Evaluation of nutritional status in pediatric intensive care unit patients: the results of a multicenter, prospective study in Turkey.

Introduction: Malnutrition is defined as a pathological condition arising from deficient or imbalanced intake of nutritional elements. Factors such as increasing metabolic demands during the disease course in the hospitalized patients and inadequate calorie intake increase the risk of malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate nutritional status of patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Turkey, examine the effect of nutrition on the treatment process and draw attention to the need for regulating nutritional support of patients while continuing existing therapies. Material and Method: In this prospective multicenter study, the data was collected over a period of one month from PICUs participating in the PICU Nutrition Study Group in Turkey. Anthropometric data of the patients, calorie intake, 90-day mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay and length of stay in intensive care unit were recorded and the relationship between these parameters was examined. Results: Of the 614 patients included in the study, malnutrition was detected in 45.4% of the patients. Enteral feeding was initiated in 40.6% (n = 249) of the patients at day one upon admission to the intensive care unit. In the first 48 h, 86.82% (n = 533) of the patients achieved the target calorie intake, and 81.65% (n = 307) of the 376 patients remaining in the intensive care unit achieved the target calorie intake at the end of one week. The risk of mortality decreased with increasing upper mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.871/0.894; p = 0.027/0.024). The risk of mortality was 2.723 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h (p = 0.006) and the risk was 3.829 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at the end of one week (p = 0.001). The risk of mortality decreased with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.894; p = 0.024). Conclusion: Timely and appropriate nutritional support in critically ill patients favorably affects the clinical course. The results of the present study suggest that mortality rate is higher in patients who fail to achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h and day seven of admission to the intensive care unit. The risk of mortality decreases with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score.

Mortality risk factors among critically ill children with MIS-C in PICUs: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated of clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality risk factors of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children admitted to a the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 at 41 PICUs in Turkey. The study population comprised 322 children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. RESULTS: The organ systems most commonly involved were the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 294 (91.3%) patients and corticosteroids in 266 (82.6%). Seventy-five (23.3%) children received therapeutic plasma exchange treatment. Patients with a longer duration of the PICU stay had more frequent respiratory, hematological, or renal involvement, and also had higher D-dimer, CK-MB, and procalcitonin levels. A total of 16 patients died, with mortality higher in patients with renal, respiratory, or neurological involvement, with severe cardiac impairment or shock. The non-surviving group also had higher leukocyte counts, lactate and ferritin levels, and a need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of MIS-C, high levels of D-dimer and CK-MB are associated with a longer duration of PICU stay. Non-survival correlates with elevated leukocyte counts and lactate and ferritin levels. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality. IMPACT: MIS-C is a life-threatening condition. Patients need to be followed up in the intensive care unit. Early detection of factors associated with mortality can improve outcomes. Determining the factors associated with mortality and length of stay will help clinicians in patient management. High D-dimer and CK-MB levels were associated with longer PICU stay, and higher leukocyte counts, ferritin and lactate levels, and mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in MIS-C patients. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality.

Anaphylaxis during puncture of a hepatic hydatid cyst.

Although hydatid cyst infects many organs, it most commonly involves liver, lungs, and central nervous system. The goal of hydatid cyst treatment is to completely eliminate the parasite and to prevent recurrences with minimal mortality and morbidity. The procedure of puncture, aspiration, injection of a scolicidal, and reaspiration (PAIR) of a cyst has been introduced as an alternative to surgical method since it is less invasive and less morbid and is associated with a shorter hospital stay and a lower cost. Herein, we report an 11-year-old girl who developed anaphylaxis during the puncture of a hepatic hydatid cyst. The patient who developed anaphylaxis during the PAIR procedure was administered intravenous adrenaline, methyl prednisolone, and antihistaminic medication. She was intubated and provided assisted ventilation using a mechanic ventilator. The child was extubated 4 h after her admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. During follow-up, the contents of her hepatic hydatid cysts were aspirated through a catheter, followed by their irrigation with 20% sodium chloride and re-aspiration. Then, 97% ethyl alcohol was injected into the cyst cavity to make it collapse. The goal of this report was to draw attention to the rare occurrence of anaphylaxis during the PAIR procedure and to stress that clini-cians should be vigilant for this complication.

