Author: Donna Brettler

What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an inflammation of one or both of the lungs caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. The word “community” means that the infection was not contracted while the patient was in the hospital.

Amoxicillin for Injection or Infusion

our medicine contains the active substance amoxicillin (as amoxicillin sodium), which is one of a group of medicines called “penicillins”. These medicines are also known as “antibiotics” and they work by killing the bacteria that cause infections.

Pediatric Infectious Disease

Toxic shock is an acute disease characterized by fever, mucous membrane hyperemia, subcutaneous edema, desquamating erythroderma, hypotension, and multisystem organ involvement. A decade ago it was widely described as an illness affecting young women, associated with vaginal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and the use of tampons. Subsequent studies demonstrated that S. aureus produces several related enterotoxins — including toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) — that are thought to cause the disorder by activating host inflammatory responses and by triggering the release of cytokines. Not all cases of toxic shock are associated with menstruation, however, and not all cases are associated with S. aureus.

Zagam (sparfloxacin) – fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Sparfloxacin is expected to be especially useful against penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae and multidrug-resistant H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Rhone-Poulenc Rorer is also studying the use of sparfloxacin for acute maxillary sinusitis, skin infection, and complicated urinary tract infection. In clinical trials, sparfloxacin (Zagam) was comparable to erythromycin and cefaclor for clearing community-acquired pneumonia.

Priften (Rifapentine) for Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, once thought to be a disease virtually eliminated in the first world has become a major health concern. Health care workers, the immunosuppressed, and HIV-positive people are particularly at risk. The rising rate of infection with M. tuberculosis along with the increase in antibiotic-resistant strains has made the development of new antibiotics for the treatment of tuberculosis of major importance for public health. Rifapentine (Priften, Hoechst Marion Roussel), a member of the rifamycin class of antibiotics, was approved in June, 1998 for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Successful Antibiotic Desensitization

Antibiotics are often an essential component of the therapeutic plan that is developed to improve the clinical course of a patient. Typically, certain antibiotics are better for a given clinical condition. Allergies to these antibiotics, however, may limit the use of these antibiotics and in certain cases may complicate the course of optimal care. Allergies to antibiotics have become an great hindrance to the clinician.