Current state and practice variation in the use of Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) FilmArray panel in children.

BACKGROUND: The Meningitis/Encephalitis FilmArray® Panel (ME panel) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015 and provides rapid results when assessing patients with suspected meningitis or encephalitis. These patients are evaluated by various subspecialties including pediatric hospital medicine (PHM), pediatric emergency medicine (PEM), pediatric infectious diseases, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) physicians. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current use of the ME panel and describe the provider and subspecialty practice variation. METHODS: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey via the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Hospital Medicine (AAP-SOHM) ListServe, Brown University PEM ListServe, and PICU Virtual pediatric system (VPS) Listserve. RESULTS: A total of 335 participants out of an estimated 6998 ListServe subscribers responded to the survey. 68% reported currently using the ME panel at their institutions. Among test users, most reported not having institutional guidelines on test indications (75%) or interpretation (76%). 58% of providers self-reported lack of knowledge of the test's performance characteristics. Providers from institutions that have established guidelines reported higher knowledge compared to those that did not (51% vs. 38%; p = 0.01). More PHM providers reported awareness of ME panel performance characteristics compared to PEM physicians (48% vs. 27%; p = 0.004); confidence in test interpretation was similar between both groups (72 vs. 69%; p = 0.80). CONCLUSION: Despite the widespread use of the ME panel, few providers report having institutional guidelines on test indications or interpretation. There is an opportunity to provide knowledge and guidance about the ME panel among various pediatric subspecialties.

Mid-term Results of Femoral and Tibial Osteotomies and Fassier-Duval Nailing in Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

BACKGROUND: Patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) have significant burden of both fractures and bony deformities. The present approach to care in this disorder is a combination of surgical care with intramedullary rod fixation, cyclic bisphosphonate therapy, and rehabilitation with goal of maximizing patient function and quality of life. METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified 58 children with OI who had realignment osteotomies with Fassier-Duval (FD) intramedullary nailing of the lower extremity by a single surgeon. This is a consecutive series treated between 2003 and 2010. Postoperatively, patients were followed up clinically and radiologically. Motor function was assessed using the Brief Assessment of Motor Function score and the walking scale subset of the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients had 179 lower extremity FD intramedullary rods placed. This technique allowed for intervention on multiple long bones, with 29% having bilateral femur and tibial rodding in the same procedure. Revisions were required in 53% of patients, which occurred at a mean time of 52 months after initial rodding surgery. In most cases, revision surgery was related to patient growth and subsequent fracture, although rod migration did occur in a minority of patients. Nonunion or incomplete union was 14.5% in this series. Bisphosphonate infusion was not postponed after surgical procedures. Patients had improvement in mobility status at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This series lends evidence to the medium-term utility of FD intramedullary rods as an effective and less invasive platform for stabilization and correction of deformity in long bones of patients with OI. Relatively low blood loss and relatively short hospitalizations were noted. Nonunion rate was comparable with existing literature noting that our patients did not have postsurgical postponement of bisphosphonate therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study to investigate the results of treatment with FD rods. Retrospective case series model of Level IV evidence quality.

Kawasaki Disease in a Patient With Williams Syndrome.

Kawasaki disease can be difficult to diagnose in infants, putting them at higher risk for developing coronary artery dilatation. It can be even more difficult to diagnose in the setting of preexisting cardiac anomalies such as those found in Williams syndrome. We present a case of a three-month-old male with Williams syndrome with rapidly developing giant coronary aneurysms due to Kawasaki disease. This case demonstrates the importance of repeat echocardiography in diagnosing incomplete Kawasaki disease in infants. We speculate that elastin changes, as present in Williams syndrome, may put affected children at higher risk for development of giant coronary arteries should they acquire Kawasaki disease.

