Long-term treatment with nebulized colistin in oncological patients with recurrent respiratory infections

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of long-term treatment with nebulized colistin in reducing the number of respiratory infections, emergency consultations and hospitalizations in oncological patients.MethodsA retrospective, observational, single-centre study including patients with solid or haematologic malignancies, or pulmonary GVHD after HSTC who received treatment with nebulized colistin for at least six-months to prevent recurrent respiratory infections (July 2010 to June 2017).ResultsTwelve patients were included (median age: 54.4, range: 23–85), 7 with solid malignancies and 5 with haematologic malignancies (2 with pulmonary GVHD). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent microorganism in sputum cultures (11/12 patients), all strains were susceptible to colistin. There was a statistically significant reduction (p=0.01) in respiratory infections in the six-month period after starting colistin (median: 1, range: 0–4) compared to the six-month period before (median: 4, range: 1–8). There was also a reduction in emergency consultations (precolistin: median: 1.50, range: 0–3; postcolistin: median: 0, range: 0–3) and hospitalizations (precolistin: median: 1.50, range: 0–3; postcolistin: median: 0, range: 0–3) due to respiratory infections. No colistin-resistant strains were identified.ConclusionsLong-term treatment with nebulized colistin may be useful to reduce the number of exacerbations in oncological patients with recurrent respiratory infections. (AU)

Objetivos: Evaluar la eficacia de un tratamiento prolongado con colistina nebulizada para reducir el número de infecciones respiratorias, consultas en Urgencias y hospitalizaciones en pacientes oncológicos.MétodosEstudio retrospectivo, observacional y unicéntrico en pacientes con neoplasias sólidas o hematológicas o EICR pulmonar tras TPH tratados con colistina nebulizada al menos 6 meses para prevenir infecciones respiratorias recurrentes (julio del 2010-junio del 2017).ResultadosSe incluyó a 12 pacientes (edad mediana 54,4, rango: 23-85), 7 con cáncer sólido y 5 con neoplasias hematológicas (2 con EICR pulmonar). El microorganismo aislado más frecuentemente en esputos fue Pseudomonasaeruginosa (11/12 pacientes); todas las cepas fueron colistina-sensibles. Se evidenciaron una reducción estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,01) de las infecciones respiratorias en los 6 meses tras iniciar colistina (mediana: 1, rango: 0-4) comparado con los 6 meses previos (mediana: 4, rango: 1-8), y una reducción del número de visitas a Urgencias (precolistina: mediana: 1,50, rango: 0-3; postcolistina: mediana: 0, rango: 0-3) y hospitalizaciones (precolistina: mediana: 1,50, rango: 0-3; postcolistina: mediana: 0, rango: 0-3) por infección respiratoria. No se detectaron cepas resistentes a colistina.ConclusionesUn tratamiento prolongado con colistina nebulizada puede ser útil para reducir el número de exacerbaciones en pacientes oncológicos con infecciones respiratorias recurrentes. (AU)

Long-term treatment with nebulized colistin in oncological patients with recurrent respiratory infections.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of long-term treatment with nebulized colistin in reducing the number of respiratory infections, emergency consultations and hospitalizations in oncological patients. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, single-centre study including patients with solid or haematologic malignancies, or pulmonary GVHD after HSTC who received treatment with nebulized colistin for at least six-months to prevent recurrent respiratory infections (July 2010 to June 2017). RESULTS: Twelve patients were included (median age: 54.4, range: 23-85), 7 with solid malignancies and 5 with haematologic malignancies (2 with pulmonary GVHD). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent microorganism in sputum cultures (11/12 patients), all strains were susceptible to colistin. There was a statistically significant reduction (p=0.01) in respiratory infections in the six-month period after starting colistin (median: 1, range: 0-4) compared to the six-month period before (median: 4, range: 1-8). There was also a reduction in emergency consultations (precolistin: median: 1.50, range: 0-3; postcolistin: median: 0, range: 0-3) and hospitalizations (precolistin: median: 1.50, range: 0-3; postcolistin: median: 0, range: 0-3) due to respiratory infections. No colistin-resistant strains were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment with nebulized colistin may be useful to reduce the number of exacerbations in oncological patients with recurrent respiratory infections.

