Respiratory tract infection (Translation version)

Author: Ji Xia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Significant progress has been made in the epidemiology and biology of special pathogens related to the respiratory system. For example, pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and certain Gram-negative enteric bacteria have developed resistance to commonly used antimicrobial drugs, which has inadvertently increased the difficulty of treating diseases caused by these pathogens. New pathogens, such as the newly identified Hantavirus, along with advanced epidemiological detection techniques, have helped clarify whether the disease is community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Meanwhile, as the complexity of respiratory infections continues to rise, techniques for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention have also expanded accordingly. Molecular biology has provided new methods for diagnosis and treatment, while new antimicrobial drugs and antifungal drugs have become powerful tools for treating pulmonary infections. Additionally, there has been encouraging progress in the development of vaccines for common infections. With the publication of this book, these rapidly evolving fields have been enriched with new content. We maintain a clinical perspective in discussing respiratory infections and further deepen our understanding of infection treatment based on scientific evidence. Therefore, the initial chapters of this book focus on basic science, which helps in understanding common infection issues, followed by chapters on clinical management of infectious lung diseases. Unlike similar books, this one focuses on the clinical treatment of respiratory infections in special high-risk populations (rather than being organism-oriented), as we firmly believe that when suspecting special microbial infections in the lungs, clinical manifestations and epidemiological data of the patient must be considered. However, this clinical research approach must be supported by a solid foundation in basic science, particularly in respiratory immunology and new insights into bacterial natural resistance to antibiotics. This book presents novel content, offering a comprehensive and systematic discussion of respiratory infections from multiple perspectives—basic science, clinical aspects, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention. No such detailed monograph exists in China. The book is divided into six parts and 45 chapters. Its highlights include:
1. The first part provides an exhaustive discussion on the host lung defense network, non-specific host defense mechanisms, humoral immunity of the lungs, the mechanisms of respiratory colonization, the damage caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the host, neutrophils and cellular immunity, pulmonary inflammatory responses, cytokine networks of antibiotic defense mechanisms, antimicrobial drug resistance mechanisms, and the relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and pneumonia.
2. The second part primarily discusses the clinical management of respiratory infections in special populations, including children, chemotherapy-immunosuppressed patients, solid organ transplant and bone marrow transplant recipients, trauma patients, the elderly, and patients with specific diseases. It also covers community-acquired infections, hospital-acquired infections, and ICU-outside hospital-acquired infections separately.
3. The third part provides a detailed introduction to pathogens causing pneumonia, including both clinically common pathogens and newly discovered ones, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRSA, Legionella, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Hantavirus, Nocardia, Actinomyces, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and fungi.
4. The fourth part mainly introduces microbiological diagnostic methods for pulmonary infections and invasive examination techniques for lower respiratory tract infections.
5. The fifth part focuses on antimicrobial treatment for respiratory infections, elaborating on the mechanisms of action of various antimicrobial drugs.
6. The sixth part discusses the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections, particularly the efficacy, development prospects, indications, and contraindications of vaccines.
7. Over 100 high-quality images, X-rays, and CT scans enhance the completeness, accuracy, and visual clarity of the book’s content.
8. The book includes 116 tables and figures, making the presented information more systematic, organized, and (easy to compare).