Pneumococcal pneumonia in hospitalized Uruguayan children and potential prevention with different vaccine formulations.

OBJECTIVES: To provide information on pneumococcal pneumonias, on their associated serotypes, and to estimate the coverage potentially afforded by antipneumococcal vaccines. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study (2000 to 2004) was performed of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia aged 0 to 14 years admitted to the National Reference Children's Hospital in Uruguay. Selected clinical data, radiographic interpretation, and microbiologic reports were obtained for analysis. RESULTS: Of 410 enrolled patients, 384 had consolidated pneumonia/pleural effusion and 26 had infiltrates without consolidation: Pneumococcus was identified in blood or in pleural fluid of 387 patients; 21 serotypes were identified. The most frequent serotypes in decreasing order were serotypes 14, 1, 5, 3, 9V, 6B, and 7F. Forty-eight percent of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were obtained from children younger than 24 months. For this group, the 7-valent vaccine would cover 60%, but a 10-valent vaccine would cover 83.8%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information on pneumonia of proven S. pneumoniae causes and their associated serotypes, enabling estimation of potential effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

A population-based assessment of the disease burden of consolidated pneumonia in hospitalized children under five years of age.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies on childhood community-acquired pneumonia are scarce in Latin America. Pneumococcal epidemiology is poorly defined, hence the World Health Organization recommended standardized chest radiograph interpretation to improve the approach to bacterial pneumonia. Therefore, our study aimed to estimate the burden of pneumonia in hospitalized children. METHODS: A three-year surveillance study was carried out in four hospitals covering a population of 229,128 inhabitants of whom 10.2% were under five years of age. Clinical records and digitization of their chest radiographs were obtained. A pediatrician and a pediatric radiologist blinded to the clinical diagnosis interpreted the digital images. RESULTS: Of 2034 patients, 826 (40.6%) had consolidated pneumonia, 941 (46.3%) had non-consolidated pneumonia, and 267 (13.1%) had no pneumonia. Children under two years of age predominated (66.9%). The average annual incidence rate for consolidated pneumonia over the three-year study period was 1175/10(5). Eighteen invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated from patients with consolidated pneumonia and two from those with non-consolidated pneumonia. Respiratory syncytial virus was evenly distributed between both X-ray groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients younger than two years of age predominated, being the main targets for anti-pneumococcal conjugated vaccines. Incidence rates provided evidence of the burden of consolidated pneumonia for childhood, estimating the potential benefits of vaccination.

Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on the incidence of pneumonia in hospitalized children after five years of its introduction in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: Data on the burden of pneumococcal disease and the most frequent serotypes demonstrated that invasive disease and pneumonia were important manifestations affecting children under 5 years of age. Therefore, pneumococcal diseases prevention became a public health priority. Uruguay was the first Latin American country to incorporate PCV7 into its National Immunization Program. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence rates for hospitalized pneumonia in children from the pre PCV introduction period and the following five years of PCVs application in Uruguay. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Population-based surveillance of pneumonia hospitalization rates, in children, less than 14 years of age, had been performed prior pneumococcal vaccination, and continued following PCV7 introduction and PCV13 replacement, using the same methodology. Hospitalized children with pneumonia were enrolled from January 1, 2009 through December 31st, 2012. The study was carried out in an area with a population of 238,002 inhabitants of whom 18, 055 were under five years of age. Patients with acute lower respiratory infections for whom a chest radiograph was performed on admission were eligible. Digitalized radiographs were interpreted by a reference radiologist, using WHO criteria. Pneumonia was confirmed in 2,697 patients, 1,267 with consolidated and 1,430 with non consolidated pneumonia of which incidence decrease, between 2009 and 2012, was 27.3% and 46.4% respectively. 2001-2004 and 2009-2012 comparison showed a significant difference of 20.4% for consolidated pneumonia hospitalizations. A significant incidence decline was recorded among children 6 to 35 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: An overall significant reduction in pneumonia hospitalizations was observed following the introduction of PCV7 and furthermore following the change to PCV13.

Hospitalized children with pneumonia in Uruguay: pre and post introduction of 7 and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccines into the National Immunization Program.

