with multidrug-resistant gram-negative organisms. A pooled analysis of 13 clinical trials found an increased risk of death and treatment failure among patients treated with tigecycline alone. Tetracyclines have reduced absorption when coadministered with calciumand iron-containing compounds, including milk, and doses should be spaced at least 2 h apart. The major adverse reactions to both of these classes are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and photosensitivity. Tetracyclines have been associated with fetal bone-growth abnormalities and should be avoided during pregnancy and in the treatment of children <8 years old.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is an antibiotic whose two components both inhibit folate synthesis and produce antibacterial activity. TMP-SMX is active against gram-positive bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci; however, its use against MRSA is usually limited to community-acquired infections, and its activity against Streptococcus pyogenes may not be reliable. TMP-SMX is also active against many gram-negative bacteria, including H. influenzae,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. E. coli, P. mirabilis, N. gonorrhoeae, and S. maltophilia. TMP-SMX does not have activity against anaerobes or P. aeruginosa. It has many uses because of its wide spectrum of activity and high oral bioavailability. Urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and respiratory tract infections are among the common uses. Another important indication is for both prophylaxis and treatment of Pneumocysitis jirovecii infections in immunocompromised patients. Resistance to TMP-SMX has limited its use against many Enterobacteriaceae. Resistance rates among urinary isolates of E. coli are almost 25% in the United States. The most common adverse reactions associated with TMP-SMX are gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition, rash is a common allergic reaction and may preclude the subsequent use of other sulfonamides. With prolonged use, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and granulocytopenia can develop. TMP-SMX can also cause nephrotoxicity,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. allergic reaction and may preclude the subsequent use of other sulfonamides. With prolonged use, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and granulocytopenia can develop. TMP-SMX can also cause nephrotoxicity, hyperkalemia, and hyponatremia, which are more common at high doses. TMP-SMX has several important interactions with other drugs (Table 170-4), including warfarin, phenytoin, and methotrexate.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The fluoroquinolones include norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gemifloxacin. Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin have the broadest spectrum of activity against gram-negative bacteria, including P. aeruginosa (similar to that of third-generation cephalosporins). Because of the risk of selection of resistance during fluoroquinolone treatment of serious pseudomonal infections, these agents are usually used in combination with an antipseudomonal β-lactam. Levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gemifloxacin have addi tional gram-positive activity, including that against S. pneumoniae and some strains of MSSA, and are used for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. Strains of MRSA are commonly resistant to all fluoroquinolones. Moxifloxacin is used as one component of second-line regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Fluoroquinolones exhibit concentration-dependent killing, are well absorbed orally, and have elimination half-lives that usually support


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of second-line regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Fluoroquinolones exhibit concentration-dependent killing, are well absorbed orally, and have elimination half-lives that usually support onceor twice-daily dosing. Oral coadministration with compounds containing high concentrations of aluminum, magnesium, or calcium can reduce fluoroquinolone absorption. Their penetration into prostate tissue supports their use for bacterial prostatitis. Fluoroquinolones are generally well tolerated but can cause CNS stimulatory effects, including seizures; glucose dysregulation; and tendinopathy associated with Achilles tendon rupture, particularly in older patients, organ transplant recipients, and patients taking glucocorticoids. Worsening of myasthenia gravis also has been associated with quinolone use. Moxifloxacin causes modest prolongation of the QTc interval and should be used with caution in patients receiving other QTc-prolonging drugs.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The rifamycins include rifampin, rifabutin, and rifapentine. Rifampin is the most commonly used rifamycin. For almost all therapeutic indications, it is used in combination with other agents to reduce the likelihood of selection of high-level rifampin resistance. Rifampin is used foremost in the treatment of mycobacterial infections—specifically, as a mainstay of combination therapy for M. tuberculosis infection or as a single agent in the treatment of latent M. tuberculosis infection. In addition, it is often used in the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. Rifampin is used in combination regimens for the treatment of staphylococcal infections, particularly prosthetic valve endocarditis and bone infections with retained hardware. It is a component of combination therapy for brucellosis (with doxycycline) and leprosy (with dapsone for tuberculoid leprosy and with dapsone


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InternalMed_Harrison. Treatment and Prophylaxis of Bacterial Infections 944 and clofazimine for lepromatous disease). Rifampin can be used alone for prophylaxis in close contacts of patients with H. influenzae or N. meningitidis meningitis. The drug has high oral bioavailability, which is further enhanced when it is taken on an empty stomach. Rifampin has several adverse effects, including elevated aminotransferase levels (14%), rash (1–5%), and gastrointestinal events such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (1–2%). Its many clinically relevant interactions with other drugs mandate the clinician’s careful review of the patient’s medications before rifampin initiation to assess safety and the need for additional monitoring.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Metronidazole is used in the treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections as well as infections caused by protozoa (e.g., amebiasis, giardiasis, trichomoniasis). It is the agent of choice as a component of combination therapy for polymicrobial abscesses in the lung, brain, or abdomen, the etiology of which often includes anaerobic bacteria, and for bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, mild to moderate C. difficile–associated diarrhea, and anaerobic infections, such as those due to Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella species. Metronidazole is bactericidal against anaerobic bacteria and exhibits concentration-dependent killing. It has high oral bioavailability and tissue penetration, including penetration of the blood–brain barrier. The majority of Actinomyces, Propionibacterium, and Lactobacillus species are intrinsically resistant to metronidazole. The major adverse effects include nausea, diarrhea, and a metallic taste. Concomitant ingestion of alcohol may result


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and Lactobacillus species are intrinsically resistant to metronidazole. The major adverse effects include nausea, diarrhea, and a metallic taste. Concomitant ingestion of alcohol may result in a disulfiram-like reaction, and patients are usually instructed to avoid alcohol during treatment. Long-term treatment carries the risk of leukopenia, neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system toxicity manifesting as confusion, dysarthria, ataxia, nystagmus, and ophthalmoparesis. Through metronidazole’s effect on the CYP2C9 drug-metabolizing enzyme, its coadministration with warfarin can result in decreased metabolism and enhanced anticoagulant effects that require close monitoring. Concomitant administration of metronidazole with lithium can result in increased serum levels of lithium and associated toxicity; coadministration with phenytoin can result in phenytoin toxicity and possibly decreased levels of metronidazole.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Linezolid is a bacteriostatic agent and is indicated for serious infections due to resistant gram-positive bacteria, such as MRSA and VRE. The intrinsic resistance of gram-negative bacteria is mediated primarily by endogenous efflux pumps. Linezolid has excellent oral bioavailability. Adverse effects include myelosuppression and ocular and peripheral neuropathy with prolonged therapy. Peripheral neuropathy may be irreversible. Linezolid is a weak, reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and coadministration with sympathomimetics and foods rich in tyramine should be avoided. Linezolid has been associated with serotonin syndrome when coadministered with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. Tedizolid has properties similar to those of linezolid, but with lower dosing it may be less likely to cause adverse hematologic and neuropathic effects.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Nitrofurantoin’s antibacterial activity results from the drug’s conversion to highly reactive intermediates that can damage DNA and other macromolecules. Nitrofurantoin is bactericidal, and its action is concentration dependent. It displays activity against a range of gram-positive bacteria, including S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, E. faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, group D streptococci, viridans streptococci, and corynebacteria, as well as gram-negative organisms, including E. coli and Enterobacter, Neisseria, Salmonella, and Shigella species. Nitrofurantoin is used primarily in the treatment of urinary tract infections and is preferred in the treatment of such infections in pregnancy. It may be used for the prevention of recurrent cystitis. Recently, there has been interest in the use of nitrofurantoin for treatment of urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli, although resistance has been growing


