Children with poor access to healthcare in emergencies: standpoint and practices of pediatricians in France.

Many children with poor access to healthcare are finally admitted in emergency departments. This study describes the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of 161 pediatricians caring for these children. Among the pediatricians, 84 (52.8%) felt under-informed about the performance of the various health insurances, 107 (68.6%) lacked systematic information on the health insurance cover of the children they cared for, and many were unaware of appropriate local resources. Admission to emergency departments can be a way of linking up the healthcare pathway, once provided: systematic assessment of children's access to healthcare, better information and coordination of healthcare professionals' interventions, and several partnerships including social support.

Lack of pediatricians in sociomedical units (PASS) in France.

In France, units called "Healthcare Access Centers" (Permanences d'Accès aux Soins de Santé; PASS) improve access to the healthcare system for deprived outpatients in hospitals. This study aimed to describe child care in PASS in mainland France in 2019. PASS receive a growing number of children: 23.9% of all newly admitted patients. However, only 6.6% of children receiving care were seen by pediatricians. Social deprivation would receive better attention in pediatric care through the close partnership between PASS and pediatricians or through the direct intervention of the latter in PASS. This improvement also starts with the implementation of wide screening for social vulnerability during the routine medical follow-up of children.

What are the differences among occupational groups related to their palliative care-specific educational needs and intensity of interprofessional collaboration in long-term care homes?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences across occupational groups related to their end-of-life care-specific educational needs and reported intensity of interprofessional collaboration in long-term care (LTC) homes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, based on two questionnaires, was administered at four LTC homes in Ontario, Canada using a modified Dilman's approach. The first questionnaire, End of Life Professional Caregiver Survey, included three domains: patients and family-centered communication, cultural and ethical values, effective care delivery. The Intensity of Interprofessional Collaboration Scale included two subscales: care sharing activities, and interprofessional coordination. In total, 697 LTC staff were given surveys, including personal support workers, support staff (housekeeping, kitchen, recreation, laundry, dietician aids, office staff), and registered staff (licensed nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, pharmacists, physicians). RESULTS: A total of 317 participants completed the survey (126 personal support workers, 109 support staff, 82 registered staff) for a response rate of 45%. Significant differences emerged among occupational groups across all scales and subscales. Specifically, support staff rated their comfort of working with dying patients significantly lower than both nurses and PSWs. Support staff also reported significantly lower ratings of care sharing activities and interprofessional coordination compared to both registered staff and personal support workers. CONCLUSIONS: These study findings suggest there are differing educational needs and sense of interprofessional collaboration among LTC staff, specific to discipline group. Both the personal support workers and support staff groups appeared to have higher needs for education; support staff also reported higher needs related to integration on the interdisciplinary team. Efforts to build capacity within support staff related to working with dying residents and their families are needed. Optimal palliative care may require resources to increase the availability of support for all staff involved in the care of patients.

Tropheryma whipplei associated with diarrhoea in young children.

Tropheryma whipplei was detected in preliminary studies in faeces of young children with diarrhoea and also in faeces of asymptomatic persons, not only in Europe but also in Africa. In this study, the link between this bacterium and the presence of acute diarrhoea was evaluated in a large group of children. From December 2009 to January 2013, rectal swabs collected from 3796 children in the emergency departments of university hospitals in Marseille, France, were analysed: 555 children (245 female and 310 male, from 6 days to 6 years old) with acute diarrhoea defined as at least three loose stools per day for <1 week and 3241 children (1444 female and 1797 male, from 22 days to 6 years old) without diarrhoea. Specific quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect the presence of T. whipplei and of two enteric pathogens Clostridium difficile and Giardia duodenalis. Tropheryma whipplei was significantly more common in children with diarrhoea (22/555, 4%) than without (56/3241, 1.7%; p 0.001). Neither C. difficile nor G. duodenalis showed this association. For C. difficile, 39 of 531 (7.3%) children with diarrhoea were positive versus 184 of 3119 (5.9%) of children without diarrhoea (p 0.25). For G. duodenalis, 2 of 529 (0.37%) children with diarrhoea were positive versus 5 of 3119 (0.16%) children without diarrhoea (p 0.26). Tropheryma whipplei was found more commonly in autumn. Tropheryma whipplei is significantly associated with diarrhoea in children, suggesting that the bacterium may be a cause of acute diarrhoea.

