Ruolo degli antigeni fungini nella diagnosi delle micosi invasive in terapia intensiva

Pneumonia is a potentially serious infection and an important cause of mortality in previously healthy adults. Pulmonary defence mechanisms usually prevent the development of infection, but a defect in host defences, a large inoculum or a particularly virulent pathogen may overcome these. Major pathogens associated with community-acquired pneumonia include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and mixed infections may also occur. Standard treatment is with ampicillin derivatives or erythromycin. Roxithromycin is a new macrolide antibiotic with activity against many of the pathogens associated with community-acquired pneumonia and, in the 1990s, may become an antibiotic treatment of choice in patients presenting with the signs and symptoms of pneumonia.