title: New therapeutic approaches to hospital-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: Conventional therapy of hospital-acquired pneumonia includes intravenous antibiotics and supportive care. In many cases, the etiologic agent of infection is not clear; thus, empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens are commonly used. Combinations of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside agents are particularly popular regimens due to the high incidence of gram-negative bacillary and Staphylococcus aureus pneumonias in the hospital setting. Several new approaches to treatment of nosocomial pneumonias are currently being evaluated, however. These include: single-agent empiric coverage using a broad-spectrum beta-lactam agent; intrabronchial aminoglycoside instillation therapy; oral quinolone agents for treatment of gram-negative bacillary pneumonia; and passive immune therapy. The current experience and potential future role of these therapeutic options are discussed in this chapter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pennington
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000628:therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007769:Lactams; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007769:Lactams