Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of bacterial infections in patients suffering from cirrhosis
The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of bacterial infections in patients suffering from cirrhosis. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of treating bacterial infection in a patient suffering from cirrhosis comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonist.
1. A method of treating bacterial infection in a patient suffering from cirrhosis comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonist.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient suffers from alcoholic liver cirrhosis, metabolic cirrhosis or viral cirrhosis.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient suffers from decompensated cirrhosis.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is a bacterial peritonitis in a patient suffering from cirrhosis.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonist is selected from imidazoquinoline compounds.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonist is R848.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the TLR7/8 agonist is incorporated in a particle appropriate for ingestion by neutrophils.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the TLR7/8 agonist is administered concomitantly with an antibiotic.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of aminoglycosides, beta lactams, quinolones or fluoroquinolones, macrolides, sulfonamides, sulfamethaxozoles, tetracyclines, streptogramins, oxazolidinones (such as linezolid), rifamycins, glycopeptides, polymixins, and lipo-peptide antibiotics.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonist is administered in combination with an elastase inhibitor.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the TLR7/8 agonist is not administered concomitantly with an antibiotic.