The Uprise of Human Leishmaniasis in Tuscany, Central Italy: Clinical and Epidemiological Data from a Multicenter Study.

Human leishmaniasis is facing important epidemiological changes in Southern Europe, driven by increased urbanization, climate changes, emerging of new animal reservoirs, shifts in human behavior and a growing population of immunocompromised and elderly individuals. In this evolving epidemiological landscape, we analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of human leishmaniasis in the Tuscany region of Central Italy. Through a multicentric retrospective analysis, we collected clinical and demographic data about all cases of leishmaniasis recorded between 2018 and 2023. We observed 176 cases of human leishmaniasis, with 128 (72.7%) visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and 47 (26.7%) cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Among these, 92.2% of VL and 85.1% of CL cases were autochthonous. The cumulative incidence of autochthonous human leishmaniasis was 0.22 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018, but reached 1.81/100,000 in 2023. We identified three main areas of transmission: around the city of Florence (North-East Tuscany), around Grosseto city (South-West Tuscany) and Elba Island. Our findings confirm that the epidemiology of leishmaniasis is undergoing significant changes in Central Italy. Awareness towards this emerging health threat and surveillance strategies need to be improved in order to reliably assess the disease's burden. Further research is needed in a "One-Health" perspective, to clarify the epidemiological dynamics at the environmental, reservoir, vector and human levels. The role of climate change and specific climatic factors affecting the epidemiological patterns of human leishmaniasis should be assessed. Further knowledge in these fields would promote targeted control and prevention strategies at regional and national levels.

Treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia in previously healthy children: an Italian intersociety consensus (SIPPS-SIP-SITIP-FIMP-SIAIP-SIMRI-FIMMG-SIMG).

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an acute infection of the lung parenchyma acquired outside the hospital or other healthcare settings, typically affecting previously healthy individuals. This intersociety consensus aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the antibiotic treatment of mild to moderate CAP in previously healthy children in Italy.A systematic review was conducted to identify the most recent and relevant evidence. Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were systematically screened, with a date restriction from 2012 to April 2024, but without language limitations. The review included studies conducted in high-income countries on antibiotic therapy in children over 3 months of age diagnosed with mild-moderate CAP. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methods. The final recommendations were obtained through a Delphi consensus of an expert panel.Amoxicillin is the first-line treatment if the child is at least immunized against Haemophilus influenzae type b (low/very low quality of evidence, strong recommendations), while amoxicillin-clavulanate or second- or third-generation cephalosporins should be prescribed for those unimmunized or with incomplete immunization coverage for both H. influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae (low/very low quality of evidence, strong recommendations). Macrolides should be considered in addition to amoxicillin in children over 5 years old, if symptoms persist and the clinical condition remains good after 48 h of therapy (low/very low quality of evidence, strong recommendations). The dosage of amoxicillin is 90 mg/kg/day divided in three doses, although two doses could be considered to improve compliance (moderate quality of evidence, weak recommendations). A five-day duration of therapy is recommended, with clinical monitoring and re-assessment approximately 72 h after the start of antibiotic treatment to evaluate symptom resolution (moderate quality of evidence, strong recommendations).To improve the management of CAP in pediatric patients, we have developed this consensus based on a thorough review of the best available evidence and extensive discussions with an expert panel. However, further efforts are needed. Future research should focus on enhancing diagnostic accuracy, optimizing antibiotic utilization, comparing the efficacy of different antibiotic regimens, and determining the optimal dosage and duration of treatment in different setting.

Pertussis outbreak in neonates and young infants across Italy, January to May 2024: implications for vaccination strategies.

Since January 2024, Italy experiences a pertussis outbreak, primarily affecting neonates and unvaccinated infants at high risk of severe complications and mortality; 11 major paediatric centres noted 108 hospitalisations and three deaths by 10 May. The outbreak reflects increased circulation of Bordetella pertussis and non-adherence to immunisation recommendations during pregnancy. Public health interventions, including maternal immunisation, vaccination of infants as early as possible and post-exposure prophylaxis, are critical for reducing the burden of pertussis and preventing further mortality.

