[Nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis]. / Gastro-entérites nosocomiales à rotavirus : étude rétrospective dans un service de pédiatrie générale.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children requiring hospitalization. It is a very resistant and contagious virus causing nosocomial gastroenteritis. In France, the vaccine against rotavirus has been available since 2006, but the vaccine is not recommended for infant vaccination. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis (NRGE) and to assess its impact on children hospitalized in the General Pediatrics Department of Robert-Debré Hospital (Paris) between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013. We analyzed the demographic characteristics of children (age, term birth, underlying diseases) and the severity of the NRGE (oral or intravenous hydration), and assessed whether these children could benefit from vaccination against rotavirus. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-six children presented nosocomial rotavirus infection, with an incidence of 2.5 NRGE per 1000 days of hospitalization. The incidence of NRGE was stable between 2009 and 2013 despite the introduction of specific hygiene measures. The average age of the children was 7 months (range: 0.5-111 months). Most often NRGE occurred in children hospitalized for respiratory diseases (65% of cases) and requiring prolonged hospitalization (median: 18 days). One-third of children were born premature (25%). Hydration was oral in 80 patients (59%), by intravenous infusion in 18 patients (13%), and intraosseous in one patient. Half of the patients were aged less than 5 months and could benefit from the protection afforded by vaccination. CONCLUSION: NRGE are common. Rotavirus mass vaccination should have a positive impact on the incidence of NRGE by reducing the number of children hospitalized for gastroenteritis, therefore indirectly reducing the number of hospital cross-infections of hospitalized children who are too young to be vaccinated.

[Septic arthritis in children with normal initial C-reactive protein: clinical and biological features]. / Arthrite septique de l'enfant à protéine C-réactive initialement normale : description clinique et biologique.

Septic arthritis has to be suspected in children with joint effusion and fever so as to perform joint aspiration, which will confirm the diagnosis by bacteriological methods, and to perform surgical treatment by joint lavage. Since development of current molecular methods, such as real-time PCR, Kingella kingae has become the first microbial agent of osteoarticular infections in young children, whereas Staphylococcus aureus is second. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an aid used to diagnose septic arthritis, but its elevation could be moderate. In a previous study, conducted at our hospital, 10% of children hospitalized for S. aureus or K. kingae septic arthritis had a CRP level<10 mg/L. To determine if diagnosis of septic arthritis could be made by other parameters, we analyzed the clinical and biologic features of these patients and compared them to those of children hospitalized for septic arthritis with initial CRP ≥10 mg/L. Among the 89 children with septic arthritis, 10% (n=9) had initial CRP<10 mg/L (K. kingae, n=5/63 ; S. aureus, n=4/26). Initial temperature and fibrinogen were significantly lower in the CRP<10 mg/L group than in the other (37.3°C vs. 37.9°C, P=0.039 and 4.19 vs. 5.72 g/L, P=0.003, respectively). Age, symptom duration before diagnosis, as well as leukocyte and platelet counts were similar in both groups. Two children (2/89=2.2%) with S. aureus septic arthritis had no fever, CRP elevation, or fibrinogen elevation. In the CRP-negative group, three of four children with S. aureus arthritis and one of five with K. kingae arthritis had a high CRP level (34, 40, 61, and 13 mg/L, respectively) 3 days after surgery and antibiotic treatment. One child with K. kingae septic arthritis and initial CRP<10 mg/L needed a second surgical drainage because of relapse of arthritis. In the S. aureus arthritis group, none of the children with initial CRP<10 mg/L experienced complications, while six of those with initial CRP≥10 mg/L needed a second surgical act or hospitalization in an intensive care unit. While CRP is most often>10 mg/L during septic arthritis in children, it could be negative in up to 20% of patients in different studies. However, a mild inflammatory syndrome or even a CRP<10 mg/L cannot exclude diagnosis of septic arthritis. Therefore, a first episode of monoarthritis in children has to be considered as septic arthritis and treatment should not be delayed.

[Superficial skin infections and bacterial dermohypodermitis]. / Infections superficielles de la peau et dermo-hypodermites bactériennes.

Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are the two main bacteria involved in skin infections in children. Mild infections like limited impetigo and furonculosis should preferentially be treated by topical antibiotics (mupirocine or fucidic acid). Empiric antimicrobial therapy of dermohypodermitis consists in amoxicillin-clavulanate through oral route (80 mg/kg/d) or parenteral route (150 mg/kg amoxicillin per d. in 3-4 doses) for complicated features: risk factors of extension of the infection, sepsis or fast evolution. Clindamycin (40 mg/kg/d per d. in 3 doses) should be added to the beta-lactam treatment in case of toxinic shock, surgical necrotizing soft tissues or fasciitis infections.

