Rifampicin-moxifloxacin interaction in tuberculosis treatment: a real-life study.

SETTING: Rifampicin (RMP) has been reported to reduce moxifloxacin (MFX) levels, which may interfere with the effectiveness of MFX in treating tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To study the MFX-RMP interaction in patients receiving MFX with or without RMP as part of their anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen. DESIGN: Patients with pulmonary TB followed up by the Tuberculosis Out-patient Clinic of the Pulmonary Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, who underwent treatment with MFX during the periods 1 May 2012-30 April 2014 and 1 January-31 March 2015, were included in the study. MFX levels were compared between 12 patients who were receiving RMP (Group 1) and 10 who were not (Group 2). RESULTS: The participants did not significantly differ in body mass index, days of MFX treatment or MFX dose/kg. Neither the peak concentration (Cmax) nor the 24 h area under the curve (AUC24) differed significantly between the two groups (Group 1, Cmax median 3.9 [range 1.9-4.5] mg/l; AUC24 29.1 [10-47.4] mg·h/l and Group 2, Cmax 4.1 [2-6.4] mg/l; AUC24 36.5 [14.6-54.2] mg·h/l). CONCLUSION: Although a decrease in MFX exposure was observed in the RMP-treated group, the effect was lower than previously reported in a real-life setting. The large variability observed in MFX pharmacokinetics in both groups may suggest the need for dose readjustment in some patients, regardless of RMP co-administration.

Implementation of a procalcitonin-guided algorithm for antibiotic therapy in the burn intensive care unit.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that an algorithm based on serial measurements of procalcitonin (PCT) allows reduction in the duration of antibiotic therapy compared with empirical rules, and does not result in more adverse outcomes in burn patients with infectious complications. All burn patients requiring antibiotic therapy based on confirmed or highly suspected bacterial infections were eligible. Patients were assigned to either a procalcitonin-guided (study group) or a standard (control group) antibiotic regimen. The following variables were analyzed and compared in both groups: duration of antibiotic treatment, mortality rate, percentage of patients with relapse or superinfection, maximum SOFA score (days 1-28), length of ICU and hospital stay. A total of 46 Burn ICU patients receiving antibiotic therapy were enrolled in this study. In 24 patients antibiotic therapy was guided by daily procalcitonin and clinical assessment. PCT guidance resulted in a smaller antibiotic exposure (10.1±4 vs. 15.3±8 days, p=0.034) without negative effects on clinical outcome characteristics such as mortality rate, percentage of patients with relapse or superinfection, maximum SOFA score, length of ICU and hospital stay. The findings thus show that use of a procalcitonin-guided algorithm for antibiotic therapy in the burn intensive care unit may contribute to the reduction of antibiotic exposure without compromising clinical outcome parameters.

Le but de cette étude était d'examiner si un algorithme basé sur des mesures de la procalcitonine (PCT) peut permettre la réduction de la durée de l'antibiothérapie, sans être dangereuse, chez les patients brûlés infectés. Tous les patients brûlés nécessitant une antibiothérapie en raison d'une infection bactérienne très probable ou confirmée étaient éligibles. Les patients ont été divisés en deux groupes: groupe à l'étude (durée de traitement guidé par PCT), et groupe de contrôle (durée selon les préconisations actuelles). Les variables suivantes ont été analysées et comparées: durée de traitement, mortalité, le pourcentage de patients avec une surinfection ou une rechute, score SOFA maximum entre J1 et J28, durées de séjour en soins intensifs et à l'hôpital. Un total de 46 patients, hospitalisés en soins intensifs et recevant une antibiothérapie ont été inclus dans cette étude, dont 24 dans le groupe PCT. Ces patients ont reçu une exposition aux antibiotiques inférieure (10,1 ± 4 vs 15,3 ± 8 jours, p = 0,034), sans effets négatifs sur le taux de mortalité et la durée du séjour à l'hôpital. Les résultats montrent que cette méthode peut contribuer à la réduction de l'utilisation des antibiotiques chez les brûlés en soins intensifs, sans compromettre leur avenir.

Sildenafil may facilitate weaning in mechanically ventilated COPD patients: a report of three cases.

We report three cases of mechanically ventilated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who were intubated due to an exacerbation of their disease and who presented with repeated spontaneous breathing trial failures. Patients were given 50 mg of sildenafil through the nasogastric tube, under close monitoring of haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. After sildenafil, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, the respiratory frequency to tidal volume ratio and the P(a)CO2-P(ET)CO2 (arterial minus end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure) decreased. Cardiac output increased in two of the patients, while all of them were successfully extubated. This is the first report of successful extubation after sildenafil use.