Breastfeeding practices in Masaya, Nicaragua: a facility based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and total breastfeeding for at least 2 years. Despite this and multiple interventions promoting breastfeeding, early breastfeeding cessation remains high with little data as to the ongoing barriers contributing to early cessation. METHODS: Two groups of Nicaraguan mothers in an urban hospital were approached to complete a questionnaire to determine what newborn, maternal, and socioeconomic factors contributed to early cessation of breastfeeding. Group 1 participants were mothers of newborns in the newborn units, while group 2 were mothers of children 5 years or younger in the emergency room and pediatric ward. Descriptive statistics summarized the data. Fisher's exact test evaluated factors associated with early breastfeeding cessation. RESULTS: In group 1, 97 participants were enrolled with 81% of mothers planning to fulfill the guideline for exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. In group 2, there were 139 mothers of which 58% reported they had exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Only 25 and 27% of mothers in group 1 and 2 respectively planned to breastfeed or breastfed for 2 years. In group 1, mothers reported lack of knowledge regarding breastfeeding techniques and older mothers tended to plan for early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding. In group 2, mothers reported feeling uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public or had difficulty with latching. Cessation of any breastfeeding prior to 12 months was associated with being uncomfortable breastfeeding in public and knowing the WHO guidelines. In both groups, social media represented an expanding platform for receiving breastfeeding information. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions focusing on reaching younger mothers and addressing breastfeeding knowledge and techniques while leveraging the increasing influence of social media platforms may help improve compliance with breastfeeding recommendations.

Trends and Variation in Care and Outcomes for Children Hospitalized With Acute Gastroenteritis.

OBJECTIVES: Assess trends in inpatient acute gastroenteritis (AGE) management across children's hospitals and identify elements of AGE management associated with resource use. METHODS: We examined inpatient stays for children 6 months to 18 years hospitalized with AGE from 2009 to 2018 using the Pediatric Health Information System database. We characterized demographics, hospital-level resource use (ie, medications, laboratories, and imaging), and outcomes (ie, cost per case, 14-day revisit rates, and length of stay [LOS]). We compared demographic characteristics and resource use between 2009 to 2013 and 2014 to 2018 using χ2 and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. We grouped hospitals on the basis of 2009 use of each resource and trended use over time using logistic regression. Annual change in mean cost and LOS were estimated by using models of log-transformed data. RESULTS: Across 32 354 hospitalizations at 38 hospitals, there was a high use of electrolyte testing (85.4%) and intravenous fluids (84.1%) without substantial changes over time. There were significant reductions in the majority of laboratory, medication, and imaging resources across hospitals over the study period. The most notable reductions were for rotavirus and stool testing. Many hospitals saw a decrease in LOS, with only 3 noting an increased revisit rate. Reductions in cost per case over time were most associated with decreases in imaging, laboratory testing, and LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation in resource use for children hospitalized with AGE coupled with high use of resources discouraged in AGE guidelines highlights potential opportunities to improve resource use that may be addressed in future AGE guidelines and quality improvement initiatives.

Association of the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel With Clinical Management.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of the use of the multiplex assay meningitis/encephalitis panel with clinical management of suspected meningitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with children 0 to 18 years of age who received a lumbar puncture within 48 hours of admission for an infectious workup. Patient demographic and presenting information, laboratory studies, and medication administration were collected. The primary measure was length of stay (LOS) with secondary measures: time on antibiotics, time to narrowing antibiotics, and acyclovir doses. LOS and antibiotic times were stratified for outcomes occurring before 36 hours. Logistic regression analysis was used to account for potential confounding factors associated with both the primary and secondary outcomes. A value of P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Meningitis panel use was associated with a higher likelihood of a patient LOS <36 hours (P = .04; odds ratio = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.87), a time to narrowing antibiotics <36 hours (P = .008; odds ratio = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.18-2.87), and doses of acyclovir (P < .001; incidence rate ratio = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.26-0.53). When controlling for potential confounding factors, these associations persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the meningitis panel was associated with a decreased LOS, time to narrowing of antibiotics, and fewer acyclovir doses. This likely is a result of the rapid turnaround time as compared with cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Additional studies to examine the outcomes related to this change in management are warranted.