INTRODUCTION: Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia burden in children was poorly defined in Uruguay. A three-year population-based surveillance demonstrated the impact of the pneumonia in hospitalized children of less than five years of age. To control these diseases in March 2008, Uruguayan health authorities decided to incorporate PCV7 to the National Immunization Program administered at 2, 4 and 12 months of age (2+1 schedule). OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of consolidated pneumonia hospitalization in children less than five years of age before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation. METHODS: Same methodology of the prevaccination study was employed. The surveillance was carried out at the same four hospitals covering a population of 229,128 inhabitants (2004 Census) of whom 10.2% were under five years of age. Clinical data, vaccination status and digitization of their chest X-rays were recorded. A pediatric radiologist blinded to the clinical diagnosis interpreted the digital images according WHO definitions. Bacterial etiology was investigated in blood and/or in pleural fluid. RESULTS: Between January 1st 2009 and June 30th 2011 patients were enrolled. Out of 23,445 children<5 years of age, 1224 were hospitalized with pneumonia (430 consolidated pneumonias and 794 non consolidated pneumonias). Pleural effusion was recorded in 89 patients. In 48 consolidated pneumonias S. pneumoniae etiology was recognized. Post vaccination incidence rate of consolidated pneumonia in patients aged 12-23 months showed a significant reduction (44.9%) if we compare it with the incidence of pneumonia hospitalization in the previous study. In March 2010, PCV13 replaced PCV7. Compliance of PCV7/13 globally was 92% but the vaccination status varied among the surveyed patients because two catch-ups were carried out in addition to the routine cohort vaccination. From 2009 1st semester to 2011 1st semester incidence rates decline reached 59%. CONCLUSION: To date, the ongoing surveillance documented a significant decline on incidence of hospitalizations for consolidated pneumonia in children younger than 24 months of age, confirming the success of the 2+1 vaccination schedule.

Modificaciones en el tratamiento de pacientes con bronquiolitis luego de la radiografía de tórax / Treatment modifications in patients with bronchiolitis after chest X-rays

Resumen: Introducción: las pautas nacionales vigentes sobre bronquiolitis recomiendan la realización de radiografía de tórax a todos los pacientes admitidos en áreas de internación. Estudios recientes sugieren que esta conducta tiene bajo rendimiento para diagnosticar complicaciones y determina una mayor prescripción de antibióticos. Objetivos: analizar las características de la radiografía de tórax en pacientes con bronquiolitis que requieren hospitalización y comprobar si se modificó la conducta terapéutica a partir de la realización de la misma. Material y métodos: estudio observacional prospectivo durante el invierno de 2015 en dos centros de asistencia pediátrica. Las radiografías fueron interpretadas por médicos clínicos y un imagenólogo siguiendo un protocolo único en forma independiente. Resultados: se incluyeron 82 pacientes en el estudio. Se observó una escasa coincidencia entre las lecturas radiográficas del médico clínico y el médico imagenólogo. El médico clínico informó neumonía en la radiografía con mayor frecuencia que el imagenólogo (26% vs 6%), Se observó indicación de antibióticos por parte del MC en pacientes con radiografías informadas por el MI como típicas de bronquiolitis. Conclusiones: la radiografía de tórax en lactantes hospitalizados por bronquiolitis fue normal o típica en un 93%. Hubo escasa coincidencia entre el informe del médico clínico y el médico imagenólogo. Se constató una mayor prescripción de antibióticos basado en la interpretación radiográfica realizada por el médico clínico, y no confirmadas por el MI.

Summary: Introduction: current national guidelines recommend routine chest x-rays to patients admitted with bronchiolitis. Recent publications suggest that performing chest x-rays to all admitted infants results in low performance rates in the diagnosis of complications and leads to higher rates of antibiotic prescription. Objectives: to analyze chest x-ray findings in admitted patients with bronchiolitis, and to evaluate whether x-rays findings determine modifications in medical treatment. Compare the interpretation of the x-rays between clinicians and radiologists. Method: observational study conducted in winter 2015, in the pediatric units of two different hospitals. X-rays were independently interpreted by clinicians and by one radiologist, following a single protocol. Results: 82 patients were included in the study. According to the radiologist, 6 % showed complications or non-consistent findings with broncholitis in the chest x-ray (atypical). Clinicians and radiologists interpretation of chest x-rays were barely coincident. Clinicians diagnosed pneumonia more frequently than imagenologists (26% vs 6%), leading to higher antibiotic prescription. Clinicians diagnosed anitbiotics in x-rays informed as typical bronchiolitis by imagenologists. Conclusions: chest x-ray in admitted infants with bronchiolitis were either normal or typical in 93 % of normal or typical findings. Clinicians´ and radiologists´ interpretations differed significantly. Clinicians overdiagnosed pneumonia, and thus antibiotic prescription was higher based on their x-ray interpretation.

