Respiratory infections lower, treatment

The fluoroquinolones are used in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. The fluoroquinolones are effective in the treatment of infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. They are primarily used in the treatment of susceptible microorganisms in lower respiratory infections, infections of the skin, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. Ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin are available in ophthalmic forms for infections in the eyes. 

Cefoxitin Cefotetan Mefoxin Cefotan IV, IM Perioperative prophylaxis in abdominal surgery, treatment of intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections, gynecological infections, septicemia, bone and joint infections, skin infections, lower respiratory infections... 

Ribavirin inhibits (he replication of a very wide variety of RNA and DNA viruses, including orthomyxoviruses, paramyxoviruses, arenaviruses, bunyavirusc,s, herpesviruses, adenoviruses, poxvirus, vaccinia, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus. In spite of the broad spectrum of activity of ribavirin, the drug has been approved for only one therapeutic indication—(he treatment of severe lower respiratory infections caused by RSV in carefully selected hospitalized infants and young children. 

Predy and colleagues evaluated the ability of ginseng to prevent upper respiratory infections in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (55). Administration of ginseng for 4 months resulted in a reduction in both the mean number of colds experienced, the number of individuals experiencing two or more colds, and the total number of days of cold symptoms. Similarly, McElhaney et al. studied the ability of ginseng to prevent acute respiratory illness in institutionalized older adults (56). The incidence of confirmed influenza cases was lower in the ginseng-treated group as compared to placebo treatment. 

Most of the studies are retrospective, and potentially one of the largest problems with the retrospective studies is the concept of self-selection. Children who wheeze with lower respiratory infections in early childhood may be more likely to receive antibiotics. Thus it is not necessarily the antibiotic treatment that leads to asthma, but may merely be a marker for children who are more likely to wheeze in the first place. 

Imipenem-cilastatin is effective for a wide variety of infections, including urinary tract and lower respiratory infections intra-abdominal and gynecological infections and skin, soft tissue, bone, and joint infections. The drug combination appears to be especially useful for the treatment of infections caused by cephalosporin-resistant nosocomial bacteria, such as Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter spp. It would be prudent to use imipenem for empirical treatment of serious infections in hospitalized patients who have recently received other P-lactam antibiotics because of the increased risk of infection with cephalosporin- and/or penicillin-resistant bacteria. Imipenem should not be used as monotherapy for infections owing to P. aeruginosa because of the risk of resistance developing during therapy. 

TICARCILLIN/CLAVULANATE POTASSIUM (Timentin powder for injection 3 g ticarcillin (as disodium) and 0.1 g clavulanic acid (as potassium) (contains 4.75 mEq sodium and 0.15 mEq potassium/g), injection solution 3 g ticarcillin (as disodium) and 0.1 g clavulanic acid (as potassium) per 100 mL (contains 18.7 mEq sodium and 0.5 mEq potassium per 100 mL)) Ticarcillin/clavulanate potassium is an extended-spectrum penicillin. Ticarcillin inhibits bacterial cell wall mucopep-tide synthesis. Clavulanate lactamase enzymes are commonly found in microorganisms resistant to ticarcillin. They are indicated in the treatment of bacterial septicemia, skin and skin structure infections, lower respiratory tract infections, bone and joint infections, GU and gynecologic infections, and intra-abdominal infections caused by susceptible strains of bacteria. 

Biermann, C., Loken, A., and Riise, R. (1988). Comparison of spiramycin and doxycycline in the treatment of lower respiratory infections in general practice. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 22, 155-158. 

Sulfadimidine is indicated for the treatment of upper and lower respiratory infections, urinary tract and genital tract infections. It is formulated as the sodium salt for parenteral administration. Sulfadiazine is indicated for the... 

The mode of action of metronidazole (Flagyl) is not well understood, but it is thought to disrupt DNA and protein syndiesis in susceptible organisms. This drug may be used in the treatment of serious infections, such as intraabdominal, bone, soft tissue, lower respiratory, gynecologic, and CNS infections caused by susceptible anaerobic (able to live without oxygen) microorganisms. 

Duration The usual duration of therapy is 7 to 10 days however, infections of the bone and joints, lower respiratory tract, and endocardium may require longer treatment. 

Severe lower respiratory tract infections - Treatment of hospitalized infants and young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

Palivizumab is used to prevent serious lower respiratory tract infection due to RSV. It is used only in high-risk children who are younger than 24 months of age and have bronchopulmonary dysplasia or chronic lung disease that required treatment in the previous 6 months. It is also indicated for premature infants (less than 32 weeks gestation) until the age of 6 to 12 months. Palivizumab can reduce the incidence of RSV-related hospitalization by approximately half. The safety and efficacy of palivizumab in the treatment of RSV disease have not been established. 

It is indicated in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection e.g. bronchitis and pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infections e.g. pharyngitis and sinusitis, infections due to chlamydia, legionella and mycoplasma, skin and soft tissue infections and eradication of H. pylori with acid suppressants. 

Levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and moxifloxacin, so-called respiratory fluoroquinolones, with their enhanced gram-positive activity and activity against atypical pneumonia agents (eg, chlamydia, mycoplasma, and legionella), are effective and used increasingly for treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. 

Ciprofloxacin is approved for use in the treatment of bone and joint infections, infectious diarrhea caused by Shigella or Campylobacter, lower respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It is the drug of choice for the treatment of infections caused by Campylobacter jejuni. In addition, it has found off-label use as an alternative drug for the treatment of gonorrhea, salmonella, and yersinia... 

Ofloxacin Like norfloxacin, ofloxacin [oh FLOX a sin] is primarily used in the treatment of prostatitis due to E. coH and of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with the exception of syphilis. It may be used as alternative therapy in patients with gonorrhea. It has some benefit in the treatment of skin and lower respiratory tract infections. 

Clarithromycin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate upper and lower respiratory tract infections as well as skin infections caused by susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, H. influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The usual dosage is 250 to 500 mg twice a day for 7 to 14 days. 

Joshi M, Bernstein J, Solomkin J, Wester BA, Kuye O. Piperacillin/tazobactam plus tobramycin versus ceftazidime plus tobramycin for the treatment of patients with nosocomial lower respiratory tract infection. Piperacillin/ Tazobactam Nosocomial Pneumonia Study Group. J Antimicrob Chemother 1999 43(3) 389-97. 

Ball P, File TM, Twynholm M, Henkel T. Efficacy and safety of gemifloxacin 320 mg once-daily for 7 days in the treatment of adult lower respiratory tract infections. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2001 18(l) 19-27. 

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