Bronchitis%20-%20chronic%20in%20acute%20exacerbation Patient Education

Patient Education

Educate patient about the nature of the chronic bronchitis (the progressive nature and its potential impact on future lifestyle and function)
Review with the patient the signs of onset of infection (eg increased purulence, viscosity or volume of secretions) that should be treated early
Discuss measures that may limit the spread of viral infections (eg hand washing)
Encourage patients to exercise regularly
- Although not accompanied by measurable improvement in lung function, it will increase exercise tolerance and improve the patient’s sense of well-being

Lifestyle Modification

Smoking Cessation

A discussion of smoking behavior and the setting of a specific cessation date should be part of every physician-patient encounter
- Cigarette smoking is a predominant cause of chronic bronchitis
Patients presenting with AECB should be encouraged to stop smoking since it is the most effective way to reduce the risk of future morbidity from chronic bronchitis
- Nicotine replacement and pharmacotherapy can increase long-term smoking abstinence rates
It can lead to dramatic symptomatic benefits for patients with chronic bronchitis eg stopping cough in 94-100%; when coughing stops, it can occur in as quickly as 4 weeks in 54% of patients

Reduction/Elimination of Irritants

Reduction or elimination of any source of irritants that may worsen lower airway inflammation
- Includes environmental pollutants (eg dust, pollutants and second-hand smoke) and occupational irritants

Current management of nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia in ICU patients with novel antibiotics

Prof. Andrew Shorr, 27 Aug 2021

Nosocomial pneumonia serves as a paradigm for all severe infections, and appropriate antibiotic therapy is the key determinant of patient outcomes. Most data for the use of antibiotics are derived from studies in non-ICU patients and ignore critical care issues such as fluid resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and changing renal function. Against the backdrop of increasing antimicrobial resistance and the COVID-19 pandemic, how do we optimize antibiotic administration in the ICU? Professor Andrew Shorr from Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, US discussed this burning issue at a Pfizer-sponsored satellite symposium, held during the Asia Pacific Intensive Care Symposium (APICS) 2021.

Multipathogen testing an essential part of Test-Target-Treat strategy for respiratory illnesses

Dr. Mohan Ravuru, Dr. Johnny Sinon, Assoc Prof. Nuntra Suwantarat, 16 Dec 2022

At a recent webinar, experts discussed the paradigm shift in respiratory illnesses and treatment practices as the COVID-19 pandemic transitions to an endemic phase. The late Dr Mohan Ravuru, Physician Researcher and former Asia Pacific Medical Director, Abbott, Dr Johnny Sinon, Senior Emergency Physician from Makati Medical Center, Philippines, and Associate Professor Nuntra Suwantarat, Infectious Disease Specialist, from Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Thailand, delivered informative presentations and engaged the audience through a stimulating panel discussion.

Among the topics covered were the ‘immunity debt’ phenomenon leading to potential epidemics, challenges in the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza, and the importance of point-of-care, multipathogen testing as a part of the Test-Target-Treat strategy in respiratory diseases.

Management of multidrug-resistant organisms in paediatric patients: Role of newer antimicrobial agents

Assoc Prof. Louis Grandjean, Adj Asst Prof. Natalie Tan, 01 Jul 2022

The management of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections in children is complex, with limited studies and a relative lack of approved new antibiotics with paediatric indications.

At a recent Meet-the-Expert session, Dr Louis Grandjean, Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Associate Professor at University College, London, UK, addressed the growing threat of MDR infections in children and discussed treatment strategies and options for management. He focused on ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI, Zavicefta^®), whose approval in Singapore was recently expanded to include paediatric patients aged 3 months and older.

Adj Asst Prof Natalie Tan, Senior Consultant at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, chaired this webinar, which was organized by Pfizer under the auspices of the Singapore Paediatric Society and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.