[Disseminated BCG disease revealing a partial deficiency in receptor 1 interferon gamma]. / Bécégite disséminée révélatrice d'un déficit partiel en récepteur 1 de l'interféron gamma.

We report on a case of disseminated BCGitis with an unusual presentation in a 4-month-old infant revealing a syndrome of Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacteria due to a partial dominant mutation of the interferon gamma receptor 1 gene.

Prevalence and incidence of clinically recognized cases of Type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents in Rwanda, Africa.

AIMS: To determine prevalence and incidence estimates for clinically recognized cases of Type 1 diabetes from the Life For a Child Program (LFAC) with onset < 26 years in six representative districts, and the capital, of Rwanda. METHODS: Cases were identified from the LFAC registry and visits to district hospitals. Denominators were calculated from district-level population surveys. Period prevalence data were collected from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012 and annual incidence rates were calculated, retrospectively, for 2004-2011. Ninety-five per cent confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using a Poisson distribution. RESULTS: The prevalence of known Type 1 diabetes in seven districts in Rwanda for ages < 26 years was 16.4 [95% CI 14.6-18.4]/100 000 and for < 15 years was 4.8 [3.5-6.4]/100 000. Prevalence was higher in females (18.5 [15.8-21.4]/100 000) than males (14.1 [11.8-16.7]/100 000; P = 0.01) and rates increased with age. The annual incidence rate for those < 26 years was stable between 2007 and 2011 with a mean incidence over that time of 2.7 [2.0-3.7]/100 000 ( < 15 years = 1.2 [0.5-2.0]/100 000). Incidence rates were higher in females than males and peaked in males at ages 17 and 22 years and in females at age 18 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our report of known Type 1 diabetes cases shows lower incidence and prevalence rates in Rwanda than previously reported in the USA and most African countries. Incidence of recognized cases has increased over time, but has recently stabilized. However, the likelihood of missed cases due to death before diagnosis and misdiagnosis is high and therefore more definitive studies are needed.

[Epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes infections in developing countries]. / Épidémiologie des infections à streptocoque du groupe A dans les pays en développement.

Group A streptococcal (GAS) infections are frequent in developing countries but the epidemiology is incompletely known. In 2005, 90 % of symptomatic pharyngitis, 96 % of invasive diseases and 97 % of deaths due to GAS were observed in these countries. Clinical features of GAS invasive infections are identical to those reported in developed countries, but frequency and mortality are higher, as is the number of the different emm types involved. In the world, from 15.6 to 19.6 millions of persons are affected by rheumatic heart disease (282,000 new cases and 233,000-468,000 deaths per year). Incidence of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis varies with time and location: in 2005, 472,000 new cases have been reported in the world (83 % in a developing country). World Heart Federation recently aimed at reducing the burden of rheumatic heart diseases by 25 % among < 25 years persons in 2025.

[BCG vaccination: survey among children less than 5 years of age in an emergency department]. / Vaccination par le BCG : enquête auprès d'enfants de moins de 5 ans consultant dans un service d'urgences hospitalières.

UNLABELLED: France is a country with a low incidence of tuberculosis. However, there are important local variations: some parts of the city of Marseilles (southern France) presented a yearly incidence greater than 30/100,000 in 2010. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the BCG vaccine coverage among at-risk children younger than 5 years consulting in one of the city's pediatric emergency departments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study took place in February 2013 and used a semi-directive questionnaire distributed to parents. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-five children were included, 98 (72.6 %) were considered as being at risk of tuberculosis and among them 75 (76.5 %, 95 % CI [68.0-85.1]) were vaccinated with BCG. Parents' knowledge of tuberculosis was relevant in 48 % of the respondents. Only 19 % of the parents reported that BCG protects against tuberculosis, but 73 % were in favor of this vaccination. Two criteria significantly increased vaccine coverage among at-risk children: birth in Marseilles and age more than 6 months on the consultation day. The child living in a poor family and type of medical follow-up did not significantly influence BCG vaccine coverage. CONCLUSION: BCG coverage was high in at-risk children younger than 5 years born in Marseilles. Cooperation between private physicians, maternity hospitals and mothers, and children's public health services probably facilitates this high level of protection.

Chronic disease epidemiology, cancer and mobile global approaches to disease prevention.

