Diagnosis and treatment strategies of respiratory infections for respiratory surgeons

摘要

This review discusses the diagnosis and treatment strategies for respiratory infections those are useful for respiratory surgeons. To make a differential diagnosis between respiratory infections caused by several pathogens, it is important to consider the defects of normal defensive barriers, the location of the infection, and the route of infection. To analyze the location of the infection, it is very important to analyze the radiological findings based on normal anatomical structures; such as pulmonary lobulus, acinus, and respiratory bronchioles. Through analyzing chest computed tomography (CT) findings and distribution patterns based on normal anatomical structures, estimation of causative pathogens could be possible. If clinicoradiological analyses could make these differentiations, the appropriate treatment strategy for respiratory infections could be established. For respiratory surgeons, most important pathogens related to respiratory infections (frequently observed as nosocomial pneumonia) areGram-negative rods as well as anaerobes. Therefore, it is important to select broad-specrum antibiotics ; such as broad-spectrum cephalosporins, carbapenems and new qunolones with or without clindamycin.