Adhesión terapéutica a tratamiento inmunomodulador de pacientes con esclerosis múltiple / Therapy adherence to immunomodulator treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis

Introducción. El tratamiento inmunomodulador modifica el curso de la enfermedad en los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple. Es fundamental que el paciente cumpla adecuadamente con el tratamiento pautado. Objetivo. Conocer la adhesión real al tratamiento inmunomodulador de primera línea e intentar averiguar qué factores pueden influir en el adecuado cumplimiento del tratamiento. Pacientes y métodos. Es un estudio longitudinal retrospectivo observacional de los pacientes en seguimiento por el Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya del Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron que recogieron tratamiento inmunomodulador de primera línea (interferones o acetato de glatiramero) entre el 1 de enero de 2010 y el 30 de septiembre de 2011. La adhesión se midió utilizando el índice de posesión de medicación -medication possession ratio (MPR)-: se consideraron adherentes los pacientes con MPR mayor o igual al 80%. Resultados. Estudiamos 975 pacientes. El tiempo medio de exposición a los inmunomoduladores durante el período de recogida fue de 13,4 ± 7,1 años. El 85,2% de los pacientes tuvo una adecuada adhesión al tratamiento inmunomodulador. De 975 pacientes tratados, 134 precisaron cambiar a un segundo fármaco y 12 pacientes a un tercero. El cambio de fármaco mejoró la adhesión (p = 0,001). La tasa anual de brotes fue de 0,23. Únicamente la presencia de brotes (p = 0,029) y el fármaco utilizado (p = 0,044) tuvieron influencia en la adhesión al tratamiento, de forma individual. Conclusiones. La proporción de pacientes con adecuada adhesión al tratamiento en nuestro centro es alta. La tasa de brotes y el fármaco empleado son determinantes para ello. Se requiere un seguimiento estrecho y asesoramiento individualizado para mantener un buen cumplimiento terapéutico (AU)

Introduction. Immunomodulator treatment modifies the course of the disease in patients with multiple sclerosis. The patient’s adequate adherence with the treatment regimen is absolutely essential. Aims. To determine the real adherence with first-line immunomodulator treatment and to try to find out what factors may influence adequate adherence with the treatment. Patients and methods. We conducted an observation-based, retrospective, longitudinal study of the patients being followed up by the Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya at the Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron that were given first-line immunomodulator treatment (interferons or glatiramer acetate) between 1st January 2010 and 30th September 2011. Adherence was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR): patients with an MPR above or equal to 80% were considered to be compliers. Results. We studied 975 patients. The mean time of exposure to immunomodulators over the collected period was 13.4 ± 7.1 years. Altogether 85.2% of patients complied with the immunomodulator treatment adequately. Of a total of 975 patients treated, 134 needed to change to a second drug and 12 patients had to go on to a third. Changing the medication improved adherence (p = 0.001). The annual rate of attacks was 0.23. Only the presence of attacks (p = 0.029) and the drug used (p = 0.044) had any influence on treatment adherence, on an individual basis. Conclusions. The percentage of patients with adequate treatment adherence in our centre is high. The rate of attacks and the drug used play a decisive role. Close monitoring and personalised counselling are required to maintain good therapeutic adherence (AU)

[Therapy adherence to immunomodulator treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Adhesion terapeutica a tratamiento inmunomodulador de pacientes con esclerosis multiple.

INTRODUCTION: Immunomodulator treatment modifies the course of the disease in patients with multiple sclerosis. The patient's adequate adherence with the treatment regimen is absolutely essential. AIMS: To determine the real adherence with first-line immunomodulator treatment and to try to find out what factors may influence adequate adherence with the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an observation-based, retrospective, longitudinal study of the patients being followed up by the Centre d'Esclerosi Multiple de Catalunya at the Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron that were given first-line immunomodulator treatment (interferons or glatiramer acetate) between 1st January 2010 and 30th September 2011. Adherence was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR): patients with an MPR above or equal to 80% were considered to be compliers. RESULTS: We studied 975 patients. The mean time of exposure to immunomodulators over the collected period was 13.4 ± 7.1 years. Altogether 85.2% of patients complied with the immunomodulator treatment adequately. Of a total of 975 patients treated, 134 needed to change to a second drug and 12 patients had to go on to a third. Changing the medication improved adherence (p = 0.001). The annual rate of attacks was 0.23. Only the presence of attacks (p = 0.029) and the drug used (p = 0.044) had any influence on treatment adherence, on an individual basis. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of patients with adequate treatment adherence in our centre is high. The rate of attacks and the drug used play a decisive role. Close monitoring and personalised counselling are required to maintain good therapeutic adherence.