Volume 7, Number 28;  March 8, 2007 - Anaerobic Lung Infection

 

Clinical Question: 

1) How is anaerobic pneumonia or pulmonary infection diagnosed and what organisms are commonly implicated?

Patient:

Session Handout:

 

Readings:

 

 

<3>

Unique Identifier [PMID]: 11979131

Authors: Levison ME.

Institution: Division of Infectious Diseases, MCP/Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA. ML46@drexel.edu

Title: Anaerobic pleuropulmonary infection. [Review] [29 refs]

 

Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 14(2):187-91, 2001 Apr.

Abstract: Obligate anaerobes are the predominant constituents of normal oropharyngeal flora and produce pleuropulmonary infection in patients who are prone to aspirate. Obtaining material from these patients for culture from the site of infection that is uncontaminated by normal flora is problematic. In-vitro cultivation of obligate anaerobes requires rigorous anaerobic techniques and susceptibility testing of obligate anaerobes is not standardized in many clinical microbiology laboratories. Few clinical trials of drugs have been done in patients with laboratory documented or putative anaerobic pulmonary infection. For these reasons the diagnosis and therapy of anaerobic pulmonary infection are frequently empirical and guided by published studies of in-vitro activity against collected clinical isolates. Several new drugs that have in-vitro activity against obligate anaerobes have recently become available for empirical treatment of pneumonia. [References: 29]

Publication Type: Journal Article. Review.
 

  

<7>

Unique Identifier [PMID]: 8324128

Authors: Marina M. Strong CA. Civen R. Molitoris E. Finegold SM.

Institution: Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center West Los Angeles, California 90073.

Title: Bacteriology of anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections: preliminary report.

 

Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases. 16 Suppl 4:S256-62, 1993 Jun.

Abstract: A retrospective bacteriologic study of anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections diagnosed at the Wadsworth Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 1976 and 1991 was performed. There were 116 specimens from 110 patients. Available strains were reexamined using the latest tests and taxonomic schemes. Pleural fluid was believed to provide the most reliable specimen; cultures yielded an average of 3.0 anaerobes and 0.6 nonanaerobes per specimen. The most commonly encountered anaerobes were pigmented Prevotella species, nonpigmented Prevotella species, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus species, and Bacteroides species. Thirty percent of the anaerobic gram-negative rods were beta-lactamase producers.

Publication Type: Journal Article.
 

 

<8>

Unique Identifier [PMID]: 8324127

Authors: Bartlett JG.

Institution: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Title: Anaerobic bacterial infections of the lung and pleural space. [Review] [74 refs]

 

Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases. 16 Suppl 4:S248-55, 1993 Jun.

Abstract: In 193 reviewed cases of pleuropulmonary infections involving anaerobic bacteria, the predominant clinical syndromes were aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, and empyema. Most patients had an indolent infection with tissue necrosis (abscess or bronchopulmonary fistula) at initial presentation. Nevertheless, many had a more fulminant disease course resembling that of pneumococcal pneumonia. Transtracheal aspiration was the procedure most commonly used to obtain uncontaminated specimens for anaerobic culture; since this procedure now is seldom employed, pulmonary infections due to anaerobes rarely have an etiologic diagnosis at present. The dominant pathogens are Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium species. Although clindamycin is widely considered to be the antibiotic of choice, proper therapeutic trials would probably prove many antibiotics to be effective for the treatment of anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections. [References: 74]

Publication Type: Journal Article. Review.
 

 

 

<11>

Unique Identifier [PMID]: 1955694

Authors: Hill MK. Sanders CV.

Institution: Division of Infectious Disease, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.

Title: Anaerobic disease of the lung. [Review] [86 refs]

 

Source: Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 5(3):453-66, 1991 Sep.

Abstract: Anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections present in various ways. Aspiration pneumonitis occurs first and may be quite difficult to distinguish from the acute bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and other organisms. Although aspiration pneumonitis may be self-limiting, sequelae such as lung abscess, necrotizing pneumonia, and empyema can develop. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is now acceptable. The initial choice of antimicrobial agents is based on which pathogens are likely to be involved. [References: 86]

Publication Type: Journal Article. Review.
 

 

<18>

Unique Identifier [PMID]: 3556058

Authors: Bartlett JG.

Title: Anaerobic bacterial infections of the lung. [Review] [60 refs]

 

Source: Chest. 91(6):901-9, 1987 Jun.

Publication Type: Journal Article. Review.
 

 

  

 

Resident Report / Department of Medicine & Grady Branch Library

Emory University School of Medicine

2006 Edition

Participating Faculty:  Carlos Del Rio MD  / Joyce Doyle MD / Lorenzo Difrancesco MD / Joel Mermis MD / Maunank Shah MD

Contact: Karl Woodworth 

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