Use of Remdesivir in children with COVID-19: report of an Italian multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is generally milder in children than in adults, however severe infection has been described in some patients. Few data are available on use of Remdesivir (RDV) in children, as most clinical trials focused on adult patients. We report a multicenter study conducted in 10 Italian Hospitals to investigate the safety of RDV in children affected by COVID-19. METHODS: We collected the clinical data of children with COVID-19 treated with RDV between March 2020 and February 2022 in 10 Italian hospitals. Clinical data were compared according to a duration of RDV therapy more or less than 5 days. Linear regression model was used to determine the association of significant variables from the bivariate analysis to the duration of RDV therapy. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were included, with a median age of 12.8 years. Many patients had at least one comorbidity (78%), mostly obesity. Symptoms were fever (88%), cough (74%) and dyspnea (68%). Most patients were diagnosed with pneumonia of either viral and/or bacterial etiology. Blood test showed leukopenia in 66% and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in 63% of cases. Thirty-six patients received RDV for 5 days, nine patients up to 10 days. Most children who received RDV longer were admitted to the PICU (67%). Treatment with RDV was well tolerated with rare side effects: bradycardia was recorded in 6% of cases, solved in less than 24 h after discontinuation. A mild elevation of transaminases was observed in 26% of cases, however for the 8%, it was still detected before the RDV administration. Therefore, in these cases, we could not establish if it was caused by COVID-19, RDV o both. Patients who received RDV for more than 5 days waited longer for its administration after pneumonia diagnosis. The presence of comorbidities and the duration of O2 administration significantly correlated with the duration of RDV therapy at the linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Our experience indicates that RDV against SARS-CoV-2 is safe and well-tolerated in pediatric populations at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. Our data suggest that delaying RDV therapy after diagnosis of pneumonia may be associated with a longer duration of antiviral therapy, especially in patients with comorbidities.

Does multiple gastric aspirate collection increase sensitivity of M. tuberculosis detection in children with pulmonary tuberculosis?

This study aims to investigate the sensitivity of microscopy, culture and polymerase chain reaction on three gastric aspirates (GAs) in the microbiological confirmation of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to identify possible changes in sensitivity derived from the collection of a different number of aspirates. Children with clinical and radiological diagnoses of active pulmonary TB who underwent three GAs between March 2007 and June 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical, radiological, and microbiological data were collected. The sensitivity of microbiological tests on GAs was calculated. Moreover, differences in sensitivity according to age and radiological pattern were investigated. Overall, 156 children with active pulmonary TB were enrolled with a median age of 51.5 (IQR: 25.2-113.2) months. Microbiological investigations on the first GA showed a sensitivity of 34% (95%CI 26.7, 42), the cumulative sensitivity of first and second GAs was 40.4% (95%CI 32.7, 48.5) and of the three GAs was 47.4% (95%CI 39.8, 55.2). The collection of three GAs leads to an overall increase in sensitivity of the first GA by 13.4% (95%CI 2.8, 24.1%; p=0.014). Moreover, the increase in sensitivity was significantly higher in children ≤ 4 years of age and in those with uncomplicated TB (p=0.008).Conclusions: Performing a higher number of GAs increases the sensitivity of microbiological confirmation of active pulmonary TB, particularly in children ≤ 4 years and with an uncomplicated radiological pattern. What is known: • The diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis is a challenge for paediatricians • Despite their low sensitivity gastric aspirates represent the standard sample for microbiological confirmation of active pulmonary tuberculosis in children • Most international guidelines recommend performing three sequential gastric aspirates on three consecutive days What is new: • A significant increase in global sensitivity by 13.4% was found by the collection of three gastric aspirates compared to the first one • Performing a higher number of gastric aspirates increases the sensitivity of microbiological confirmation, particularly in children ≤ 4 years and with an uncomplicated radiological pattern.

