Impact of airway Exophiala spp. on children with cystic fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Isolation of Exophiala species from sputum samples has become increasingly reported in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). However, the clinical significance of Exophiala spp. with regards to the paediatric CF population is unknown. METHODS: A case control study was undertaken to compare CF children with and without chronic Exophiala spp. in their sputum samples. Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively for each case from the date of Exophiala isolation and for 12 months preceding isolation. Each case was compared to three age and year-matched controls. To determine the effect of Exophiala on clinical course, patients were then followed for 12 months post isolation. RESULTS: In total, 27 of 244 eligible paediatric CF patients (11%) isolated Exophiala spp. on more than one occasion. There were no significant differences in the key clinical parameters: spirometry, mean number of intravenous (IV) antibiotic days and body mass index (BMI), between cases and controls (p = 0.91, p = 0.56 and p = 0.63 respectively). A higher proportion of cases isolated Candida spp. (67% vs 21%, p < 0.0001) and Aspergillus fumigatus (37% vs 26%, p = 0.37). There was no clinically significant difference in spirometry, mean number of IV antibiotic days and BMI in cases pre and post Exophiala spp. isolation. Posaconazole was the only drug used that successfully eradicated Exophiala. CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent isolation of Exophiala spp. in this cohort, in most patients it is not associated with significant clinical deterioration. It does however seem to be associated with isolation of other fungi.

Paediatric deaths in a tertiary government hospital setting, Malawi.

Background: Malawisuccessfully achieved Millennium Development Goal (MDG) four by decreasing the under-5 mortality rate by two-thirds in 2012. Despite this progress child mortality is still high and in 2013, the leading causes of death in under-5s were malaria, acute respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS. Aims: To determine the causes of inpatient child death including microbiological aetiologies in Malawi. Methods: A prospective, descriptive study was undertaken in Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital over 12 months in 2015/2016. Data was collected for every paediatric covering HIV and nutritional status, cause of death, and microbiology. Deaths of inborn neonates were excluded. Results: Of 13,827 admissions, there were 488 deaths, giving a mortality rate of 3.5%. One-third of deaths (168) occurred in the first 24 h of admission and 255 after 48 h Sixty-eight per cent of those who died (332) were under 5 years of age. The five leading causes of death were sepsis (102), lower respiratory tract infection (67), acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration (51), malaria (37) and meningitis (34). The leading non-communicable cause of death was solid tumour (12). Of the 362 children with a known HIV status 134 (37.0%) were HIV-infected or HIV-exposed. Of the 429 children with a known nutrional status, 93 had evidence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Blood cultures were obtained from 252 children 51 (20.2%) grew pathogenic bacteria with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus being the most common. Conclusion: Despite a significant reduction in paediatric inpatient mortality in Malawi, infectious diseases remain the predominant cause. Abbreviations: ART: anti-retroviral therapy; Child PIP: Child Healthcare Problem Identification Programme; CCF: congestive cardiac failure; CNS: central nervous system; CoNS: coagulase-negative staphylococci; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; DNA pcr: deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction; ETAT: emergency triage assessment and treatment; LMIC: low- and middle-income countries; MDG: Millennium Development Goals; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; NAI: non-accidental injury; NTS: non-typhi salmonella; PJP: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia; PSHD: presumed severe HIV disease; QECH: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital; RHD: rheumatic heart disease; RTA: road traffic accident; TB: tuberculosis; TBM: tuberculous meningitis; WHO: World Health Organization; SAM: severe acute malnutrition.