Investigación de metapneumovirus humano en pacientes hospitalizados: estudio multicéntrico / Research of human metapneumovirus in hospitalized patients: a multicenter study

Introducción: las infecciones respiratorias agudas bajas (IRAB) son la primer causa de hospitalización a lo largo del año. La etiología viral es la más frecuente. El Metapneumovirus humano (MNVh) ha sido vinculado a las IRAB con aspirado negativo para Virus respiratorio sincicial (VRS) y Adenovirus (AD). Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia, epidemiología, clínica y severidad de las infecciones por MNVh, e intentar detectar un patrón radiológico relacionado con el mismo. Métodos: se estudiaron niños entre 0 y 2 años de edad internados por IRAB en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Hospital Policial, Hospital Británico y Asociación Española Primera de Socorros Mutuos en el período 1 de abril al 30 de noviembre de 2006. Los aspirados nasofaríngeos fueron analizados en la Sección Virología de la Facultad de Ciencias. Resultados: se estudiaron 185 pacientes, obteniéndose 17 resultados positivos para MNVh (9,2%), con 9 coinfecciones con VRS. La mayoría de los pacientes tenían 6 meses o menos de edad. Las manifestaciones clínicas principales fueron polipnea, tirajes y sibilancias. Los principales hallazgos radiológicos fueron infiltrado intersticial difuso e hiperinsuflación. Ningún paciente requirió internación en unidad de cuidados intensivos y no hubo casos fatales. Conclusiones: la prevalencia, características clínicas y evolutivas de las infecciones por MNVh no mostraron diferencias frente a las producidas por el VRS.

Neumonía comunitaria: su impacto en la demanda asistencial del Departamento de Emergencia Pediátrica

Resumen Objetivos: determinar la demanda de atención de las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) en el Departamento de Emergencia (DEP), y dentro de éstas analizar la frecuencia y manejo terapéutico de las neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad que se hospitalizan y aquellas que reciben tratamiento ambulatorio. Material y método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo: prospectivo de registro de consultas por IRA en los diferentes sectores del DEP y retrospectivo de revisión de historias de neumonías. Se incluyeron historias consecutivas de casos ocurridos en tres trimestres de verano y tres de invierno entre 2001 y 2003. Se analizó su frecuencia según edad, sexo, procedencia, características radiográficas y manejo hospitalizado o ambulatorio. Resultados: en el DEP se registró un promedio anual de 59.812 pacientes, de los cuales 31,2% cursaban algún tipo de IRA, correspondiendo 85,9% a infecciones altas y 14,1% a bajas. De éstas, se analizaron 2.053 historias de neumonía. La media de edad fue de tres años. La mayoría de los pacientes que residían en la capital o en su área de influencia (96,3%) fueron tratados ambulatoriamente (61,0%). La decisión de hospitalización se realizó en todos los casos de neumonía con derrame, en 34,8% de los pacientes con consolidación radiológica y en 24,8% de los pacientes con infiltrados. Se indicaron antibióticos en 87,4% de los casos. Conclusiones: las IRA y las neumonías representaron una demanda de atención importante, pero la mayoría de las neumonías, inclusive las con consolidación parenquimatosa, fueron tratadas ambulatoriamente. Futuros estudios confirmarán la efectividad de esos tratamientos, y el costo-efectividad de vacunas antineumococo.

Summary Objectives: to determine the demand of acute respiratory tract infections in the emergency department and analyze its frequency, treatment and the need of hospitalization. Methods: a descriptive prospective study registering respiratory tract infections consults at the emergency department was realized. A retrospective review analizing previous stories of pneumonias was also done. Consecutive cases which occured in three summers and winters trimesters between 2001 and 2003 were included. Frequency according to age, sex, chest x-ray characteristics, patients origin and management either ambulatory or hospitalized were analyzed. Results: in the emergency department there are 59.812 consultations anually, 31,2% had respiratory tract infections. 85,9% were upper tract infections and 14,1% were from the lower tract. 2.053 pneumonia stories were analyzed. The medium age was 3 years old. Most patients who resided at the urban area or its surroundings (96,3%) were treated ambulatory (61%). Hospitalized patients included all patients with pleural fluid; 34% who had in the chest x-ray a consolidated image and in 24,8% who had a diffuse infiltrate. Antibiotics were administered in 87,4% of the cases. Conclusions: pneumonias and respiratory tract infections represent an important demand but the majority even with a consolidated image were treated at home. Future studies are needed in order to conclude the effectiveness of the treatment and the benefits from the pneumococcal vaccine.

Etiology and severity of community acquired pneumonia in children from Uruguay: a 4-year study

O estudo de quatro anos de duracao (1987-1990) abarcou as principais caracteristicas clinico-epidemiologicas de pneumonia em criancas, tal como foi diagnosticado no servico de emergencia do Hospital Infantil, e tambem as etiologias e fatores implicados nos casos mais severos. Determinou-se a etiologia em 47.7 por cento dos 541 casos de pneumonia, que incluiam 283 patogenos, dos quais 38.6 por cento eram virus e 12.6 por cento bacterias. Observou-se etiologia viral e mista mais frequentemente nas criancas de menos de 12 meses. A etiologia prevaleceu nas idades entre 6 e 23 meses. Com relacao aos virus, a predominancia foi de RSV com prevalencia de 66 por cento do total de virus. Os mais importantes agentes bacterianos foram S. pneumoniae (64 por cento) e H. influenzae (19 por cento)....