The efficacy and safety of inhaled antibiotics for pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled antibiotics for adults with pneumonia by meta-analysis. METHODS: Literature retrieval was completed through five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus) by the deadline of May 31, 2024. The process of study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. The quality of observational studies and randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were evaluated by Newcastle Ottawa scale and Jadad scale, respectively. The primary outcomes included mortality, clinical cure, and microbiological cure. Secondary outcomes were recurrence and renal impairment. RESULTS: There were 30 studies were analyzed, including 12 RCT studies and 18 observational studies. Inhaled antibiotics did not significantly reduce mortality in RCT studies (odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.80-1.41). Inhaled antibiotics were associated with higher rates of clinical cure (OR = 1.47 95%CI: 0.82-2.66 in RCT studies and OR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.36-3.21 in observational studies) and microbiological cure (OR = 7.00 in RCT studies and OR = 2.20 in observational studies). Subgroup analysis showed patients received inhaled antibiotics combined with intravenous administration and inhaled amikacin had better improvements of mortality, clinical cure and microbiological cure. Inhaled antibiotics were not associated with recurrence. The pooled OR of renal impairment were 0.65 (95%CI: 0.27-1.13; I-squared = 43.5 %, P = 0.124) and 0.63(95%CI: 0.26-1.11; I-squared = 69.0 %, P = 0.110) in RCT studies and observational studies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled antibiotics decreased risk of renal impairment and achieved significant improvements of clinical and microbiological cure in patients with pneumoniae.

EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in non-small cell lung cancer.

Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are the most common targetable genomic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 90% of the EGFR mutations comprise of EGFR exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R mutation, while EGFR exon 20 insertion (EGFR Ex20Ins) is the third most common type of EGFR mutation. Currently, studies on EGFR Ex20Ins are relatively scarce and limited. The frequency of EGFR Ex20Ins mutations in NSCLC was 1-10%. Patients harboring EGFR Ex20Ins exhibited similar clinical characteristics except for poorer prognosis as compared to patients with sensitizing mutations in EGFR. Conventional TKIs have poor efficacy in a majority of EGFR Ex20Ins subtypes. Chemotherapy remains the preferred treatment for advanced NSCLC patients harboring EGFR Ex20Ins. However, some novel inhibitors are considered as putative candidates. This review focuses on the structural and biochemical features, clinical characteristics, treatments, and prognosis of EGFR Ex20Ins in NSCLC.