The focus of this symposium was worldwide prevention of chronic disease through the use of inexpensive Internet pathways, as demonstrated with the Supercourse project, and other initiatives, including promoting mobile phone technology (m-health). This symposium highlighted the need to use the Supercourse to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. It also highlighted several components of the Supercourse library, including the former Soviet Union network, the Latin American network, and some other initiatives.

[Relationship between precariousness, social coverage, and vaccine coverage: survey among children consulting in pediatric emergency departments in France]. / Précarité, couverture sociale et couverture vaccinale : enquête chez les enfants consultant aux urgences pédiatriques.

UNLABELLED: Poor children are more susceptible to infectious diseases. Routine medical follow-up is infrequent in these patients, sometimes resulting in immunization delays. The aim of this study was to correlate a number of socioeconomic factors related to poverty with vaccination coverage in children visiting a pediatric emergency ward. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Previous routine vaccinations and various socioeconomic features were prospectively recorded for children aged 9 months to 7 years visiting two public pediatric emergency departments in Marseilles (southern France) from 2009 to 2010. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-five children were included. Vaccination coverage was 87% for diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b infections and pertussis, 69% for tuberculosis (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), 77% for measles, mumps and rubella, 74% for pneumococcal infections (conjugate vaccine), and 55% for hepatitis B. Socioeconomic factors related to poverty were significantly associated with delays in immunizations. Children not attending school (OR=2.5), having parents who were not fluent in French (OR=5.7), living in caravans or squatting (OR=11.5), or being recipients of the national medical assistance for foreigners (OR=12.8) had significant delays with diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis vaccines. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine was also delayed in homeless children (OR=3.4). Children who were recipients of the national medical assistance for citizens were better vaccinated against tuberculosis and hepatitis B. CONCLUSION: Poor children living in southern France had significant delays in their routine immunizations, resulting in gaps in their protection. Every medical visit, even those conducted in an emergency ward, should identify children with immunization delays and offer a catch-up schedule if necessary.

[Values of clinical signs and rapid diagnostic test in the diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1) new variant in pediatric emergency department]. / Valeurs des signes cliniques et d'un test de diagnostic rapide dans le diagnostic de la grippe A (H1N1) nouveau variant aux urgences pédiatriques.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the values of clinical signs and the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in the diagnosis of influenza H1N1 new variant in the pediatric emergency room. METHOD: From 18 August to 1st December 2009, children admitted to the pediatric emergency department of CHU Nord (Marseille, France) and suspected of flu according to French guidelines, were tested for influenza using both an influenza RDT and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay specific for H1N1. From 3 November to 3 December, clinical signs were also noted (fever, headaches, myalgia-arthralgia, shivers, diarrhea). RESULTS: A total of 1122 children were tested: 367 children (32.1%) had a positive specific PCR. The RDT value was: sensitivity 65.2% [55.8-73.6], specificity 99.5% [98.1-100], positive predictive value (PPV) 97.5% [91.8-100], negative predictive value (NPV) 91.2% [90.3-91.5], positive likelihood ratio (LRP) 153.7 [53.5-452.9] and negative likelihood ratio (LRN) 0.393 [0.387-0.411]. Clinical data were available for 504 children (328 over 2 years of age). In children more than 2 years of age and in multivariate analysis, headaches were the only sign significantly associated with a positive PCR (aOR=2.53 [1.25-5.12]). Overall, headaches and/or myalgia-arthralgia were valuable indicators for clinical diagnosis of flu, with a 75.8% NPV. Among children with a positive PCR, diarrhea was more frequent in children under 2 years of age (OR=2.76 [1.19-6.40]). The sensitivity of the RDT improved (90.9% [85.2-94.6]) when flu signs were also present. CONCLUSION: Associating clinical signs and RDT for the diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1) new variant in a pediatric emergency room improves selection of children requiring appropriate antiviral treatment.

Characterizing sudden death and dead-in-bed syndrome in Type 1 diabetes: analysis from two childhood-onset Type 1 diabetes registries.