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. there has been interest in the use of nitrofurantoin for treatment of urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli, although resistance has been growing in Latin America and parts of Europe. Coadministration with magnesium should be avoided because of decreased absorption, and patients should be encouraged to take the drug with food to increase its bioavailability and decrease the risk of adverse effects, which include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Nitrofurantoin may also cause pulmonary fibrosis and drug-induced hepatitis. Because the risk of adverse reactions increases with age, the use of nitrofurantoin in elderly patients is not recommended. Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are at elevated risk for nitrofurantoin-associated hemolytic anemia.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Colistin and polymyxin B act by disrupting cell membrane integrity and are active against the nonenteric pathogens P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii but not against Burkholderia. These drugs also exhibit activity against many Enterobacteriaceae,with the exceptions of Proteus, Providencia, and Serratia species. They lack activity against gram-positive bacteria. Polymyxins are bactericidal and are available in IV formulations. Colistimethate is converted to the active form (colistin) in plasma. Polymyxins are most often used for infections due to pathogens resistant to multiple other antibacterial agents, including urinary tract infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and bloodstream infections. Nebulized formulations have been used for adjunctive treatment of refractory ventilator-associated pneumonia. The most important adverse effect is dose-dependent reversible nephrotoxicity. Neurotoxicity, including paresthesias, muscle weakness, and confusion, is reversible and less common than


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. pneumonia. The most important adverse effect is dose-dependent reversible nephrotoxicity. Neurotoxicity, including paresthesias, muscle weakness, and confusion, is reversible and less common than nephrotoxicity.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Quinupristin-dalfopristin is a member of the streptogramin class of antibiotics and kills bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis. The antibacterial spectrum of quinupristin-dalfopristin includes staphylococci (including MRSA), streptococci, and E. faecium (but not


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. E. faecalis). This drug is also active against Corynebacterium species and L. monocytogenes. Quinupristin-dalfopristin is not reliably active against gram-negative organisms. It exhibits concentration-dependent killing, with an AUC/MIC ratio predicting efficacy. The clinical use of quinupristin-dalfopristin is largely for infections due to vancomycinresistant E. faecium and other gram-positive bacterial infections. The drug has demonstrated efficacy in a variety of infections, including urinary tract infections, bone and joint infections, and bacteremia. Adverse effects associated with quinupristin-dalfopristin include infusion-related reactions, arthralgias, and myalgias. The arthralgias and myalgias may be severe enough to warrant drug discontinuation. Quinupristin-dalfopristin inhibits the CYP3A4 drug-metabolizing enzyme, with consequent drug interactions (Table 170-4).


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InternalMed_Harrison. Fosfomycin is a phosphonic acid antibiotic that has greater activity in acidic environments and is excreted in its active form in the urine. Thus, its use is primarily for prophylaxis and treatment of uncomplicated cystitis. The drug is administered as a single 3-g dose that results in high urine concentrations for up to 48 h. Fosfomycin is active against S. aureus, vancomycin-susceptible and vancomycinresistant enterococci, and a wide range of gram-negative organisms, including E. coli, Enterobacter species, S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae. Notably, the vast majority of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae are susceptible to fosfomycin. A. baumannii and Burkholderia species are resistant. The emergence of resistance to fosfomycin has not been observed during treatment of cystitis but has been documented during treatment of respiratory tract infections and osteomyelitis. The few adverse effects that have been reported include nausea and diarrhea.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The use of chloramphenicol is limited by its potentially serious toxicities. When other agents are contraindicated or ineffective, chloramphenicol represents an alternative treatment for infections, including meningitis caused by susceptible bacteria such as N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae. It has also been used for the treatment of anthrax, brucellosis, Burkholderia infections, chlamydial infections, clostridial infections, erlichiosis, rickettsial infections, and typhoid fever. Adverse reactions include aplastic anemia, myelosuppression, and gray baby syndrome. Chloramphenicol inhibits the CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 drug-metabolizing enzymes and consequently increases levels of many classes of drugs.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Antibacterial prophylaxis is indicated only in selected circumstances (Table 170-6) and should be supported by well-designed studies or expert panel recommendations. In all cases the risk or severity of the infection to be prevented should be greater than the adverse consequences of antibacterial therapy, including the potential for selection of resistance. In addition, the timing and duration of antibacterial treatment should be targeted for maximal effect and minimal required exposure. Prophylaxis of surgical site infections targets bacteria that may contaminate the wound during the surgical procedure, including the skin flora of the patient or operating team and the air in the operating room. Delivery of the antibacterial drug within 1 h before the surgical incision is most effective. For prolonged procedures, redosing may be necessary to maintain effective blood and tissue levels until the wound is closed. In patients with nasal carriage of S. aureus, preopera-945 tive


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InternalMed_Harrison. effective. For prolonged procedures, redosing may be necessary to maintain effective blood and tissue levels until the wound is closed. In patients with nasal carriage of S. aureus, preopera-945 tive decolonization with nasal mupirocin reduces the rate of S. aureus surgical site infections and is generally recommended for high-risk procedures such as cardiac surgery and orthopedic implantation of prosthetic devices. For dental procedures, preprocedure antibacterial drugs are given to prevent transient bacteremia and the seeding of certain high-risk cardiac lesions. Prophylaxis is also used in nonprocedural settings in certain patients who have recurrent infections or who are at risk of serious infection from a specific exposure (e.g., close contact with a patient with meningococcal meningitis). Extension of prophylaxis beyond the period of infection risk (24 h in the case of surgical procedures) does not add further benefit and may increase the risk of resistance selection or C.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Extension of prophylaxis beyond the period of infection risk (24 h in the case of surgical procedures) does not add further benefit and may increase the risk of resistance selection or C. difficile disease.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In an era of increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and with a substantial amount of inappropriate antimicrobial use, the need for rational antimicrobial prescribing has never been greater. Antimicrobial stewardship describes the practice of promoting the selection of the appropriate drug, dosage, route, and duration of antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrobial stewardship programs implement a variety of strategies to (1) improve patient care through appropriate Condition Antibacterial Agentsa Timing or Duration of Prophylaxis Clean (cardiac, thoracic, neurologic, orthopedic, vascular, plastic) Clean (ophthalmic) Clean-contaminated (hysterectomy, gastroduodenal, biliary, unobstructed small intestine, urologic) Clean-contaminated (colorectal, appendectomy) Cefazolin (vancomycin,b clindamycin) Topical neomycin–polymyxin B–gramicidin, topical moxifloxacin Cefazolin + metronidazole, ampicillin-sulbactamc (clindamycin)


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Cefazolin (vancomycin,b clindamycin) Topical neomycin–polymyxin B–gramicidin, topical moxifloxacin Cefazolin + metronidazole, ampicillin-sulbactamc (clindamycin) Cefazolin, ampicillin-sulbactamc (clindamycin + aminoglycoside, aztreonam, or fluoroquinolone) Cefazolin + metronidazole, ampicillin-sulbactam,c ertapenem (clindamycin + aminoglycoside, aztreonam, or fluoroquinolone) Therapeutic regimen directed at anaerobes and gram-negative bacteria (e.g., ceftriaxone + metronidazole) Therapeutic regimen: cefazolin (clindamycin ± aminoglycoside, aztreonam, or fluoroquinolone) 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Therapeutic regimen: cefazolin (clindamycin ± aminoglycoside, aztreonam, or fluoroquinolone) 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures Every 5–15 min for 5 doses immediately prior to procedure 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures; continue for 3–5 days after procedure 1 h before incision; redose with long procedures; continue for 3–5 days after procedure Treatment and Prophylaxis of Bacterial Infections Dental, oral, or upper respiratory procedures in patients with high-risk cardiac lesions (prosthetic valves, congenital heart defects, prior endocarditis) Recurrent S. aureus skin infectionsd Recurrent cellulitis associated with lymphatic disruptiond Recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in patient with CSF leak or humoral immune defectd Exposure to patient with meningococcal meningitis