Safety of Sotrovimab use in children with COVID-19: an Italian experience.

Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody approved in adult and adolescents at high risk for COVID-19. Thirty-three children evaluated in five Italian paediatric centres received Sotrovimab infusion and were retrospectively enrolled from December 2021 to April 2022. In more than half of cases (19/33, 57.6%) Sotrovimab was prescribed off-label. Overall, the infusion was well tolerated with no significative differences in those receiving an off-label prescription. All children had a complete recovery. Data on the safety of Sotrovimab should be investigated in a larger paediatric cohort, considering the continuous selection of new SARS CoV-2 variants which may be more or less susceptible to the effects of the Sotrovimab.

Acute pharyngitis in children and adults: descriptive comparison of current recommendations from national and international guidelines and future perspectives.

This study aims to provide a comparison of the current recommendations about the management of acute pharyngitis. A literature search was conducted from January 2009 to 2023. Documents reporting recommendations on the management of acute pharyngitis were included, pertinent data were extracted, and a descriptive comparison of the different recommendations was performed. The quality of guidelines was assessed through the AGREE II instrument. Nineteen guidelines were included, and an overall moderate quality was found. Three groups can be distinguished: one group supports the antibiotic treatment of group A ß-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) to prevent acute rheumatic fever (ARF); the second considers acute pharyngitis a self-resolving disease, recommending antibiotics only in selected cases; the third group recognizes a different strategy according to the ARF risk in each patient. An antibiotic course of 10 days is recommended if the prevention of ARF is the primary goal; conversely, some guidelines suggest a course of 5-7 days, assuming the symptomatic cure is the goal of treatment. Penicillin V and amoxicillin are the first-line options. In the case of penicillin allergy, first-generation cephalosporins are a suitable choice. In the case of beta-lactam allergy, clindamycin or macrolides could be considered according to local resistance rates.    Conclusion: Several divergencies in the management of acute pharyngitis were raised among guidelines (GLs) from different countries, both in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach, allowing the distinction of 3 different strategies. Since GABHS pharyngitis could affect the global burden of GABHS disease, it is advisable to define a shared strategy worldwide. It could be interesting to investigate the following issues further: cost-effectiveness analysis of diagnostic strategies in different healthcare systems; local genomic epidemiology of GABHS infection and its complications; the impact of antibiotic treatment of GABHS pharyngitis on its complications and invasive GABHS infections; the role of GABHS vaccines as a prophylactic measure. The related results could aid the development of future recommendations. What is Known: • GABHS disease spectrum ranges from superficial to invasive infections and toxin-mediated diseases. • GABHS accounts for about 25% of sore throat in children and its management is a matter of debate. What is New: • Three strategies can be distinguished among current GLs: antibiotic therapy to prevent ARF, antibiotics only in complicated cases, and a tailored strategy according to the individual ARF risk. • The impact of antibiotic treatment of GABHS pharyngitis on its sequelae still is the main point of divergence; further studies are needed to achieve a global shared strategy.

Discomfort relief after paracetamol administration in febrile children admitted to a third level paediatric emergency department.

Background: international guidelines recommend treating fever in children not at a predefined body temperature limit but based on the presence of discomfort. However few studies evaluated discomfort relief after administration of antipyretics in children. Methods: Between 1st January and 30th September 2021 a single-center prospective observational study was performed in febrile children consecutively admitted to a pediatric emergency department and treated with paracetamol orally. For each child, body temperature, presence and severity of discomfort, defined using a previously published semiquantitative likert scale, were evaluated at baseline and 60 min after administration of paracetamol, and differences were analyzed. Results: 172 children (males: 91/172; 52.9%; median age: 41.7 months) were included. Significant reductions in body temperature (median body temperature at T0: 38.9 °C; IQR: 38.3-39.4, median body temperature at T60: 36.9 °C; IQR: 36.4-37.5; P < 0.0001), and in the level of discomfort (proportion of children with severe discomfort at T0: 85% and at T60:14%; P < 0.0001) were observed. Severe discomfort at T60 persisted in a minority of children (24/172; 14%) and it was not related to body temperature values. Conclusions: paracetamol in febrile children is associated not only with significantly reduction in body temperature but also with discomfort relief.