[Antibiotherapy of severe ENT infections in children: peripharyngeal abscesses]. / Antibiothérapie des infections ORL sévères du nourrisson et de l'enfant : infections péripharyngées.

Neck infections in children are categorized as peritonsillar infections, latero and retroparapharyngeal infections. The clinical features and severity of these infections vary according to different pædiatric age groups, in relation to the location of the infection. In France, the antimicrobial therapy should consider meticillin sensitive S. aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and anerobic bacteria. Empiric initial antimicrobial therapy consists in high doses of parenteral amoxicillin-clavulanate (150 mg/kg d. in 3-4 doses) during a few days then changed to oral amoxicillin-clavulanate (80 mg/kg/d). The total course of therapy should be 10 to 14 days.

[Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing-enterobacteriaceae]. / Entérobactéries productrices de bêta-lactamases à spectre étendu en pédiatrie.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) are defined as ß-lactamase able to hydrolyze all penicillins and cephalosporins with the exception of cephamycins (cefotixin, cefotetan), moxalactam and carbapenems and are encoded by mobile genes. The most frequently encountered ESBLs belong to the CTX-M, SHV, and TEM families. ESBLs were found first in Klebsiella pneumonia and then predominantly in E. coli. The incidence of patients with ESBLs E. coli increase since 2000 in Robert Debré Hospital in Paris. They were mainly implicated in urinary tract infections and less frequently in other infections such as materno-foetal infections or neonatal meningitis. An increase of consumption of carbapenems may lead to spread of carbapenem resistant organisms. Thus alternative to carbapenems for treatment of ESBL producers are needed.

Raman spectroscopic analysis of the clonal and horizontal spread of CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Nosocomial outbreaks of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae are an increasing concern in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We describe an outbreak of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae that lasted 5 months and affected 23 neonates in our NICU. Proton pump inhibitor and extended-spectrum cephalosporin exposure were significantly associated with the risk of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae colonisation and/or infection. Thirty isolates recovered from clinical, screening and environmental samples in the NICU were studied by means of Raman spectroscopy, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR). The Raman clustering was in good agreement with the results of the other two molecular methods. Fourteen isolates belonged to the Raman clone 1 and 16 to the Raman clone 3. Molecular analysis showed that all the strains expressed SHV-1 chromosomal resistance, plasmid-encoded TEM-1 and CTX-M-15 ß-lactamases. Incompatibility groups of plasmid content identified by PCR-based replicon typing indicated that resistance dissemination was due to the clonal spread of K. pneumoniae and horizontal CTX-M-15 gene transfer between the two clones.

Pediatric osteoarticular infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae before and after the introduction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of osteoarticular infections (OAI) in children. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of pneumococcal OAI before and after the introduction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). Data were retrospectively collected from children aged <16 years who were hospitalized for pneumococcal OAI between 1997 and 2007 in four Parisian teaching hospitals. Forty-three children were included (32 with arthritis and 11 with osteomyelitis) and the median age of these children was 12.5 months (range 3 months to 14 years). Serotypes were available for 19/43 strains (44 %) from 1997 onwards and for 12/13 strains (92 %) from 2005 onwards. Seven unvaccinated children were infected with vaccine serotypes and we observed only one vaccine failure. After the introduction of PCV7, we noted an increase in short-term complications and the emergence of serotype 19A, which was penicillin-intermediate in 86 % of cases. After PCV7 introduction, serotype 19A was the most frequent serotype implicated in pediatric pneumococcal OAI. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduced in France in June 2010 should cover the emerging serotype.

Isolation of Kingella kingae in the oropharynx during K. kingae arthritis in children.

Kingella kingae arthritis in children is now mainly diagnosed by PCR, which has surpassed conventional culture of joint fluid. As oropharynx colonization is the first step of Kingella kingae invasion, we prospectively investigated the possibility of cultivating it from throat swabs, in children hospitalized for K. kingae arthritis. Throat culture was 5.6-fold more sensitive than joint fluid cultures in isolating K. kingae (66.7% vs. 11.9% respectively, p <0.001) and may be used to perform antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Impact of implementing French antibiotic guidelines for acute respiratory-tract infections in a paediatric emergency department, 2005-2009.