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Recurrent cellulitis associated with lymphatic disruptiond Recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in patient with CSF leak or humoral immune defectd Exposure to patient with meningococcal meningitis High-risk neutropenia (ANC, ≤100/μL for >7 days)d Amoxicillin PO, ampicillin IM (clindamycin PO, IV) Benzathine penicillin IM monthly, oral penicillin or erythromycin twice daily Nitrofurantoin, TMP-SMX, fluoroquinolone Amoxicillin-clavulanate (doxycycline, moxifloxacin) Fluoroquinolonef Rifampin, ciprofloxacin Levofloxacin or ciprofloxacinf After sexual intercourse or 3 times weekly for up to 1 year 3–5 days Undefined 2 days (rifampin), single dose (ciprofloxacin)


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Rifampin, ciprofloxacin Levofloxacin or ciprofloxacinf After sexual intercourse or 3 times weekly for up to 1 year 3–5 days Undefined 2 days (rifampin), single dose (ciprofloxacin) Until neutropenia resolves or fever dictates use of other antibacterials aRegimens in parentheses are alternatives for patients allergic to β-lactams. bVancomycin may be given together with cefazolin to patients known to be colonized with methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus. cCefoxitin or cefotetan may also be considered. dNot considered routine for all patients, but an acceptable consideration among alternative approaches. eUsually coupled with bathing with chlorhexidine-containing skin antiseptic. fChoice of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis must be balanced against the risk of selection of resistance. Abbreviations: ANC, absolute neutrophil count; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; TMP-SMX, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.


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InternalMed_Harrison. 946 antimicrobial use; (2) decrease the development of resistance within patients and populations; (3) reduce the incidence of adverse effects; and (4) control costs. Infections caused by resistant pathogens result in significant morbidity and mortality as well as increased health care costs. Antimicrobial stewardship programs are typically multidisciplinary and often include infectious disease physicians, clinical pharmacists (usually with special training in infectious disease), clinical microbiologists, information systems specialists, infection prevention and control practitioners, and epidemiologists. These teams employ a variety of approaches to achieving the program’s goals. Established strategies of antimicrobial stewardship programs include (1) prospective audit of antimicrobial use, with intervention and feedback; (2) formulary restriction; and (3) preauthorization. Prospective audit and feedback are usually undertaken by an infectious disease physician or a pharmacist. In


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. use, with intervention and feedback; (2) formulary restriction; and (3) preauthorization. Prospective audit and feedback are usually undertaken by an infectious disease physician or a pharmacist. In this process, orders for broad-spectrum antimicrobials (e.g., carbapenems) or high-impact agents (e.g., linezolid, daptomycin) are reviewed on a regular basis for appropriateness. In circumstances in which an antimicrobial is used in the absence of an appropriate indication, the stewardship program team intervenes and recommends an alternative to the primary team caring for the patient. This process has been successful in several quasi-experimental studies, resulting in declines in use of broad-spectrum drugs and decreases in adverse events, such as C. difficile infection. Formulary restriction is the inclusion of a limited set of antimicrobial agents in a hospital formulary for the purpose of limiting indiscriminant use of antimicrobials in the absence of demonstrated benefit. Such


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. is the inclusion of a limited set of antimicrobial agents in a hospital formulary for the purpose of limiting indiscriminant use of antimicrobials in the absence of demonstrated benefit. Such restriction coincidentally serves to reduce costs. Preauthorization is the practice of requiring clinicians to obtain approval before using selected antimicrobials. Approval may be provided electronically with sophisticated Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) software, after specific criteria for use are met, or after communication with an infectious disease specialist as designated by the stewardship program. These strategies have led to a decrease in C. difficile infections and to improvements in drug susceptibility patterns.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Additional strategies used in specific health-care settings are guidelines and pathways, dose optimization, parenteral-to-oral conversion, and de-escalation of therapy. Antimicrobial stewardship is an evolving area and an increasingly active area of research aimed at identifying the best practices. The IDSA, in collaboration with several other professional organizations, has published guidelines for developing institutional antimicrobial stewardship programs (www.idsociety.org/ Antimicrobial_Agents/). David Goldblatt, Katherine L. O’Brien


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In the late nineteenth century, pairs of micrococci were first recognized in the blood of rabbits injected with human saliva by both Louis Pasteur, working in France, and George Sternberg, an American army physician. The important role of these micrococci in human disease was not appreciated at that time. By 1886, when the organism was designated “pneumokokkus” and Diplococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus had been isolated by many independent investigators, and its role in the etiology of pneumonia was well known. In the 1930s, pneumonia was the third leading cause of death in the United States (after heart disease and cancer) and was responsible for ~7% of all deaths both in the United States and in Europe. While pneumonia was caused by a host of pathogens, lobar pneumonia—a pattern more likely to be caused by the pneumococcus—accounted for approximately one-half of all pneumonia deaths in the United States in 1929. In 1974, the organism was reclassified as Streptococcus pneumoniae.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. MICROBIOLOGY Etiologic Agent Pneumococci are spherical gram-positive bacteria of the genus Streptococcus. Within this genus, cell division occurs along a single axis, and bacteria grow in chains or pairs—hence the name Streptococcus, from the Greek streptos, meaning “twisted,” and kokkos, meaning “berry.” At least 22 streptococcal species are recognized and are divided further into groups based on their hemolytic properties. S. pneumoniae belongs to the α-hemolytic group that characteristically produces a greenish color on blood agar because of the reduction of iron in hemoglobin (Fig. 171-1). The bacteria are fastidious and grow best in 5% CO2 but require a source of catalase (e.g., blood) for growth on agar plates, where they develop mucoid (smooth/shiny) colonies. Pneumococci without a capsule produce colonies with a rough surface. Unlike that of other α-hemolytic streptococci, their growth is inhibited in the presence of optochin (ethylhydrocupreine hydrochloride), and they are


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InternalMed_Harrison. a capsule produce colonies with a rough surface. Unlike that of other α-hemolytic streptococci, their growth is inhibited in the presence of optochin (ethylhydrocupreine hydrochloride), and they are bile soluble.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In common with other gram-positive bacteria, pneumococci have a cell membrane beneath a cell wall, which in turn is covered by a polysaccharide capsule. Pneumococci are divided into serogroups or serotypes based on capsular polysaccharide structure, as distinguished with rabbit polyclonal antisera; capsules swell in the presence of specific antiserum (the Quellung reaction). The most recently discovered serotypes, 6C, 6D, and 11E, have been identified with monoclonal antibodies and by serologic, genetic, and biochemical means, respectively. The currently recognized 93 serotypes fall into 21 serogroups, and each serogroup contains two to five serotypes with closely related capsules. The capsule protects the bacteria from phagocytosis by host cells in the absence of type-specific antibody and is arguably the most FIGURE 171-1 Pneumococci growing on blood agar, illustrating α hemolysis and optochin sensitivity (zone around optochin disk).


