ABSTRACT
Pneumonia is a very frequent and potentially fatal disease. It can be classified into 3 different entities, community-acquired (CAP), hospital-acquired (HAP) and pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients. The CAP and HAP are primarily eligible for antibiotic stewardship (ABS) interventions, strategies to enhance the rational use of antibiotic agents. In patients hospitalized with pneumonia, microbiological testing is strongly recommended before starting antibiotic treatment. A risk stratification of patients and grading of the severity of pneumonia is crucial for the calculated choice of antibiotics and the mode of administration. In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) without septic shock, bacterial superinfections are rare and usually do not require empirical antibiotic treatment. After 48–72 h the antibiotic treatment strategy needs to be re-evaluated and a targeted de-escalated treatment should be implemented taking the clinical status and microbiology into consideration. Stopping calculated treatment in cases of misdiagnosis and limiting the duration of antibiotic treatment are essential ABS strategies to optimize the clinical outcome in patients with CAP and HAP and to keep the development of antibiotic resistance and drug toxicity as low as possible. In certain situations, the use of a biomarkers for bacterial infections, e.g. procalcitonin, can support the early discontinuation of antibiotics or the diagnosis of bacterial superinfections in COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Die Pneumonie ist eine sehr häufige und potenziell tödliche Erkrankung. Es werden 3 Entitäten (ambulant erworbenen = CAP, nosokomial erworben = HAP und Pneumonie unter Immunsuppression) unterschieden von denen insbesondere die CAP und die HAP für die Umsetzung von Antibiotic Stewardship(ABS)-Strategien, den rationalen Umgang mit Antibiotika, gut geeignet sind. Die Durchführung einer mikrobiologischen Diagnostik vor Start einer Antibiotikatherapie bei Pneumonie, die stationär behandelt werden muss, wird stark empfohlen. Eine Risikostratifizierung der Patienten und der Schweregrad der Erkrankung sind entscheidend für die kalkulierte Antibiotikaauswahl und die Applikationsform. Bei COVID-19-Patienten ohne septischen Schock kann aufgrund der niedrigen Rate von bakteriellen Superinfektionen auf eine empirische Antibiotikatherapie verzichtet werden. Eine Reevaluation der Antibiotikatherapie nach 48–72 h mit gezielter Deeskalation unter Beachtung der Klinik und Mikrobiologie, Absetzen bei Fehlindikation und die Begrenzung der Therapiedauer sind essenzielle ABS-Strategien zur Optimierung des klinischen Outcomes bei CAP und HAP mit dem Ziel, die Antibiotikaresistenzentwicklung sowie die Toxizität für den Patienten möglichst gering zu halten. Der Einsatz von Biomarkern wie Procalcitonin kann in bestimmten Situationen ein frühzeitiges Absetzen der Therapie begünstigen oder die Diagnose einer bakteriellen Superinfektion bei COVID-19 unterstützen.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In Germany, the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was registered on 28 January 2020. By February 2021, the third wave of the pandemic began. So far, only few data are available on the SARS-CoV-2 prevalence and the clinical impact of an infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHODS: From February 2020 until March 2021, we screened 156 CF patients for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (serology) and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in deep throat saliva or nasopharyngeal swabs (molecular testing). From patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, we recorded symptoms and collected clinical data. RESULTS: In total, 13 patients (8.3%) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, most of them during the second and the beginning third wave of the pandemic. Ten positive tested patients described symptoms linked to COVID-19. The most common symptom was cough followed by fatigue and headache. SARS-CoV-2 infection did not impair lung function. No positive tested patient needed to be hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with CF are not as rare as initially anticipated, as frequent testing revealed. However, infected patients did not experience more severe clinical courses or worse clinical outcome. Our observation is in line with published reports indicating that individuals with CF are not at higher risk for severe COVID-19.