Enterovirus D68 infection among hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory illness in El Salvador and Panama, 2012-2013.

We assessed EV-D68 epidemiology and phylogenetics among children aged ≤9 years hospitalized with severe acute respiratory illnesses at five sites in Panama and El Salvador during 2012-2013. Respiratory specimens positive for enterovirus or rhinovirus were tested by real-time RT-PCR for EV-D68, and partial VP1 gene sequences were determined. Of 715 enrolled children, 17 from sites in both countries were EV-D68-positive and commonly had a history of asthma or wheezing. Phylogenetically, 15 of 16 sequences fell into Clade B1, and one into Clade A2. The Central American EV-D68s were closely related genetically to contemporaneous strains from North America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Costs associated with acute respiratory illness and select virus infections in hospitalized children, El Salvador and Panama, 2012-2013.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although acute respiratory illness (ARI) is a leading cause of hospitalization among young children, few data are available about cost of hospitalization in middle-income countries. We estimated direct and indirect costs associated with severe ARI resulting in hospitalization among children aged <10 years in El Salvador and Panama through the societal perspective. METHODS: During 2012 and 2013, we surveyed caregivers of children hospitalized with ARI about their direct medical (i.e., outpatient consultation, medications, hospital fees), non-medical (transportation, childcare), and indirect costs (lost wages) at discharge and 7 days after discharge. We multiplied subsidized hospital bed costs derived from administrative data by hospitalization days to estimate provider costs. RESULTS: Overall, 638 children were enrolled with a median age of 12 months (IQR 6-23). Their median length of hospitalization was 4 days (IQR 3-6). In El Salvador, caregivers incurred a median of US$38 (IQR 22-72) in direct and indirect costs per illness episode, while the median government-paid hospitalization cost was US$118 (IQR 59-384) generating an overall societal cost of US$219 (IQR 101-416) per severe ARI episode. In Panama, caregivers incurred a median of US$75 (IQR 39-135) in direct and indirect costs, and the health-care system paid US$280 (IQR 150-420) per hospitalization producing an overall societal cost of US$393 (IQR 258-552). CONCLUSIONS: The cost of severe ARI to caregivers and the health care system was substantive. Our estimates will inform models to estimate national costs of severe ARI and cost-benefit of prevention and treatment strategies.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety of early oseltamivir treatment among children 0-9 years of age hospitalized with influenza in El Salvador and Panama.

BACKGROUND: Oseltamivir reduces symptom duration among children with uncomplicated influenza, but few data exist on treatment efficacy and tolerability among hospitalized children, particularly among infants aged <1 year. We evaluated tolerability and efficacy of oseltamivir treatment of children aged 0-9 years hospitalized with influenza. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial at tertiary care hospitals in El Salvador and Panama. Primary outcomes were length of hospitalization and increased work of breathing. Children were eligible if hospitalized <7 days after symptom onset with cough or sore throat plus tachypnea. Children were randomized 1:1 to receive oseltamivir or placebo; had swabs collected at enrollment for influenza RT-PCR testing; were assessed at enrollment and every 12 h for work of breathing; and were followed for adverse events through 7 days after discharge. Analyses were intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Overall, 683 children were randomized (oseltamivir, n = 341, placebo n = 342). Fifty-three percent were aged <1 year and 30 had influenza (oseltamivir, n = 19; placebo, n = 11). The study was terminated early after enrollment of 21% of the sample size due to lower than anticipated participant accrual. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, there was no significant difference in median length of hospitalization (3 days, IQR 2-4 vs. 5 days, IQR 3-7, p = 0.22) and increased work of breathing (36 h, IQR 24-72 vs. 96 h, IQR 13-108, p = 0.14) between oseltamivir versus placebo recipients. There was no difference in adverse events between groups. CONCLUSION: Oseltamivir treatment was well tolerated among hospitalized children, including among infants aged <1 year.

Two-year follow-up of noncontact holmium laser thermokeratoplasty for the correction of low hyperopia.

PURPOSE: To summarize the 2-year results of laser thermal keratoplasty with a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser and the Sunrise Corneal Shaping System and assess the procedure's safety, efficacy and predictability in correcting hyperopia in a phase III clinical intervention case series. METHODS: The Ho:YAG laser was used to correct low hyperopia (manifest spherical equivalent of +0.75 to +2.50 dioptres [D], with manifest cylinder of 1.00 D or less) in 38 eyes of 28 patients 40 years of age or older. Laser pulses were delivered to the cornea in 2 radially placed, concentric, 8-spot rings 6.0 and 7.0 mm in diameter. The last follow-up was at 2 years. RESULTS: The preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) at distance was less than 20/40 in 82% of the eyes and at near was less than 20/32 in 42%. At 2 years the distance UCVA was 20/40 or better in 100% of the eyes and 20/20 or better in 84%, and the near UCVA was 20/32 or better in 97% of the eyes and 20/20 or better in 8%. The difference between the preoperative and postoperative UCVA was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The correction at 2 years was within 0.50 D of that intended in 92% of the eyes and within 1.00 D in 100%. The reduction in mean spherical equivalent at 2 years was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). No loss of 2 lines or more in best-corrected visual acuity occurred after the 1st month of follow-up. INTERPRETATION: The Ho:YAG Sunrise Corneal Shaping System is safe and effective for the treatment of low hyperopia and astigmatism. It provides a predictable refractive outcome at 2 years of follow-up. However, our results show a tendency towards regression by 2 years.