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InternalMed_Harrison. FIGURE 171-1 Pneumococci growing on blood agar, illustrating α hemolysis and optochin sensitivity (zone around optochin disk). Inset: Gram’s stain, illustrating gram-positive diplococci. (Photographs courtesy of Paul Turner, Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Thailand.) Pneumolysin: secreted cytolytic/cytotoxic protein; activates complement and stimulates proinflammatory cytokines 947 Polysaccharide capsule: prevents complement binding; therefore antiphagocytic, target for protective antibody Pneumococcal surface protein A: interferes with complement deposition by blocking alternative complement pathway activation Pneumococcal iron acquisition A and iron uptake A: lipoprotein components of iron ABC transporters, essential for iron uptake Pneumococcal surface protein C (choline-binding protein A): principal pneumococcal adhesion molecule PspA PspC/ CbpA PiaA and PiuA CbpG Pneumolysin Autolysin PsaA Neuraminidase (NanA, NanB) Hyal Enolase Phosphorylcholine Pili Histidine triad PBP


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. PspA PspC/ CbpA PiaA and PiuA CbpG Pneumolysin Autolysin PsaA Neuraminidase (NanA, NanB) Hyal Enolase Phosphorylcholine Pili Histidine triad PBP Choline-binding protein G: cleaves host extracellular matrix, aiding adhesion Pneumococcal surface antigen A: metal-binding lipoprotein (Zn and Mn); may have a role in adhesion IgA1 protease: degrades human IgA1 Hyaluronate lyase: degrades hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate in extracellular matrix Binds to platelet-activating factor receptor on human epithelial cells Releases peptidoglycan, teichoic acid, pneumolysin, and other intracellular contents on autolysis Penicillin-binding proteins: catalyze polymerization of glycan chains and transpeptidation of pentapeptidic moieties within structure of peptidoglycan Neuraminidase: contributes to adherence; removes sialic acids on host glycopeptides and mucin to expose binding sites


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Neuraminidase: contributes to adherence; removes sialic acids on host glycopeptides and mucin to expose binding sites Binds to fibronectin in host tissues PhtA, B, D, E: cell-surface exposed proteins, unknown function Pili: on cell surface; inhibit phagocytosis, promote invasion FIGURE 171-2 Schematic diagram of the pneumococcal cell surface, with key antigens and their roles highlighted. important determinant of pneumococcal virulence. Unencapsulated variants tend not to cause invasive disease.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Virulence Factors Within the cytoplasm, cell membrane, and cell wall, many molecules that may play a role in pneumococcal pathogenesis and virulence have been identified (Fig. 171-2). These proteins are often involved in direct interactions with host tissues or in concealment of the bacterial surface from host defense mechanisms. Pneumolysin is a secreted cytotoxin thought to result in cytolysis of cells and tissues, and LytA enhances pathogenesis. A number of cell wall proteins interfere with the complement pathway, thus inhibiting complement deposition and preventing lysis and/or opsonophagocytosis. The pneumococcal H inhibitor (Hic) impedes the formation of C3 convertase, while pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC), also known as choline-binding protein A (CbpA), binds factor H and is thought to accelerate the breakdown of C3. PspA and CbpA inhibit the deposition of or degrade C3b. The numerous pneumococcal proteins thought to be involved in adhesion include the ubiquitous


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and is thought to accelerate the breakdown of C3. PspA and CbpA inhibit the deposition of or degrade C3b. The numerous pneumococcal proteins thought to be involved in adhesion include the ubiquitous surface-anchored sialidase (neuraminidase) NanA, which cleaves sialic acid on host cells and proteins, and pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA). Pili recently recognized by electron microscopy also may play an important role in binding to cells. Some of the antigens mentioned above are potential vaccine candidates (see “Prevention,” below).


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Although the capsule surrounding the cell wall of S. pneumoniae is the basis for categorization by serotype, the behavior and pathogenic potential of a serotype may also be related to the genetic origin of the strain. Molecular typing is therefore of considerable interest. Initially, techniques such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were used to determine genetic relatedness; such techniques have been superseded by sequencing of housekeeping genes to define a clone (multilocus sequence typing, MLST). For S. pneumoniae, alleles at each of the loci aroE, gdh, gki, recP, spi, xpt, and ddl are sequenced and compared with all of the known alleles at that locus. Sequences identical to a known allele are assigned the same allele number, whereas those differing from any known allele—even at a single nucleotide site—are assigned new numbers. Software for assignment of alleles at each locus is available on the pneumococcal MLST website (spneumoniae.mlst.net), and the allelic profile of each


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InternalMed_Harrison. single nucleotide site—are assigned new numbers. Software for assignment of alleles at each locus is available on the pneumococcal MLST website (spneumoniae.mlst.net), and the allelic profile of each isolate and its consequent sequence type are generated. With the advent of high-throughput and relatively inexpensive sequencing techniques, whole-genome sequencing will soon supersede MLST.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Pneumococcal infections remain a significant global cause of morbidity and death, particularly among children and the elderly. Rapid and dramatic changes in the epidemiology of this disease during the past decade in several developed countries followed the licensure and routine childhood administration of pneumococcal polysaccharide–protein conjugate vaccine (PCV). With PCV introduction in developing and middle-income countries, additional profound changes in pneumococcal ecology and disease epidemiology are likely. The disease burden and serotype distribution in the PCV era may be different than expected because of concomitant secular trends in pneumococcal disease, the impact of antibiotic use on pneumococcal strain ecology, and surveillance system attributes that can themselves affect analysis of epidemiologic features.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Serotype Distribution Not all pneumococcal serotypes are equally likely to cause disease; serotype distribution varies by age, disease syndrome, and geography. Geographic differences may be driven by variation in the burden of disease rather than by true serotype distribution differences. Most data on serotype distribution are related to pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD, defined as infection of a normally sterile site); much less information on global distribution is available for disease in adults. Among children <5 years of age, five to seven serotypes cause >60% of IPD cases in most parts of the world, seven serotypes (1, 5, 6A, 6B, 14, 19F, and 23F) account for ~60% of cases in all areas of the world, but in any given region these 100% <2 years of age and among adults ≥65 years of age (188 and 60 cases/100,000, respectively; Fig. 171-5). Since the introduction of PCV, 80% IPD rates among infants and children in the


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InternalMed_Harrison. United States have fallen by >75%, a decrease driven by the near elimination of vaccine serotype IPD. A similar impact of PCV on 948 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% % of serotyped isolates 14 16B5 23F 19F6A19A 9V 18C Serotypes 2 4 37F12F 812A 15A9N29 FIGURE 171-3 Meta-analysis of available global pneumococcal serotype data, adjusted for regional disease incidence. The red line shows cumulative incidence, as indicated on the been introduced into the routine pediatric vaccination schedule. However, changes in the tries have been heterogeneous; the interpreta tion of this heterogeneity is a complex issue. In the United States, Canada, and Australia, rates of non-vaccine-serotype IPD have increased but the magnitude of the increase is generally small relative to the substantial reductions in vaccine-serotype IPD. In contrast, in other settings (e.g., Alaska Native communiright-hand Y axis. (Source: Global Serotype Project Report for the Pneumococcal Advance Market ties and the United


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InternalMed_Harrison. in vaccine-serotype IPD. In contrast, in other settings (e.g., Alaska Native communiright-hand Y axis. (Source: Global Serotype Project Report for the Pneumococcal Advance Market ties and the United Kingdom), the reduction Commitment Target Product Profile; available at http://www.gavi.org/library/gavi-documents/amc/ in vaccine-serotype IPD has been offset by tpp-codebook/.) seven serotypes may not all rank as the most common disease strains (Fig. 171-3). Some serotypes (e.g., types 1 and 5) not only tend to cause disease in areas with a high disease burden but also cause waves of disease in lower-burden areas (e.g., Europe) or outbreaks (e.g., in military barracks; meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa). The broader range of serotypes causing disease among adults than among children is apparent from a comparison of the coverage of existing multiserotype vaccines in different age groups. For example, data from the United States for 2006–2007 on the serotypes causing IPD indicated that a


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. from a comparison of the coverage of existing multiserotype vaccines in different age groups. For example, data from the United States for 2006–2007 on the serotypes causing IPD indicated that a polysaccharide vaccine containing 23 serotypes (PPSV23) would cover 84% of cases among children <5 years of age and 76% of those among persons 18–64 years of age but only 65% of those among persons ≥65 years of age.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Nasopharyngeal Carriage Pneumococci are intermittent inhabitants of the healthy human nasopharynx and are transmitted by respiratory droplets. In children, pneumococcal nasopharyngeal ecology varies by geographic region, socioeconomic status, climate, degree of crowding, and particularly intensity of exposure to other children, with children in day-care settings having higher rates of colonization. In developed-world settings, children serve as the major vectors of pneumococcal transmission. By 1 year of age, ~50% of children have had at least one episode of pneumococcal colonization. Cross-sectional prevalence data show rates of pneumococcal carriage ranging from 20% to 50% among children <5 years of age and from 5% to 15% among young notable increases in rates of disease caused by non-vaccine serotypes. Explanations for the heterogeneity of findings include replacement disease resulting from vaccine pressure, changes in clinical case investigation, secular trends unrelated to PCV