IgE-mediated Anisakis allergy in children.

Anisakids are nematodes responsible for different clinical patterns in humans. The well-known human-infecting Anisakis species include members of the Anisakis simplex (AS) complex. Humans usually contract anisakiasis through ingestion of raw or undercooked seafood containing Anisakis larvae. Once Anisakis has been ingested, patients may develop disease driven directly by Anisakis larvae and/or by allergic reaction due to this nematode. The capability of inducing allergic reactions depends on the expression of specific antigens by nematodes and host factors. This study aims to resume actual knowledge about AS and Anisakiasis with regard to epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. Particular attention is paid to Anisakis allergens and their cross-reactivity on available diagnostic methods, and defining a diagnostic pathway for Anisakis allergy. Because only a few data are available in the literature about pediatric population, we focus on this group of patients specifically.

Hearing Outcome and Virologic Characteristics of Children With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Relation to Antiviral Therapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is one of the leading causes of nongenetic sensorineural hearing loss. The aim of our retrospective cohort study was to describe the changes in hearing in relation to antiviral therapy and the trend in viremia and viruria in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. METHODS: In the present study, data were collected from infants treated with valganciclovir for 6 weeks or 6 months or untreated, seen between 2000 and 2021 at the Infectious Diseases Unit, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy. Hearing deterioration was studied using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and risk factors for the outcome "deterioration" with Cox analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-eight children were enrolled. Three children developed late hearing loss (2 children treated with valganciclovir for 6 weeks and 1 untreated). Kaplan-Meier survival curves of children treated for 6 weeks and 6 months overlapped until 36 months of life, after then 2 children of the 6-week group showed a worsening of hearing function (P = 0.609). Cox analysis did not show a significant impact of analyzed variables (group of therapy, viruria and viremia) on the outcome. The resolution of detectable viruria and viremia was significantly faster in the 6-month group (P = 0.011, <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first that reports audiological characteristics at follow-up after 24 months of life in treated and untreated children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. In our population, 6 months therapy may prevent the development of late hearing loss, although the different regimens did not differ in influencing the progression of congenital deafness.

Sensitivity of three commercial tests for SARS-CoV-2 serology in children: an Italian multicentre prospective study.

BACKGROUND: US Food and Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorizations for hundreds of serological assays to support Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate, for the first time in children, the performance of three widely utilized SARS-CoV-2 serology commercial assays, Diesse Diagnostics (IgG, IgA, IgM) and Roche Diagnostics, both Roche Nucleocapsid (N) IgG and Roche Spike (S) IgG assays. METHODS: Sensitivity and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for each of the three different serological tests and mixed and direct comparison were performed. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models were fitted to calculate incidence rate ratios and 95% CIs as estimate of the effects of age, gender, time on the serology title. A p-value < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. RESULTS: Overall, 149 children were enrolled in the study. A low sensitivity was found for Diesse IgA, IgM and IgG. Compare to Diesse, Roche S had a higher sensitivity at 15-28 days from infection (0.94, 95%CI: 0.73-1.0) and Roche N at 28-84 days (0.78, 95%CI: 0.58-0.91). When a direct comparison of IgG tests sensitivity was feasible for patients with pairwise information, Roche S and Roche N showed a statistically significant higher sensitivity compared to Diesse in all the study periods, whereas there was no difference between the two Roche tests. CONCLUSION: Roche S and Roche N serology tests seem to better perform in children. Large prospective studies are needed to better define the characteristics of those tests.

