Background: An elevated white blood cell (WBC) count is a characteristic finding in pneumococcal pneumonia. Very low WBC counts, occurring in some cases, are often associated with overwhelming pneumonia and have been attributed to alcohol-induced suppression of bone marrow. However, a systematic study of neutropenia, leukocytosis, alcohol ingestion, and cirrhosis in pneumococcal pneumonia has not been previously reported.
Methods: Using a database of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia at our medical center, we extracted data on WBC counts at admission, differential counts, alcohol ingestion, and cirrhosis, and we related these to 7-day and 30-day mortality.
Results: White blood cell counts were <6000/mm in 49 of 481 patients (10.2%) with pneumococcal pneumonia and >25000/mm in 40 (8.3%). Mortality at 7 days was 18.4% and 12.5%, respectively, 5-fold and 3-fold greater in patients with WBC <6000 or >25000 than in those with WBC counts between 6000 and 25000 ( < .001). Increased band forms were not associated with a worse outcome ( = .12). Alcohol use and cirrhosis were not associated with WBC counts <6000 ( = .63 and = .41, respectively).
Conclusions: In a large series of cases of pneumococcal pneumonia, WBC counts <6000 or >25000 correlated significantly with increased 7-day mortality. More than 10% band forms was not associated with a poor outcome. Alcohol abuse was not associated with low WBC or increased mortality. Our findings suggest that greater consideration be given to more intense care for patients with bacterial pneumonia who have very high or very low WBC counts at the time of hospital admission.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofx034 | DOI Listing |
NPJ Prim Care Respir Med
January 2025
Université Paris Cité, Department of general practice, Paris, France, Paris, France.
Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) remains an important cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). We aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of outpatients with radiologically confirmed pneumococcal CAP. Between November 2017 and December 2019, a French network of general practitioners enrolled CAP-suspected adults, with ≥1 clinical signs of infection and ≥1 signs of pulmonary localization in an observational study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQual Life Res
January 2025
MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
Purpose: Cost-utility analyses examining the value of new vaccines for pneumococcal disease will require health state utilities as inputs. Existing utilities for pneumococcal infections in young children are limited. The purpose of this study was to estimate health state utilities associated with pneumococcal infections in young children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucosal Immunol
December 2024
Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; German center for lung research (DZL), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:
Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia, often caused by so-called typical and atypical pathogens including Streptoccocus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila, respectively. Here, we employed a variety of mouse models to investigate how diabetes influences pulmonary antibacterial immunity. Following intranasal infection with S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccine
December 2024
Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; IDEAS Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address:
Introduction: The article discusses topical issues of the use of conjugated 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar®13 (PCV13) in patients with severe bronchial asthma (SBA), including those receiving targeted therapy with genetically engineered biological drugs (GEBD).
Aim: To study the effectiveness of vaccination against pneumococcal infection (PI) in patients with SBA.
Materials And Methods: The study included 381 patients with SBA.
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