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. serotypes. Explanations for the heterogeneity of findings include replacement disease resulting from vaccine pressure, changes in clinical case investigation, secular trends unrelated to PCV use, antibiotic pressure selecting for resistant organisms, changes in surveillance or reporting systems, rapidity of introduction, and inclusion of a catch-up campaign. A recent systematic review concludes that serotype replacement in IPD follows the use of PCV7 but that the magnitude of this phenomenon is small relative to the reduction in disease from vaccine serotypes. The net effect of PCV is to reduce the rate of pneumococcal disease both in the age group targeted for vaccination and in unvaccinated age groups.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Pneumonia is the most common of the serious pneumococcal disease syndromes and poses special challenges from a clinical and public health perspective. Most cases of pneumococcal pneumonia are not associated with bacteremia, and in these cases a definitive etiologic diagnosis is difficult. As a result, estimates of disease burden focus primarily on IPD rates and fail to include the major portion of the burden of serious pneumococcal disease. Among children, PCV trials designed to collect efficacy data on syndrome-based outcomes (e.g., radiographically confirmed pneumonia, clinically diagnosed pneumonia) have revealed the burden of culture-negative pneumococcal pneumonia. The case-fatality ratios (CFRs) for pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD vary by age, underlying medical condition, and access to care. In addition, the CFR for pneumococcal pneumonia varies with the and middle-aged adults; Fig. 171-4 shows relevant data from the


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InternalMed_Harrison. United Kingdom. Data on colonization rates among healthy elderly individuals are limited. In developing-world settings, pneumococ cal acquisition occurs much earlier, sometimes within the first few days after birth, and nearly all infants have had at least one episode of colonization by 2 months of age. Cross-sectional studies show that up to the age of 5 years, 70–90% of children carry S. pneumoniae in the nasopharynx, and a significant proportion of adults (sometimes >40%) also are colonized. Their high rates of colonization make adults an important source of transmission and may affect community trans-10% mission dynamics. 0%


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Invasive Disease and Pneumonia IPD develops when S. pneumoniae invades the bloodstream and seeds other organs or directly reaches the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by local extension. Pneumonia may fol low aspiration of pneumococci, although only 10–30% of such cases are associated with a positive blood culture (and thus contribute to the FIGURE 171-4 Prevalence of pneumococcal carriage in adults and measured burden of IPD). The dramatic variation of IPD rates with age children resident in the United Kingdom who had nasopharyngeal is illustrated by data from the United States for 1998–1999, a period swabs collected monthly for 10 months (no seasonal trend; t test trend, prior to PCV introduction. Rates of IPD were highest among children >.05). (Data adapted from D Goldblatt et al: J Infect Dis 192:387, 2005.)


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InternalMed_Harrison. FIGURE 171-5 Rates of invasive pneumococcal disease before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, by age group: United States, 1998. (Source: CDC, Active Bacterial Core Surveillance/ Emerging Infectious Program Network, 2000. Data adapted from MMWR 49[RR-9], 2000.) severity of disease at presentation (rather than according to whether the pneumonia episode is associated with bacteremia) and with the patient’s age (from <5% among hospitalized patients 18–44 years old to >12% among those >65 years old, even when appropriate and timely management is available). Notably, the likelihood of death in the first 24 h of hospitalization did not change substantially with the introduction of antibiotics; this surprising observation highlights the fact that the pathophysiology of severe pneumococcal pneumonia among adults reflects a rapidly progressive cascade of events that often unfolds irrespective of antibiotic administration. Management in an intensive care unit can provide


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. pneumococcal pneumonia among adults reflects a rapidly progressive cascade of events that often unfolds irrespective of antibiotic administration. Management in an intensive care unit can provide critical support for the patient through the acute period, with lower CFRs.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Rates of pneumococcal disease vary by season, with higher rates in colder than in warmer months in temperate climates; by sex, with males more often affected than females; and by risk group, with risk factors including underlying medical conditions, behavioral issues, and ethnic group. In the United States, some Native American populations (including Alaska natives) and African Americans have higher rates of disease than the general population; the increased risk is probably attributable to socioeconomic conditions and the prevalence of underlying risk factors for pneumococcal disease. Medical conditions that increase the risk of pneumococcal infection are listed in Table 171-1. Outbreaks of disease are well recognized in crowded settings with susceptible individuals, such as infant day-care facilities, military barracks, and nursing homes. Furthermore, there is a clear association between preceding viral respiratory disease (especially but not exclusively influenza) and risk of


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InternalMed_Harrison. day-care facilities, military barracks, and nursing homes. Furthermore, there is a clear association between preceding viral respiratory disease (especially but not exclusively influenza) and risk of secondary pneumococcal infections. The significant role of pneumococcal pneumonia in the morbidity and mortality associated with seasonal and pandemic influenza is increasingly recognized.


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InternalMed_Harrison. to penicillin was first noted in 1967, but not until the 1990s did reduced antibiotic susceptibility emerge as a significant clinical and public health issue, with an increasing prevalence of pneumococcal isolates resistant to single or multiple classes of antibiotics and a rising absolute magnitude of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Strains with reduced susceptibility to penicillin G, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, macrolides, and other antibiotics are now found worldwide and account for a significant proportion of disease-causing strains in many locations, especially among children. Vancomycin resistance has not yet been observed in clinical pneumococcal strains. Lack of antimicrobial susceptibility is clearly related to a subset of serotypes, many of which disproportionately cause disease among children. The vicious cycle of antibiotic exposure, selection of resistant organisms in the nasopharynx, and transmission of these organisms within the community, leading to


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InternalMed_Harrison. cause disease among children. The vicious cycle of antibiotic exposure, selection of resistant organisms in the nasopharynx, and transmission of these organisms within the community, leading to difficult-to-treat infections and increased antibiotic exposure, has been interrupted to some extent by the introduction and routine use of PCV. The clinical implications of pneumococcal antimicrobial nonsusceptibility are addressed below in the section on treatment.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Cases/100,000 population Asplenia or splenic Sickle cell disease, celiac disease dysfunction Chronic respiratory disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, aspiration risk, neuromuscular dis ease (e.g., cerebral palsy), severe asthma Chronic heart disease Ischemic heart disease, congenital heart dis ease, hypertension with cardiac complications, Chronic kidney disease Nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure, renal transplantation Chronic liver disease Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis Immunocompromise/ HIV infection, common variable immuno immunosuppression deficiency, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malig nancy, chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation, systemic glucocorticoid treat ment for >1 month at a dose equivalent to ≥20 mg/d (children, ≥1 mg/kg per day) training camps, prisons, homeless shelters


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Note: Groups for whom pneumococcal vaccines are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Pneumococci colonize the human nasopharynx from an early age; colonization acquisition events are generally described as asymptomatic, but evidence exists to associate acquisition with mild respiratory symptoms, especially in the very young. From the nasopharynx, the bacteria spread either via the bloodstream to distant sites (e.g., brain, joint, bones, peritoneal cavity) or locally to mucosal surfaces where they can cause otitis media or pneumonia. Direct spread from the nasopharynx to the central nervous system (CNS) can occur in rare cases of skull base fracture, although most cases of pneumococcal meningitis are secondary to hematogenous spread. Pneumococci can cause disease in almost any organ or part of the body; however, otitis media, pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis are most common. Colonization is a relatively frequent event, yet disease is rare. In the nasopharynx, pneumococci survive in mucus secreted by epithelial cells, where they can avoid local immune factors such