The clinical course and short-term health outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in the single pediatric rheumatology center.

OBJECTIVES: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe condition resulting in excessive response of the immune system after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We report a single-center cohort of children with MIS-C, describing the spectrum of presentation, therapies, clinical course, and short-term outcomes. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study from to a tertiary pediatric rheumatology center including patients (aged 1 month to 21 years) diagnosed with MIS-C between April 2020-April 2021. Demographic, clinical, laboratory results and follow-up data were collected through the electronic patient record system and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients with MIS-C were included in the study. Fever was detected in all patients; gastrointestinal system symptoms were found in 67.2% of the patients, rash in 38.8%, conjunctivitis in 31.3%, hypotension in 26.9% myocarditis, and/or pericarditis in 22.4%, respectively. Respiratory symptoms were only in five patients (7.5%). Kawasaki Disease like presentation was found 37.3% of the patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 11.8 7.07 days. Fifty-seven patients (85%) received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 45 (67%) received corticosteroids, 17 (25.3%) received anakinra, and one (1.5%) received tocilizumab. Seven of the patients (10.4%) underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). In 21 (31.3%) patients, a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was required in a median of 2 days. The first finding to improve was fever, while the first parameter to decrease was ferritin (median 6.5 days (IQR, 4-11.2 days)). Sixty-five patients were discharged home with a median duration of hospital stay of 10 days (IQR, 7-15 days). CONCLUSION: Patients with MIS-C may have severe cardiac findings and intensive care requirements in admission and hospital follow-up. The vast majority of these findings improve with effective treatment without any sequelae until discharge and in a short time in follow-up. Although the pathogenesis and treatment plan of the disease are partially elucidated, follow-up studies are needed in terms of long-term prognosis and relapse probabilities.

The Role of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new potentially life-threatening disease that is related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study is to reveal the clinical and laboratory results of MIS-C and the role of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in its treatment. Clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of the patients who were admitted to the pediatric ward and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of MIS-C between April 2020 and March 2021 were included in the study. Forty-one patients were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of MIS-C. Twenty-one (51.2%) patients were admitted to the PICU. Six patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation (14.6%), 10 patients (24.4%) TPE and 3 patients (7.3%) needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The patients were grouped according to need for PICU admission (Group 1: no need for PICU, Group 2: need for PICU admission). Group 2 had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ferritin, D-dimer, pro-B type natriuretic peptide (pro BNP) and lactate (p < 0.05). Hyponatremia found to be an independent risk factor for inpatient MIS-C in the PICU. We think that dynamic laboratory trending is beneficial in determining the need for PICU admission and TPE may be effective in critically ill patients.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Application in Children Requires Individual Decision.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a treatment administered with the aim of removing a pathogenic material or compound causing morbidity in a variety of neurologic, hematologic, renal, and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we aimed to assess the indications, efficacy, reliability, complications, and treatment response of pediatric patients for TPE. This retrospective study analyzed data from 39 patients aged from 0 to 18 years who underwent a total of 172 TPE sessions from January 2015 to April 2018 in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit. Indications for TPE were, in order of frequency, macrophage activation syndrome (28.2%, n = 11), renal transplantation rejection (15.4%, n = 6), liver failure (15.4%, n = 6), Guillain-Barre's syndrome (15%, n = 6), hemolytic uremic syndrome (7.7%, n = 3), acute demyelinating disease (7.7%, n = 3), septic shock (5.1%, n = 2), and intoxication (5.1%, n = 2). No patient had any adverse event related to the TPE during the procedure. The TPE session was ended prematurely in one patient due to insufficient vascular access and lack of blood flow (2.6%). In the long term, thrombosis due to the indwelling central catheter occurred (5.1%, n = 2). TPE appears to be an effective first-stage or supplementary treatment in a variety of diseases, may be safely used in pediatric patients, and there are significant findings that its area of use will increase. In experienced hands and when assessed carefully, it appears that the rate of adverse reactions and vascular access problems may be low enough to be negligible.

Resistant gram-negative infections in a pediatric intensive care unit: a retrospective study in a tertiary care center.

