Community-acquired Pneumonia Flashcards
Where does pneumonia occur?
Lower respiratory tract infection of lung parenchyma
Proliferation of microbial pathogens in the alveolar level
What is the most common type of pneumonia?
Bacterial
Less common: viral, fungal
How does pneumonia enter the lower respiratory tract?
- Aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions
- Inhalation of aerosols: aerosolized droplets
- Hematogenous spreading: bacteremia from extra-pulmonary source
What are signs and symptoms of pneumonia?
- Respiratory: cough, chest pain, SOB, hypoxia
- Systemic: fever >38C, chills, tachypnea RR >24bpm, tachycardia HR >90bpm, hypotension SBP <100
- Lab: leukocytosis - elevated WBC
- Elderly: fatigue, anorexia, nausea, changes in mental status
How might you detect pneumonia in a physical examination?
- Diminished breath sounds
2. Inspiratory crackles during lung expansion
Radiographic findings that assist in diagnosing pneumonia
Look for infiltrates or dense consolidations
- Chest x-ray (CXR): more common bc cheaper and more available
- CT scan: reserved for immunocompromised people or not responding to normal therapy
What kind of culture should be used to diagnose pneumonia?
- Sputum: low yield due to frequent contamination from oropharyngeal secretions
- Quality: >10 neutrophils and <25 epithelial cells per LPF - Lower respiratory tract: preferred but invasive (bronchoalveolar lavage BAL)
- Use only if pt is not responding or they’re very ill in ICU bc sedation is required - Blood culture: rule out bacteremia bc it crosses over easily
What kind of diagnostic tests are not routinely used for diagnosis?
- Laboratory findings (CRP, procalcitonin): non-specific
- Urinary antigen tests: indicate exposure but remain positive for days to weeks despite abx tx
- for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophilia (serogroup 1 only)
When is the onset of CAP and nosocomial pneumonia?
CAP: <48h post-admission
HAP/NAP: >48h post-admission or post-mechanical ventilation
What are the risk factors for CAP?
- Age >65y/o
- Previous hospitalization for CAP
- Smoking
- Underlying conditions: COPD, DM, HF, cancer, immunosuppression
How can we prevent CAP?
- Smoking cessation
- Prevent postviral infections: immunization
- pneumococcal: PCV10/13 or PPSV23
- influenza
Why is Burkholderia pseudomallei a concern?
Gram-negative bacilli that causes melioidosis: group of infections including severe pneumonia
Prevalence in SG is 3rd highest in the world
What are the criteria for risk stratification?
- Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI): 20 variables, 5 mortality risk classes
- CURB-65 Score: more common in clinical, only 5 variables & 3 mortality risk classes
- IDSA-ATS criteria for severe CAP: >1 major or >3 minor criteria
What are the major criteria under IDSA/ATS criteria?
- Mechanical ventilation
2. Septic shock requiring vasoactive medications: to support BP in hypotension
What are the minor criteria under IDSA/ATS criteria?
- RR >30bpm
- PaO2/FiO2 <250 (measure hypoxia)
- Multilobar infiltrates
- Confusion/disorientation
- Uremia (urea >7 mmol/L)
- Leukopenia (WBC <4 x 10^9/L)
- Hypothermia (temp <36C)
- Hypotension req aggressive fluid resuscitation
What is the treatment duration for pneumonia?
At least 5 days with clinical stability (usually within 48-72h)
- Afebrile, maintain oral intake
- Normal vitals, O2 saturation and mental status
Exception:
- MRSA or Pseudomonas: 7 days
- Burkholderia pseudomallei: 3-6 months
Standard regimen for healthy outpatient
- PO Amoxicillin 1g TDS OR
- PO Levofloxacin 750 OD/moxifloxacin
- restrict to penicillin allergies
Who is the population that is not considered generally healthy outpatient?
- Chronic disease: heart, lung, liver, renal
- Diabetes mellitus
- Malignancies
- Alcoholism
- Asplenia
Why is ciprofloxacin not used?
Poor activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae
Why do we reserve respiratory fluoroquinolones for patients with penicillin allergy?