AIMS: Type 1 diabetes mellitus increases the risk for sudden unexplained death, generating concern that diabetes processes and/or treatments underlie these deaths. Young (< 50 years) and otherwise healthy patients who are found dead in bed have been classified as experiencing 'dead-in-bed' syndrome. METHODS: We thus identified all unwitnessed deaths in two related registries (the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County) yielding 1319 persons with childhood-onset (age < 18 years) Type 1 diabetes diagnosed between 1965 and 1979. Cause of death was determined by a Mortality Classification Committee (MCC) of at least two physician epidemiologists, based on the death certificate and additional records surrounding the death. RESULTS: Of the 329 participants who had died, the Mortality Classification Committee has so far reviewed and assigned a final cause of death to 255 (78%). Nineteen (8%) of these were sudden unexplained deaths (13 male) and seven met dead-in-bed criteria. The Mortality Classification Committee adjudicated cause of death in the seven dead-in-bed persons as: diabetic coma (n =4), unknown (n=2) and cardiomyopathy (n=1, found on autopsy). The three dead-in-bed individuals who participated in a clinical study had higher HbA(1c) , lower BMI and higher daily insulin dose compared with both those dying from other causes and those surviving. CONCLUSIONS: Sudden unexplained death in Type 1 diabetes seems to be increased 10-fold and associated with male sex, while dead-in-bed individuals have a high HbA(1c) and insulin dose and low BMI. Although sample size is too small for definitive conclusions, these results suggest specific sex and metabolic factors predispose to sudden unexplained death and dead-in-bed death.

Measles among healthcare workers: a potential for nosocomial outbreaks.

We report here 14 cases of measles among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Public Hospitals of Marseilles, France that occurred between April and November 2010. All cases but one were under 30 years of age. Following the identification of these cases, we checked the immune status among 154 HCWs who volunteered to take part in the study and showed that 93% and 88% were immune against measles and mumps respectively. HCWs non-immunised against measles were all under 30 years of age.

[Standpoint and practice concerning the human Papillomavirus vaccine among French family physicians]. / Opinions et pratiques des médecins généralistes face à la vaccination anti-Papillomavirus.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess the standpoint of family physicians in the Southern French region Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur concerning human Papillomavirus vaccination and to evaluate the factors associated with a favorable standpoint. METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 1,000 family physicians. The survey focused on their profile, their views on vaccination generally and on HPV vaccination, their knowledge of HPV, their standpoint concerning STD prevention and cervical cancer screening. Multivariable linear regression system was used to study the variations associated with a favorable response to HPV vaccination. OUTCOME: Response was 36.6%. The responses were analyzed taking into account gender of the family physicians, location and size of their practice. There was reasonable similarity amongst those questioned. Around 89.6% of family physicians answers were in favor of HPV. The ideal age for vaccination was between 11 and 13 years of age for 34.4% and between 14 and 15 for 53.9%. The family physicians most in favor of vaccination were those involved in screening for STDs, those who did not think that the vaccine would have a negative effect on the image of sexuality and on screening for cervical cancer, and those who were confident about the vaccine safety. CONCLUSION: The study identified the negative elements concerning HPV in order to optimize information strategies among family physicians.

Effectiveness of research training workshop taught by traditional and video-teleconference methods in a developing country.

The developing countries are currently facing a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Physician-scientists, trained in patient care and research skills are crucial in performing cutting-edge clinical research in the developing countries. A major unmet challenge has been the lack of local expertise and the increasing problem of 'brain drain'. The current study was an effort to present and assess a model of research training to health-care professionals in Pakistan in order to increase the research skills. The objective of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of two different methods of research training. An epidemiologic research training workshop was offered to health-care professionals in Pakistan by face-to-face (F2F) and video-teleconferencing (VTC) methods. A total of 38 F2F and 18 VTC participants were included in the workshop which was conducted by research faculty from the University of Pittsburgh. To assess knowledge, pre- and post-test were done. Within each group, paired sample T-test showed significant improvement in scores after the completion of workshop (p<0.001 for F2F and VTC). In the F2F group, mean scores increased from 11.13 (pre-test) to 15.08 (post-test) and in the VTC group, scores increased from 10.67 (pre-test) to 13.22 (post-test). Two sample T-test was found statistically significant (p<0.001). We present a model for training physicians in public health by providing in-house research skills training which can be used to strengthen the local capacity and reduce increasing problems of brain drain.

Strategic plan: building a international strategy for risk reduction supercourse.

There is an important need to develop a global expert disaster network for Mitigating against disasters such the Chi-Chi Earthquake, the Tsunami, Avian flu. This systems needs to target both man made and natural disasters. We propose the building of a Global Health Disaster Network, with advanced features such as educational capabilities, and expert knowledge reachback. We provide a strategic plan to building a global disaster Network and Mitigation system.