COVID-19 in Infants Less than 3 Months: Severe or Not Severe Disease?

Compared to adults, severe or fatal COVID-19 disease is much less common in children. However, a higher risk for progression has been reported in infants. Different pediatric COVID-19 severity scores are reported in the literature. Methods: Subjects under 90 days of age admitted to 35 Italian institutions for COVID-19 were included. The severity of COVID-19 was scored as mild/moderate or severe/critical following the classification reported in the literature by Venturini, Dong, Kanburoglu, and Gale. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of each classification system, we stratified all enrolled patients developing a posteriori severity score based on clinical presentation and outcomes and then compared all different scores analyzed. Results: We included 216 infants below 90 days of age. The most common symptom was fever, followed by coryza, poor feeding, cough, and gastrointestinal manifestations. According to Venturini, Dong, Kanburoglu, and Gale's severity scores, 18%, 6%, 4.2%, and 29.6% of infants presented with severe/critical disease, respectively. A correlation analysis between these four scores and the a posteriori severity score assigned to all enrolled subjects was performed, and a crescent strength of correlation from Gale (R = 0.355, p < 0.001) to Venturini (R = 0.425, p < 0.001), Dong (R = 0.734, p < 0.001), and Kanburoglu (R = 0.859, p < 0.001) was observed. Conclusions: The percentage of infants with severe COVID-19 varies widely according to the score systems. A unique clinical score should be designed for neonates and infants with COVID-19.

Unbalanced serum immunoglobulins in clinical subtypes of pediatric tuberculosis disease.

Immune response to tuberculosis (TB) has been extensively studied in the past decades and classically involves cellular immunity. However, evidence suggests that humoral immunity may play a relevant role. Past studies regarding serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in TB are dated and only involve adult subjects. In this study, we retrospectively studied a cohort of 256 children with TB disease and analyzed 111 patients screened for total serum Ig at diagnosis. According to the severity and extent of organ involvement, subjects were divided into four groups, namely, uncomplicated pulmonary TB (UCPTB, 56.3% of patients), complicated pulmonary TB (CPTB, 22.5%), lymph node extrapulmonary TB (LN-EPTB, 7.2%), and extra-nodal extrapulmonary TB (EN-EPTB, 13.5%). Serum IgG and IgA levels were significantly higher in more severe and extended TB disease. Median IgG levels progressively increased from uncomplicated to complicated pulmonary and nodal forms, reaching their highest values in diffuse extra-pulmonary TB. In parallel, UCPTB showed significantly lower frequencies of patients presenting a substantial increase in IgG levels when compared with the other three groups. No relevant differences in IgM levels were detected. Ig screening at follow-up showed a significant reduction in IgG and IgA levels. Finally, we unveiled three cases of selective IgA and one case of selective IgM deficiencies (SIgMD), the latter with a severe clinical course. Serum IgG and IgA may be a useful clinical tool to assess the severity and monitor the treatment response in pediatric TB disease. Moreover, immunological workup in children with TB disease may unmask primary defects of humoral immunity.

Early-onset fulminant neonatal sepsis caused by Multi-Drug Resistant and ESBL producing E. coli (CTX-M gene) in a late-preterm neonate: case report and literature review.

Neonatal sepsis is a systemic condition characterized by haemodynamic changes and other clinical manifestations due to a presence of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, or fungi) in nor- mally sterile fluid that occurs in an infant younger than 90 days old. Neonatal sepsis may be divided into two types: early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) and late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS). Gram-posi- tive microorganisms are the etiological agents in 62% of EOS, and in 43% of the total the identified microorganism is GBS. Gram-negative microorganisms comprise 37% of the etiological agents of EOS, of which 29% are caused by Escherichia coli. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae represent a major worldwide threat among drug-resistant bacteria in both hospital and community settings. ESBLs are often located on large plasmids that also harbour genes resistant to other antimicrobial classes, resulting in multidrug-resistant isolates. Plasmid-encoded ESBLs of the CTX-M-type are increasingly reported worldwide in Gram-negative rods and now account for most of the ESBLs found in Enterobacteriaceae. We present one case of EOS by Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) and ESBL producing E. coli (CTX-M gene) in a neonate born to a mother recently immigrated from Africa. Maternal blood culture grew the same bacteria.

Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Neonates and Children Undergoing Neurosurgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study.

Pediatric neurosurgery is a highly specialized branch of surgery in which surgical site infections (SSIs) are potentially serious complications that can also adversely affect a good surgical outcome, compromising functional recovery and, in some cases, even putting the patient's life at risk. The main aim of this consensus document is to provide clinicians with a series of recommendations on antimicrobial prophylaxis for neonates and children undergoing neurosurgery. The following scenarios were considered: (1) craniotomy or cranial/cranio-facial approach to craniosynostosis; (2) neurosurgery with a trans-nasal-trans-sphenoidal approach; (3) non-penetrating head injuries; (4) penetrating head fracture; (5) spinal surgery (extradural and intradural); (6) shunt surgery or neuroendoscopy; (7) neuroendovascular procedures. Patients undergoing neurosurgery often undergo peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis, with different schedules, not always supported by scientific evidence. This consensus provides clear and shared indications, based on the most updated literature. This work has been made possible by the multidisciplinary contribution of experts belonging to the most important Italian scientific societies, and represents, in our opinion, the most complete and up-to-date collection of recommendations on the behavior to be held in the peri-operative setting in this type of intervention, in order to guide physicians in the management of the patient, standardize approaches and avoid abuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Neonates and Children: Non-Pharmacological Measures of Prevention.

A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs in the incision created by an invasive surgical procedure. Although most infections are treatable with antibiotics, SSIs remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery and have a significant economic impact on health systems. Preventive measures are essential to decrease the incidence of SSIs and antibiotic abuse, but data in the literature regarding risk factors for SSIs in the pediatric age group are scarce, and current guidelines for the prevention of the risk of developing SSIs are mainly focused on the adult population. This document describes the current knowledge on risk factors for SSIs in neonates and children undergoing surgery and has the purpose of providing guidance to health care professionals for the prevention of SSIs in this population. Our aim is to consider the possible non-pharmacological measures that can be adopted to prevent SSIs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide recommendations based on a careful review of the available scientific evidence for the non-pharmacological prevention of SSIs in neonates and children. The specific scenarios developed are intended to guide the healthcare professional in practice to ensure standardized management of the neonatal and pediatric patients, decrease the incidence of SSIs and reduce antibiotic abuse.

Peri-Operative Prophylaxis in Patients of Neonatal and Pediatric Age Subjected to Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a potential complication of surgical procedures, with a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery are often considered patients at high risk of developing SSIs. This consensus document aims to provide information on the management of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis for the pediatric and neonatal population undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac thoracic surgery. The following scenarios were considered: (1) cardiac surgery for the correction of congenital heart disease and/or valve surgery; (2) cardiac catheterization without the placement of prosthetic material; (3) cardiac catheterization with the placement of prosthetic material; (4) implantable cardiac defibrillator or epicardial pacemaker placement; (5) patients undergoing ExtraCorporal Membrane Oxygenation; (6) cardiac tumors and heart transplantation; (7) non-cardiac thoracic surgery with thoracotomy; (8) non-cardiac thoracic surgery using video-assisted thoracoscopy; (9) elective chest drain placement in the pediatric patient; (10) elective chest drain placement in the newborn; (11) thoracic drain placement in the trauma setting. This consensus provides clear and shared indications, representing the most complete and up-to-date collection of practice recommendations in pediatric cardiac and thoracic surgery, in order to guide physicians in the management of the patient, standardizing approaches and avoiding the abuse and misuse of antibiotics.