AIM: Healthcare-associated infections cause increased morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. In this study, it was aimed to compare infections with multi-drug resistance and extended drug resistance, while evaluating the characteristics of resistant Gram-negative infections in the pediatric intensive care unit in our university hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, pediatric patients who were found to have Gram-negative infections during hsopitalization in the pediatric intensive care unit in our faculty between January 2011 and December 2015, were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: One thousand thirty patients were internalized in our unit in the study period. The incidence for healthcare-associated infection was found as 17.2% and the incidence density was found as 32.7 per 1000 patient days. The incidence for healthcare-related infection per 1000 device days and the rate for device use were calculated as 66.9 and 0.59, respectively. One hundred thirty Gram-negative infection episodes were found in 79 patients whose median age was 22 (1-205) months. The most common infections included ventilator-related pneumonia (n=78, 60%) and bloodstream infections (n=38, 29.2%). The most common causative agents included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=50, 38.5%), Kleibsiella pneumonia (n=32, 24.6%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (n=28, 21.5%). Among A. baumannii isolates, the rates for resistance against piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem were found as 96.4% and 89.3%, respectively. Empirical use of carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones, the presence of total parenteral nutrition and history of Gram-negative bacterial infections prior to pediatric intensive care unit admission were significantly more common among extended-drug Gram-negative bacterial infections. The late mortality rate was found to be higher in presence of extended drug resistance. History of Gram-negative infection was found to be an independent risk factor in terms of extended drug resistance. CONCLUSION: Healthcare-associated infections are an important health problem and it is important for infection control committees of hospitals to determine and apply strategies according to hospital colonization in prevention.

AMAÇ: Saglik bakimi iliskili enfeksiyonlar yogun bakim birimlerinde yüksek hastalik ve ölüme neden olmaktadir. Bu çalismada, üniversite hastanemiz çocuk yogun bakim birimindeki dirençli gram negatif enfeksiyonlarin özellikleri degerlendirilirken; çok ilaca dirençli ve genisletilmis ilaç direnci olan enfeksiyonlarin karsilastirilmasi amaçlanmistir. GEREÇ VE YÖNTEMLER: Bu çalismada Ocak 2011­Aralik 2015 yillari arasinda, fakültemiz çocuk yogun bakim biriminde yatisi sirasinda gram negatif enfeksiyon saptanan çocuk hastalar geriye dönük olarak degerlendirildi. BULGULAR: Çalisma döneminde birimimize 1 030 hasta yatirildi; saglik bakimi iliskili enfeksiyon sikligi %17,2, siklik yogunlugu 1 000 hasta günü basina 32,7 idi. 1 000 cihaz günü basina saglik bakimi iliskili enfeksiyon sikligi ve cihaz kullanim orani sirasiyla 66,9 ve 0,59 olarak hesaplandi. Yas ortancasi 22 (1­205) ay olan 79 hastada, 130 gram negatif enfeksiyon atagi saptandi. En sik saptanan enfeksiyonlar, ventilatör iliskili pnömoni (n=78, %60) ve kan akim enfeksiyonu (n=38, %29,2) idi. En sik etkenler Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=50, %38,5), Kleibsiella pneumonia (n=32, %24,6) ve Acinetobacter baumannii (n=28, %21,5) idi. A. baumannii izolatlari arasinda piperasilin-tazobaktam ve meropenem direnci sirasi ile %96,4 ve %89,3 saptandi. Ampirik karbapenem, aminoglikozid ve florokinolon kullanimi, total parenteral nütrisyon varligi, yogun bakim öncesi geçirilmis gram negatif enfeksiyon öyküsü anlamli olarak daha yüksekti. Geç dönem ölüm hizi genisletilmis ilaç direnci varliginda daha yüksek saptandi. Geçirilmis gram negatif enfeksiyon öyküsü, genisletilmis ilaç direnci açisindan bagimsiz risk etmeni olarak bulundu. ÇIKARIMLAR: Saglik bakimi iliskili enfeksiyonlar önemli bir saglik sorunudur ve önlemede mümkünse her hastanenin kendi enfeksiyon kontrol kurulunun hastane kolonizasyonuna göre stratejiler belirleyip uygulamasi önemlidir.

