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A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii
09:17

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii

Published on: January 2, 2017

Bacterial pneumonias during an influenza pandemic: how will we allocate antibiotics?

Sandro K Cinti1, Andrew R Barnosky, Steven E Gay

  • 1Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Hospitals/VA Ann Arbor Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. scinti@umich.edu

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism : Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science
|October 14, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A second wave of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic may cause antibiotic shortages due to secondary bacterial pneumonias, similar to the 1918 influenza pandemic. This highlights the need for scarce resource allocation planning for essential medications.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic presents a risk of secondary bacterial pneumonias.
  • Historical data from the 1918 influenza pandemic indicates bacterial pneumonias caused a majority of deaths.

Observation:

  • Secondary bacterial pneumonias can lead to increased hospitalizations during influenza pandemics.
  • Antibiotics may become a scarce resource during a severe influenza outbreak.

Findings:

  • The 1918 pandemic's high mortality was largely due to secondary bacterial pneumonias.
  • A potential second wave of H1N1 influenza could strain antibiotic supplies.

Implications:

  • The University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) has identified antibiotics as a potentially scarce resource.
  • Scarce Resource Allocation Committees (SRAC) must develop guidelines for antibiotic allocation during pandemics.
  • Proactive planning is crucial to manage essential medication shortages during public health crises.

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