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. common. Colonization is a relatively frequent event, yet disease is rare. In the nasopharynx, pneumococci survive in mucus secreted by epithelial cells, where they can avoid local immune factors such as leukocytes and complement. The mucus itself is a component of local defense mechanisms, and the flow of mucus (driven in part by cilia in what is known as the mucociliary escalator) effects mechanical clearance of pneumococci. While many colonization episodes are of short duration, longitudinal studies in adults and children have revealed persistent colonization with a specific serotype over many months. Colonization eventually results in the development of capsule-specific serum IgG, which is thought to play a role in mediating clearance of bacteria from the nasopharynx. IgG antibodies to surface-exposed cell wall or secreted proteins also appear in the circulation in an age-dependent fashion or after colonization; the biologic role of these antibodies is less clear. Recent


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. to surface-exposed cell wall or secreted proteins also appear in the circulation in an age-dependent fashion or after colonization; the biologic role of these antibodies is less clear. Recent acquisition of a new colonizing serotype is more likely to be associated with subsequent invasion, presumably as a result of the absence of type-specific immunity. Intercurrent viral infections make the host more susceptible to pneumococcal colonization, and pneumococcal disease in a colonized individual often follows perturbation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa by such infections. Local cytokine production after a viral infection is thought to upregulate adhesion factors in the respiratory epithelium, allowing pneumococci to adhere via a variety of surface adhesin molecules, including PsaA, PspA, 950 CbpA, PspC, Hyl, pneumolysin, and the neuraminidases (Fig. 171-2). Adhesion coupled with inflammation induced by pneumococcal factors such as peptidoglycans and teichoic acids results in invasion. It


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. CbpA, PspC, Hyl, pneumolysin, and the neuraminidases (Fig. 171-2). Adhesion coupled with inflammation induced by pneumococcal factors such as peptidoglycans and teichoic acids results in invasion. It is the inflammation induced by various bacterium-derived factors that is responsible for the pathology associated with pneumococcal infection. Cell wall–derived teichoic acids and peptidoglycans induce a variety of cytokines, including the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL) 1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor, and activate complement via the alternative pathway. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are thus attracted, and an intense inflammatory response is initiated. Pneumolysin also is important in local pathology, inducing proinflammatory cytokine production by local monocytes. The pneumococcal capsule, consisting of polysaccharides with antiphagocytic properties due to resistance to the deposition of complement, plays an important role in pathogenesis. While most capsular types can


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InternalMed_Harrison. capsule, consisting of polysaccharides with antiphagocytic properties due to resistance to the deposition of complement, plays an important role in pathogenesis. While most capsular types can cause human disease, certain capsular types are more commonly isolated from sites of infection. The reason for the dominance of some serotypes over others in IPD, as depicted in Fig. 171-3, is unclear.


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InternalMed_Harrison. HOST DEFENSE MECHANISMS Innate Immunity As described above, intact respiratory epithelium and a host of nonspecific or innate immune factors (e.g., mucus, splenic function, complement, neutrophils, and macrophages) constitute the first line of defense against pneumococci. Physical factors such as the cough reflex and the mucociliary escalator are important in clearing bacteria from the lungs. Immunologic factors are critical as well: C-reactive protein (CRP) binds phosphorylcholine in the pneumococcal cell wall, inducing complement activation and leading to bacterial clearance; Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) recognizes both pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid and cell wall peptidoglycan; and in animal models, the absence of host TLR2 leads to more severe infection and impaired clearance of nasopharyngeal colonization. TLR4 appears to be necessary for the proinflammatory effect of pneumolysin on macrophages. The importance of TLR recognition is underlined by descriptions of an inherited


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InternalMed_Harrison. nasopharyngeal colonization. TLR4 appears to be necessary for the proinflammatory effect of pneumolysin on macrophages. The importance of TLR recognition is underlined by descriptions of an inherited deficiency of human IL-1 receptor–associated kinase 4 (IRAK-4) that manifests as an unusual susceptibility to infection with bacteria, including S. pneumoniae. IRAK-4 is essential for the normal functioning of several TLRs. Other factors that interfere with these nonspecific mechanisms (e.g., viral infections, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, complement deficiency, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) all predispose to the development of pneumococcal pneumonia. Patients who lack a spleen or have abnormal splenic function (e.g., persons with sickle cell disease) are at high risk of developing overwhelming pneumococcal disease.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Acquired Immunity Acquired immunity induced via contact following colonization or through cross-reactive antigens rests largely on the development of serum IgG antibody specific for the pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide. Nearly all polysaccharides are T cell– independent antigens; B cells can make antibodies to such antigens without T cell help. However, in children <1–2 years old, such B cell responses are poorly developed. This delayed ontogeny of capsule-specific IgG in young children is associated with susceptibility to pneumococcal infection (Fig. 171-5). The extremely high risk of pneumococcal infection in the absence of serum immunoglobulin (i.e., in conditions such as agammaglobulinemia) highlights the important role of capsular antibody in protection against disease. Each serotype’s capsule is chemically distinct; thus immunity tends to be serotype specific, although some cross-immunity exists. For example, conjugate vaccine–induced antibodies to serotype 6B prevent


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InternalMed_Harrison. serotype’s capsule is chemically distinct; thus immunity tends to be serotype specific, although some cross-immunity exists. For example, conjugate vaccine–induced antibodies to serotype 6B prevent infection due to serotype 6A. However, cross-protection against serotypes within serogroups is not universal; for instance, antibodies to serotype 19F do not appear to confer protection against disease caused by serotype 19A. Antibodies to surface-exposed or secreted pneumococcal proteins (such as pneumolysin, PsaA, and PspA) also appear in the circulation with increasing age of the host, but their functional significance remains unclear. Data from murine models suggest that CD4+ T cells may play a role in preventing pneumococcal colonization and disease, and recent experimental data derived from humans suggest that IL-17-secreting CD4+ T cells may be relevant.


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InternalMed_Harrison. APPROACH TO THE PATIENT: There is no pathognomonic presentation of pneumococcal disease; patients may present with a range of syndromes and with more than one clinical syndrome (e.g., pneumonia and meningitis). S. pneumoniae can infect nearly any body tissue, manifesting as disease ranging in severity from mild and self-limited to life-threatening. The differential diagnosis of common clinical syndromes such as pneumonia, otitis media, fever of unknown origin, and meningitis should always include pneumococcal infection. A microbiologically confirmed diagnosis is made in only a minority of pneumococcal cases since, in most circumstances (and especially in pneumonia and otitis media), fluid from the site of infection is not available for etiologic determination. Empirical therapy that includes appropriate treatment for S. pneumoniae is often indicated.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Algorithms for assessment and management of ill children have been developed for use in the developing world or in other settings where evaluation by a trained physician may not be feasible. Children who present with ominous signs such as an inability to drink, convulsions, lethargy, and severe malnutrition are categorized as having very severe disease without further evaluation by the community health care worker, are given antibiotics, and are immediately referred to a hospital for diagnosis and management. Children who present with cough and tachypnea (the latter defined according to specific age strata) are further stratified into severity categories based on the presence or absence of lower chest wall indrawing and are managed accordingly with either antibiotics alone or antibiotics and referral to a hospital facility. Children with cough but no tachypnea are categorized as having a nonpneumonia respiratory illness.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The clinical manifestations of pneumococcal disease depend on the site of infection and the duration of illness. Clinical syndromes are classified as noninvasive (e.g., otitis media and nonbacteremic pneumonia) or invasive (e.g., bacteremic pneumonia). The pathogenesis of noninvasive illness involves contiguous spread from the nasopharynx or skin; invasive disease involves infection of a normally sterile body fluid or follows bacteremia. Pneumonia Pneumonia is the most common serious pneumococcal syndrome and is considered invasive when associated with a positive blood culture. Pneumococcal pneumonia can present as a mild community-acquired infection at one extreme and as a life-threatening disease requiring intubation and intensive support at the other.