Comparative evaluation of liver, spleen, and kidney stiffness in HIV-monoinfected pediatric patients via shear wave elastography

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the stiffness of the liver, spleen, and kidneys in HIV-monoinfected children via shear wave elastography (SWE). Materials and methods: Twenty-one HIV-monoinfected children and 37 healthy subjects were included in this study. Livers, spleens, and kidneys of the participants were examined via ultrasound and SWE. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of pathologic ultrasonographic findings. Routine laboratory tests were also recorded. Stiffness of these organs was compared between patients and control groups. Results: Liver transaminases, blood urea, and creatinine levels were normal in all subjects. Ultrasonographic examination revealed hepatosplenomegaly (n = 1, 4.7%), grade 1 hepatosteatosis (n = 1, 4.7%), and hepatosteatosis and minimal heterogeneity of the liver (n = 1, 4.7%). Ultrasonographic features were normal in 18 patients. Stiffness of the liver, spleen, and kidneys of all HIV-monoinfected children with normal laboratory parameters was significantly higher than in healthy subjects. Eighteen patients with normal ultrasonographic findings also had higher stiffness values when compared to control subjects. Conclusion: Stiffness of the liver, spleen, and kidneys in HIV-monoinfected children was increased. SWE can be used in the detection of early parenchymal changes even in patients with normal laboratory parameters and ultrasonographic findings.

Shear wave elastography of parotid glands in pediatric patients with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: Parotid gland (PG) involvement is common among the patients with HIV infection. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a noninvasive method used to measure the tissue stiffness of several organs including PG. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tissue stiffness values of PGs of HIV-infected children via SWE and compare the results with the counterparts of healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, prospective study included the PG examinations of 23 pediatric HIV patients and 40 healthy children via grayscale ultrasound and SWE. Independent sample T test and Mann-Whitney U test were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: Stiffness of both PGs was significantly higher in patients' group when compared with control subjects. In addition, when the patients were separated into two groups according to the appearance of PG on grayscale ultrasound as homogeneous and heterogeneous, stiffness values were increased in the patients with homogeneous parenchymal appearance. No significant difference was achieved in terms of median CD4 and CD8 counts, HIV RNA levels or median duration of illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: PG examination of HIV-infected children via SWE reveals increased tissue stiffness when compared with healthy subjects. SWE can be used as an ultrasound-assisted noninvasive technique in this manner.

Evaluation of Candida species and antifungal susceptibilities among children with invasive candidiasis.

AIM: Non-albicans Candida species and resistant microorganisms have been more commonly isolated in invasive candidiasis in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distrubution of Candida spp and antifungal resistance in our clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-four Candida isolates and antifungal susceptibility results obtained from patients diagnosed as having invasive candidiasis between December 2012 and June 2016 were included. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed. E-test method was used in order to determine antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp for amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and flucytosine. RESULTS: The clinical diagnoses of the patients were candidemia (n=27, 50%), catheter-related blood stream infection (n=1, 1.8%), urinary tract infection (n=13, 24%), surgical site infection (n=4, 7.4%), intraabdominal infection (n=3, 5.5%), empyema (n=2, 3.7%), and pneumonia (n=4, 7.4%). The most common isolated agent was C. albicans (n=27, 50%) and the others were C. parapsilosis (n=13, 24%), C. tropicalis (n=6, 11.1%), C. glabrata (n=3, 5.6%), C. lusitaniae (n=2, 3.7%), and unspecified Candida spp. (n=3, 5.6%). Fluconazole resistance was 7.4% among all isolates. Resistance against itraconazole, ketoconazole, anidulafungin, voriconazole and caspofungin were 33.3%, 12.5%, 11.1%, 5%, and 2.5%, respectively. Isolates presented intermediate resistance against itraconazole (41.7%), voriconazole (5.6%), and amphotericin B (3.7%) to varying extents. All of the isolates were susceptible to flucytosine. CONCLUSIONS: In our clinic, C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species were equally distributed and antifungal susceptibilities against major antifungal agents such as fluconazole, amphotericin B, and caspofungin were found considerably high.