A study on the management of acute respiratory tract infection in adults.

Antimicrobials are commonly used to treat acute respiratory tract infection in adults. Furthermore, their overuse has raised concern. We conducted a field survey study that included 170 medical institutions from January 2008 to June 2010. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the rate of antimicrobial use and patient outcomes with each indication. The study included 1753 patients diagnosed with acute respiratory tract infection. Antimicrobials were used for treatment of 1420 of these patients, whereas 333 cases were not treated with antimicrobials. After 3 days of treatment, patients administered antimicrobials experienced a higher improvement rate than those who did not receive antimicrobial treatment (92.2% vs. 83.3%, p < 0.0001). However, after 7 days of treatment, the rates of improvement for patients in both groups were similar (95.0% and 93.4%, respectively, p = 0.2391). In addition, according to the criteria for the usage of antimicrobials described in the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines for the management of respiratory tract infection in adults, the patients were classified into the 3 categories (6 indication factors for antimicrobial use): Grade 1, ≤ 2 factors; Grade 2, 3-4 factors; Grade 3, 5-6 factors). The indication factors considered were the following: 1) temperature; 2) purulent sputum or nasal discharge; 3) tonsillar enlargement and tonsillolith/white puss; 4) middle otitis/sinusitis; 5) inflammatory reaction; and 6) high-risk patients. The results indicate that the improvement observed after 3 days of treatment in Grade 2 and Grade 3 patients was significantly higher with antimicrobial treatment than without antimicrobial treatment. In conclusion, the administration of antimicrobials is not recommended in younger patients with no underlying disease. However, the use of antimicrobials is required in patients with a higher relative risk that corresponds to the presence of ≥ 3 of the 6 indication factors for antimicrobial use.

Both bronchial and vascular stenting followed by chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Airway and vascular constrictions are expected problems for lung cancer patients. The clinical course of a patient in whom stents were inserted in 3 constriction regions is reported. A 72-year-old man with advanced primary lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma stage IIIB) developed suffocating constriction of the trachea and showed superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Self-expandable metal stents were inserted into the trachea, SVC and left subclavian vein and the patient was treated by radiotherapy and weekly irinotecan. Within 5 months of treatment, complete local control was achieved and there was no reconstriction. Both endobronchial and endovascular stenting prior to antitumor therapy may be beneficial in the treatment of locally advanced cases of lung cancer.

Clinical evaluation methods for new antimicrobial agents to treat respiratory infections: Report of the Committee for the Respiratory System, Japan Society of Chemotherapy.

The present report constitutes an attempt to improve and modify the existing clinical evaluation method for new antimicrobial agents to treat respiratory infections. One year ago, a general guideline on the clinical evaluation of antimicrobial agents to treat respiratory infections was drafted in Japanese, leaving scope for critical discussion, and this has been translated into English, as there were no major changes. In this report, respiratory infections have been discussed under the headings "acute respiratory tract infection" and pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic pulmonary diseases. Standardized criteria were set for the assessment of severity of infection and effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent in question. Severity was evaluated on the basis of a combined assessment of the severity of infection and severity of the clinical condition of the patients. Clinical effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent used was evaluated on the basis of clinical outcome as well as microbiological outcome of the trial. Body temperature, local pain, cough, change in sputum quality, peripheral white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level, and chest radiograph were used as the parameters for the evaluation. To maintain the quality of specimens to be examined, Geckler's classification of specimens was used. This report was constructed based on the analysis of large amounts of material collected over the years, incorporating internal and external factors concerning the present evaluation methods. The newly suggested standardized criteria for clinical evaluation of the new antimicrobial drugs are expected to be practiced properly hereupon and subjected to further improvement if necessary.