Purpose of review: Despite multiple protocols for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), respiratory infections have not been eliminated in the ICU. The profound disruption in both airway integrity and mucociliary clearance caused by the endotracheal tube makes it unlikely there will ever be a zero rate of respiratory infection in critically ill ventilated patients or a 100% cure rate when infection is present. In fact, options for treatment are diminishing as bacteria resistant to most, or in some hospitals all, systemic antibiotics increase in prevalence from our liberal use of systemic antibiotics. Inhaled therapy with proper delivery will result in the high concentrations of antibiotics needed in the treatment of increasingly resistant organisms. Recent findings: Data from many recent investigations have focused on inhaled antibiotics as: adjunctive therapy to systemic antibiotic for VAP, monotherapy for VAP, and as monotherapy for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis. The clinical outcomes of these studies will be reviewed as well as their effect on multidrug-resistant organisms. Summary: The present review will focus on the rationale for inhaled therapy, the current studies examining the delivery and clinical efficacy of inhaled antibiotics, and the potential role for this mode of delivery actually decreasing antibiotic resistance in the respiratory tract.

Purpose of review: This article reviews the clinical and treatment aspects of avian influenza viruses and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Recent findings: Avian influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses have continued to circulate widely in some poultry populations and infect humans sporadically. Sporadic human cases of avian A(H5N6), A(H10N8) and A(H6N1) have also emerged. Closure of live poultry markets in China has reduced the risk of A(H7N9) infection. Observational studies have shown that oseltamivir treatment for adults hospitalized with severe influenza is associated with lower mortality and better clinical outcomes, even as late as 4–5 days after symptom onset. Whether higher than standard doses of neuraminidase inhibitor would provide greater antiviral effects in such patients requires further investigation. High-dose systemic corticosteroids were associated with worse outcomes in patients with A(H1N1)pdm09 or A(H5N1). MERS-CoV has continued to spread since its first discovery in 2012. The mortality rates are high in those with comorbid diseases. There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available. The exact mode of transmission from animals to humans remains unknown. Summary: There is an urgent need for developing more effective antiviral therapies to reduce morbidity and mortality of these emerging viral respiratory tract infections.

Purpose of review: Resistant organisms remain a concern in patients presenting to hospital with pneumonia. Although in this setting the prevalence of various organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa varies across the globe, patients infected with these pathogens are at increased risk for receiving an initially inappropriate antibiotic regimen – a major driver of mortality in all forms of pneumonia. The concept of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) was created to help clinicians identify persons at risk for infection with resistant pathogens, despite the onset of their infections occurring outside the hospital. However, it appears that HCAP, as currently defined, lacks adequate sensitivity and specificity for this purpose. Recent findings: Investigators have created various risk-scoring tools to stratify patients as to the likelihood that their infection is caused by a pathogen such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. These scores provide more precision at correctly segregating patients on the basis of the eventual recovery of resistant bacteria than does the HCAP syndrome. Most of these risk scores are easy to calculate and apply, and several have been externally validated. Summary: Physicians should consider adopting these tools in their approach to patients with pneumonia presenting to hospital.

Purpose of review: In 2010, the British Thoracic Society published a guideline for the care of patients with noncystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis; other recent clinical review articles and original scientific manuscripts have also studied the use of antibiotics in bronchiectasis. This review will summarize the current literature on the indications and options for antibiotic treatment in bronchiectasis. Recent findings: Since 2012, a number of manuscripts have been published that provide evidence to support the use of antibiotics in non-CF bronchiectasis, including macrolide antibiotics, inhaled aminoglycosides and inhaled fluoroquinolone therapies. However, data remain preliminary and there are phase 3 trials underway to further investigate the efficacy and safety of antibiotics in non-CF bronchiectasis. Summary: Although there are currently no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antibiotics for the treatment of patients with bronchiectasis, this review will highlight the current state of the science with regard to antibiotics that may be effective in non-CF bronchiectasis as well as highlighting those in development to treat this complex disease.