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InternalMed_Harrison. presenting manifestations The presentation of pneumococcal pneumonia does not reliably distinguish it from pneumonia of other etiologies. In a subset of cases, pneumococcal pneumonia is recognized at the outset as associated with a viral upper respiratory infection and is characterized by the abrupt onset of cough and dyspnea accompanied by fever, shaking chills, and myalgias. The cough evolves from nonpurulent to productive of sputum that is purulent and sometimes tinged with blood. Patients may describe stabbing pleuritic chest pain and significant dyspnea indicating involvement of the parietal pleura. Among the elderly, the presenting clinical symptoms may be less specific, with confusion or malaise but without fever or cough. In such cases, a high index of suspicion is required because failure to treat pneumococcal pneumonia promptly in an elderly patient is likely to result in rapid evolution of the infection, with increased severity, morbidity, and risk of death.


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InternalMed_Harrison. findings on pHysical examination The clinical signs associated with pneumococcal pneumonia among adults include tachypnea (>30 breaths/min) and tachycardia, hypotension in severe cases, and fever in most cases (although not in all elderly patients). Respiratory signs are varied, including dullness to percussion in areas of the chest with significant consolidation, crackles on auscultation, reduced expansion of the chest in some cases as a result of splinting to reduce pain, bronchial breathing in a minority of cases, pleural rub in occasional cases, and cyanosis in cases with significant hypoxemia. Among infants with severe pneumonia, chest wall indrawing and nasal flaring are common. Nonrespiratory findings can include upper abdominal pain if the diaphragmatic pleura is involved as well as mental status changes, particularly confusion in elderly patients.


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InternalMed_Harrison. differential diagnosis The differential diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia includes cardiac conditions such as myocardial infarction and heart failure with atypical pulmonary edema; pulmonary conditions such as atelectasis; and pneumonia caused by viral pathogens, mycoplasmas, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella, or (in HIV-infected and otherwise immunocompromised hosts) Pneumocystis. In cases with abdominal symptoms, the differential diagnosis includes cholecystitis, appendicitis, perforated peptic ulcer disease, and subphrenic abscesses. The challenge in cases with abdominal symptoms is to remember to include pneumococcal pneumonia—a nonabdominal process—in the differential diagnosis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. diagnosis Some authorities advocate treating uncomplicated, non-severe, community-acquired pneumonia without determining the microbiologic etiology, given that this information is unlikely to alter clinical management. However, efforts to identify the cause of pneumonia are important when the disease is more severe and when the diagnosis of pneumonia is not clearly established. The gold standard for etiologic diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia is pathologic examination of lung tissue. In lieu of that procedure, evidence of an infiltrate on chest radiography warrants a diagnosis of pneumonia. However, cases of pneumonia without radiographic evidence do occur. An infiltrate can be absent either early in the course of the illness or with dehydration; upon rehydration, an infiltrate usually appears. The radiographic appearance of pneumococcal pneumonia is varied; it classically consists of lobar or segmental consolidation (Fig. 171-6) but in some cases is patchy. More than one lobe is


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InternalMed_Harrison. appears. The radiographic appearance of pneumococcal pneumonia is varied; it classically consists of lobar or segmental consolidation (Fig. 171-6) but in some cases is patchy. More than one lobe is involved in ~30% of cases. Consolidation may be associated with a small pleural effusion


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InternalMed_Harrison. FIGURE 171-6 Chest radiograph depicting classic lobar pneumococcal pneumonia in the right lower lobe of an elderly patient’s lung. or empyema in complicated cases. In children, “round pneumonia,” 951 a distinctly spherical consolidation on chest radiography, is associated with a pneumococcal etiology. Round pneumonia is uncommon in adults. S. pneumoniae is not the only cause of such lesions; other causes, especially cancer, should be considered.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Blood drawn from patients with suspected pneumococcal pneumonia can be used for supportive or definitive diagnostic tests. Blood cultures are positive for pneumococci in a minority (<30%) of cases of pneumococcal pneumonia. Nonspecific findings include an elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count (>15,000/μL in most cases and upward of 40,000/μL in some), leukopenia in <10% of cases (a poor prognostic sign associated with a fatal outcome), and elevated values in liver function tests (e.g., both conjugated and unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia). Anemia, low serum albumin levels, hyponatremia, and elevated serum creatinine levels are all found in ~20–30% of patients.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Urinary pneumococcal antigen assays have facilitated etiologic diagnosis. In adults, among whom the prevalence of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization is relatively low, a positive pneumococcal urinary antigen test has a high predictive value. The same is not true for children, in whom a positive urinary antigen test can reflect the mere presence of S. pneumoniae in the nasopharynx. Most cases of pneumococcal pneumonia are diagnosed by Gram’s staining and culture of sputum. The utility of a sputum specimen is directly related to its quality and the patient’s antibiotic treatment status.


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InternalMed_Harrison. complications Empyema is the most common focal complication of pneumococcal pneumonia, occurring in <5% of cases. When fluid in the pleural space is accompanied by fever and leukocytosis (even low-grade) after 4–5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment for pneumococcal pneumonia, empyema should be considered. Parapneumonic effusions are more common than empyema, representing a self-limited inflammatory response to pneumonia. Pleural fluid with frank pus, bacteria (detected by microscopic examination), or a pH of ≤7.1 indicates empyema and demands aggressive and complete drainage, usually through chest tube insertion. Meningitis Pneumococcal meningitis typically presents as a pyogenic condition that is clinically indistinguishable from meningitis of other bacterial etiologies. Meningitis can be the primary presenting pneumococcal syndrome or a complication of other conditions such as skull fracture, otitis media, bacteremia, or mastoiditis. Now that


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. H. influenzae type b vaccine is routinely used, S. pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the most common bacterial causes of meningitis in both adults and children. Pyogenic meningitis, including that due to S. pneumoniae, is associated clinically with findings that include severe, generalized, gradual-onset headache, fever, and nausea as well as specific CNS manifestations such as stiff neck, photophobia, seizures, and confusion. Clinical signs include a toxic appearance, altered consciousness, bradycardia, and hypertension indicative of increased intracranial pressure. A small proportion of adult patients have Kernig’s or Brudzinski’s sign or cranial nerve palsies (particularly of the third and sixth cranial nerves).