- Increased adverse effects (e.g. tendonitis, tendon rupture, neuropathy, QTc prolongation, CNS disturbances, hypoglycemia)
- Collateral damage/resistance with overuse
- Preserve Gram-negative activity: levo/cipro only PO options for Pseudomonas
- Delay TB diagnosis due to partial treatment
Standard regimen for outpatients who have other conditions
- PO Amoxicillin/clavulanate 625mg TDS or 2g BD OR PO cefuroxime 500mg BD (coverage for B-lactamase producing H. influenzae)
w/ PO clarithromycin 500mg BD/azithromycin 500mg OD or PO doxycycline 100mg BD (atypical coverage) - PO levofloxacin 750mg OD/moxifloxacin
Why is erythromycin not used?
It is an older macrolide that causes more GIT side effects
Standard regimen for non-severe inpatient
- IV Amoxicillin/clavulanate 1.2g q8h or IV ceftriaxone 1-2g q24h
+ PO clarithromycin 500mg BD/azithromycin 500mg OD or PO doxycycline 100mg BD - IV levofloxacin 750mg q24h/moxifloxacin
Why is IV ceftriaxone preferred over IV cefuroxime?
Ceftriaxone has more experience and clinical data for inpatient CAP treatment than cefuroxime
What are the organisms to cover for outpatient and non-severe inpatient pneumonia?
Streptococcus pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae Atypicals (Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae) - not needed for healthy outpatient - Legionella pneumophilia for inpatient
Organisms to cover for severe inpatient pneumonia
Streptococcus pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae Atypicals Gram-negative bacilli (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Burkholderia pseudomallei) Staphylococcus aureus
Standard regimen for severe inpatient pneumonia
- IV Amoxicillin/clavulanate 1.2g q8h + IV ceftazidime 2g q8h
+ PO/IV clarithromycin 500mg BD/q12h/azithromycin 500mg OD/q24h OR PO/IV doxycycline 100mg BD - IV levofloxacin 750mg q8h/moxifloxacin + IV ceftazidime 2g q8h
Should we give ceftazidime if inpatient w/ severe pneumonia has a penicillin allergy?
depends on severity of allergy
- If can tolerate 3rd gen cephalosporin (low chance of cross-reactivity) then add ceftazidime
- Omit if reaction is severe e.g. anaphylaxis, and give only respiratory fluoroquinolone
- Monitor closely and use cultures to direct antibiotics therapy
What are the indications for anaerobic coverage?
Either lung abscess (pus collection) OR empyema (pus/abscess in pleural space)
What are the likely anaerobes in pneumonia?
Oropharyngeal space anaerobes: Bacteroides fragilis, Prevotella spp., Porphyromonas spp., Fusobacterium spp.
Drugs for anaerobic coverage
Add IV/PO clindamycin or metronidazole
Not required if regimen contains amoxicillin/clavulanate or moxifloxacin
What are the indications for MRSA coverage and Pseudomonas coverage?
- Prior respiratory isolation in last 1 year
- Severe CAP only: hospitalization and IV antibiotics treatment in the past 90 days (+ locally validated risk factors)
- 2nd point does not apply for Pseudomonas bc ceftazidime also covers Pseudomonas for severe CAP
MRSA Coverage
IV vancomycin OR
IV/PO linezolid
Do not use daptomycin as it is inactivated in the lung surfactant
How to modify regimen for Pseudomonal coverage?
Change to anti-pseudomonal B-lactam: IV piperacillin/tazobactam, IV ceftazidime, IV cefepime, IV meropenem
Choose IV/PO levofloxacin over moxifloxacin
Monitoring for efficacy of therapy
- Clinical improvement in 48-72h: decrease in signs and symptoms
- Elderly or multiple comorbidities may take longer - Do not escalate abx in 1st 72h unless culture-directed or significant clinical deterioration
- Repeat radiological tests only for clinical deterioration to look for missed complications
- Radiological improvement lags behind clinical, takes 4-6weeks for resolution
Monitoring for safety of therapy
- Adverse effects of abx (side effects and allergy)
2. Renal function for dose adjustment
When should we step down from IV to PO abx?
- hemodynamically stable
- clinically improved/improving
- afebrile >24h
- normally functioning GIT
- can ingest PO medications
Benefits of PO step-down therapy
- pt comfort and mobility
- less phlebitis & risk of nosocomial bacteremia
- less preparation and administration time
- less costs
- facilitates discharge
How to step down to PO therapy if there are no positive cultures?
Use same abx or abx from the same class
- B-lactams: change to PO amox/clav or PO cefuroxime
MRSA/Pseudomonas: stop empiric therapy in 48h if no culture + patient is improving
Burkholderia: if no culture just remove ceftazidime