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InternalMed_Harrison. A definitive diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis rests on the examination of CSF for (1) evidence of turbidity (visual inspection); (2) elevated protein level, elevated white blood cell count, and reduced glucose concentration (quantitative measurement); and (3) specific identification of the etiologic agent (culture, Gram’s staining, antigen testing, or polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). A blood culture positive for S. pneumoniae in conjunction with clinical manifestations of meningitis also is considered confirmatory. Among adults, detection of pneumococcal antigen in urine is considered highly specific because of the low prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization in this age group.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The mortality rate for pneumococcal meningitis is ~20%. In addition, up to 50% of survivors experience acute or chronic complications, including deafness, hydrocephalus, and mental retardation in children and diffuse brain swelling, subarachnoid bleeding, hydrocephalus, cerebrovascular complications, and hearing loss in adults. Other Invasive Syndromes S. pneumoniae can cause other invasive syndromes involving virtually any body site. These syndromes include 952 primary bacteremia without other sites of infection (bacteremia without a source; occult bacteremia), osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, pericarditis, and peritonitis. The essential diagnostic approach is collection of fluid from the site of infection by sterile technique and examination by Gram’s staining, culture, and—when relevant—capsular antigen assay or PCR. Hemolytic-uremic syndrome can complicate invasive pneumococcal disease.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Noninvasive Syndromes The two major noninvasive syndromes caused by S. pneumoniae are sinusitis and otitis media; the latter is the most common pneumococcal syndrome and most often affects young children. The manifestations of otitis media include the acute onset of severe pain, fever, deafness, and tinnitus, most frequently in the setting of a recent upper respiratory tract infection. Clinical signs include a red, swollen, often bulging tympanic membrane with reduced movement on insufflation or tympanography. Redness of the tympanic membrane is not sufficient for the diagnosis of otitis media. Pneumococcal sinusitis is also a complication of upper respiratory tract infections and presents with facial pain, congestion, fever, and— in many cases—persistent nighttime cough. A definitive diagnosis is made by aspiration and culture of sinus material; however, presumptive treatment is most commonly initiated after application of a strict set of clinical diagnostic criteria.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Historically, the activity of penicillin against pneumococci made parenteral penicillin G the drug of choice for disease caused by susceptible organisms, including community-acquired pneumonia. For susceptible strains, penicillin G remains the most commonly used agent, with daily doses ranging from 50,000 U/kg for minor infections to 300,000 U/kg for meningitis. Other parenteral β-lactam drugs, such as ampicillin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and cefuroxime, can be used against penicillin-susceptible strains but offer little advantage over penicillin. Macrolides and cephalosporins are alternatives for penicillin-allergic patients. While agents such as clindamycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole exhibit some activity against pneumococci, resistance to these agents is frequently encountered in different parts of the world.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Penicillin-resistant pneumococci were first described in the mid1960s, at which point tetracyclineand macrolide-resistant strains had already been reported. Multidrug-resistant strains were first described in the 1970s, but it was during the 1990s that pneumococcal drug resistance reached pandemic proportions. The use of antibiotics selects for resistant pneumococci, and strains resistant to β-lactam agents and to multiple drugs are now found all over the world. The emergence of high rates of macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance also has been described.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The molecular basis of penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae is the alteration of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) genes by transformation and horizontal transfer of DNA from related streptococcal species. Such alteration of PBPs results in lower affinity for penicillins. Depending on the specific PBP(s) and the number of PBPs altered, the level of resistance ranges from intermediate to high. For many years, penicillin susceptibility breakpoints have been defined by MICs as follows: susceptible, ≤0.06 μg/mL; intermediate, 0.12–1.0 μg/mL; and resistant, ≥2.0 μg/mL. However, in vitro results often were not predictive of the response of a patient to treatment for pneumococcal diseases other than meningitis. New recommendations have been based on the revised penicillin G breakpoints established in 2008 by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. For IV treatment of meningitis with at least 24 million units per day in 8 divided doses, the susceptibility breakpoint remains ≤0.06


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InternalMed_Harrison. in 2008 by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. For IV treatment of meningitis with at least 24 million units per day in 8 divided doses, the susceptibility breakpoint remains ≤0.06 μg/mL, and MICs of ≥0.12 μg/mL indicate resistance. For IV treatment of nonmeningeal infections with 12 million units per day in 6 divided doses, the breakpoints are ≤2 μg/mL for susceptible organisms, 4 μg/mL for intermediate organisms, and ≥8 μg/mL for resistant organisms; a dosage of 18–24 million units per day is recommended for strains with MICs in the intermediate category. The original breakpoints remain the same for oral treatment of nonmeningeal infections with penicillin V.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Although guidelines for antibiotic therapy should be driven in part by local patterns of resistance, guidelines from national organizations in many countries (e.g., the Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society, the British Thoracic Society, and the European Respiratory Society) lay out evidence-based approaches. The following guidelines for the treatment of individual sepsis syndromes are based on those advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics and published in the 2012 Red Book. MENINGITIS LIKELY OR PROVEN TO BE DUE TO S. PNEUMONIAE


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InternalMed_Harrison. As a result of the increased prevalence of resistant pneumococci, first-line therapy for persons ≥1 month of age is a combination of vancomycin (adults, 30–60 mg/kg per day; infants and children, 60 mg/kg per day) and cefotaxime (adults, 8–12 g/d in 4–6 divided doses; children, 225–300 mg/kg per day in 1 dose or 2 divided doses) or ceftriaxone (adults, 4 g/d in 1 dose or 2 divided doses; children, 100 mg/kg per day in 1 dose or 2 divided doses). If children are hypersensitive to β-lactam agents (penicillins and cephalosporins), rifampin (adults, 600 mg/d; children, 20 mg/d in 1 dose or 2 divided doses) can be substituted for cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. A repeat lumbar puncture should be considered after 48 h if the organism is not susceptible to penicillin and information on cephalosporin sensitivity is not yet available, if the patient’s clinical condition does not improve or deteriorates, or if dexamethasone has been administered and may be compromising clinical evaluation. When


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InternalMed_Harrison. sensitivity is not yet available, if the patient’s clinical condition does not improve or deteriorates, or if dexamethasone has been administered and may be compromising clinical evaluation. When antibiotic sensitivity data become available, treatment should be modified accordingly. If the isolate is sensitive to penicillin, vancomycin can be discontinued and penicillin can replace the cephalosporin, or cefotaxime or ceftriaxone can be continued alone. If the isolate displays any resistance to penicillin but is susceptible to the cephalosporins, vancomycin can be discontinued and cefotaxime or ceftriaxone continued. If the isolate exhibits any resistance to penicillin and is not susceptible to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone, vancomycin and high-dose cefotaxime or ceftriaxone can be continued; rifampin may be added as well if the isolate is susceptible and the patient’s clinical condition is worsening, if the CSF remains positive for bacteria, or if the MIC of the cephalosporin in question


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. rifampin may be added as well if the isolate is susceptible and the patient’s clinical condition is worsening, if the CSF remains positive for bacteria, or if the MIC of the cephalosporin in question against the infecting strain is high. Some physicians advocate the use of glucocorticoids in children >6 months old, but this recommendation remains controversial and is not universally considered the standard of care. Glucocorticoids significantly reduce rates of mortality, severe hearing loss, and neurologic sequelae in adults and should be administered to those with community-acquired bacterial meningitis. If dexamethasone is given to either adults or children, it should be administered before or in conjunction with the first antibiotic dose.


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InternalMed_Harrison. In previously well children with noncritical illness, therapy with a recommended antibiotic should be instigated at the following dosages: penicillin G, 250,000–400,000 units/kg per day (in divided doses 4–6 h apart); cefotaxime, 75–100 mg/d (doses 8 h apart); or ceftriaxone, 50–75 mg/d (doses 12–24 h apart). For critically ill children, including those who have myocarditis or multilobular pneumonia with hypoxia or hypotension, vancomycin may be added if the isolate may possibly be resistant to β-lactam drugs, with its use reviewed once susceptibility data become available. If the organism is resistant to β-lactam agents, therapy should be modified on the basis of clinical response and susceptibility to other antibiotics. Clindamycin or vancomycin can be used as a first-line agent for children with severe β-lactam hypersensitivity, but vancomycin should not be continued if the organism is shown to be sensitive to other non-β-lactam antibiotics.


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InternalMed_Harrison. For outpatient management, amoxicillin (1 g every 8 h) provides effective treatment for virtually all cases of pneumococcal pneumonia. Neither cephalosporins nor quinolones, which are far more expensive, offer any advantage over amoxicillin. Levofloxacin (500–750 mg/d as a single dose) and moxifloxacin (400 mg/d as a single dose) also are highly likely to be effective in the United States except in patients who come from closed populations where these drugs are used widely or who have themselves been treated recently with a quinolone. Clindamycin (600–1200 mg/d every 6 h) is effective in 90% of cases and azithromycin (500 mg on day 1 followed by 250–500 mg/d) or clarithromycin (500–750 mg/d as a single dose) in 80% of cases. Treatment failure resulting in bacteremic disease due to macrolide-resistant isolates has been amply documented in patients given azithromycin empirically. As noted above, rates of resistance to all these antibiotics are relatively low in some countries and much


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InternalMed_Harrison. isolates has been amply documented in patients given azithromycin empirically. As noted above, rates of resistance to all these antibiotics are relatively low in some countries and much higher in others; high-dose amoxicillin remains the best option worldwide.