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are the main reason for antibiotic prescription in children. In 2005, the French Drug Agency published guidelines to minimise inappropriate use of antibiotics for ARTI. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of implementing these guidelines in a paediatric emergency department. We retrospectively analysed data collected prospectively in a French paediatric emergency department from November 2005 (date of guideline implementation) to October 2009. For each child diagnosed with ARTI, we collected age, diagnosis, and prescribed antibiotics. We computed antibiotic prescription rates in the study population. During the study period, 53,055 children were diagnosed with ARTI and 59% of the 22,198 antibiotic prescriptions given at discharge were related to ARTI. The proportion of ARTI patients given antibiotic prescriptions fell from 32.1% during the first year to 21% in year 4 (p<10(-4), Cochran-Armitage test). Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and amoxicillin accounted for 50% and 34% of antibiotic prescriptions for ARTI, respectively. French antibiotic guidelines led to significant decreases in antibiotic prescription for ARTI in our paediatric emergency department.

[Acute bacterial parotitis in infants under 3 months of age: a retrospective study in a pediatric tertiary care center]. / Parotidite bactérienne aiguë chez les nourrissons de moins de 3mois : étude rétrospective dans un centre hospitalier universitaire.

BACKGROUND: Acute bacterial parotitis is a rare infectious disease in infants under 3 months of age. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical characteristics and the course of acute bacterial parotitis in infants less than 3 months old. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Infants under 3 months of age, hospitalized at Robert Debré university hospital, Paris, France, between January 2005 and December 2009 for acute bacterial parotitis, were included in a retrospective study. RESULTS: Five infants less than 3 months of age were included in this study, for a frequency of 2.5/1000 hospitalizations in this age group. All were born at term, 4 of 5 were male. Three of the 5 patients had specific clinical signs of parotitis on admission. One patient had septic shock on admission. The ultrasound confirmed the parotitis in all cases. No parotid abscess was demonstrated on imaging. All patients had at least one abnormal inflammatory biological test (WBC, CRP, PCT). Bacteria were identified in 4 of 5 cases: Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in the pus culture of the Stenon duct in 2 patients and a group B Streptococcus was isolated from blood culture of 2 other patients. The duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy varied from 4 to 13 days, and the total duration of antibiotic therapy was between 10 and 16 days. No surgical procedures were needed. CONCLUSION: Acute bacterial parotitis in infants under 3 months of age might be associated with localized infections due to S. aureus, but also with a more severe clinical presentation due to group B streptococcus infection. Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy might prevent the progression to serious complications.

[Study of nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae and its antibiotics resistance in healthy children less than 2 years of age in the Marrakech region (Morocco)]. / Étude du portage rhinopharyngé de Streptococcus pneumoniae et de sa sensibilité aux antibiotiques chez les enfants en bonne santé âgés de moins de 2 ans dans la région de Marrakech (Maroc).

UNLABELLED: The healthy carrier of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) has been studied very little at the national level. With the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains worldwide, and the emergence of new serotypes, an epidemiological survey is needed before the vaccine can be introduced in Morocco. OBJECTIVES: This study's objective was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage in children less than 2 years of age in the Marrakech region and to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates and the serotypes present prior to the introduction of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2008 to 2009, 660 nasopharyngeal samples were collected on children under 2 years of age during scheduled visits to dispensaries for routine immunization in the Marrakech region. RESULTS: S. pneumoniae carriage was found in 45.8% of children. Of the 660 samples, 302 strains were isolated. The percentage of pneumococcal strains with reduced susceptibility to penicillin (PRSP) was 34.7%. Among these strains, 87.1% showed low-level resistance and 12.9% high-level resistance. Resistance to amoxicillin was found in 3.3% of the strains and no strains were resistant to cefotaxime. Several risk factors for pneumococcal carriage were identified, the main ones being breastfeeding less than 2 months, the presence of more than one sibling, passive smoking, and low socioeconomic level. The most frequent serotypes were 19F, 6, 14, 23, 18, and 9. The study of the vaccine serotype distribution showed that the theoretical vaccine coverage of the 7 valent vaccines was at 57% for all the isolates. CONCLUSION: These data show the frequency and the risk factors on nasopharyngeal carriage, and report the status of penicillin resistance of strains carrying children less than 2 years of age in the Marrakech region. The fluctuation of circulating serotypes at the national level underscores the importance of epidemiological surveillance carried out before the introduction of the heptavalent vaccine in Morocco.

[Antibiotic therapy of bone and joint infections in children: recent changes]. / Antibiothérapie des infections ostéo-articulaires de l'enfant : ce qui a changé

Management of bone and joint infections in children associates early appropriate antibiotic therapy against Staphylococcus aureus and Kingella kingae and, if necessary, surgical drainage of abscess or septic arthritis. In 2007, the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group of the French Society of Paediatrics (GPIP) proposed guidelines for antibiotherapy in acute and non-complicated cases, with an intravenous therapy during 4 to 7 days followed by oral therapy during 3 weeks.

[Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing-enterobacteriaceae]. / Entérobactéries productrices de bêta-lactamases à spectre étendu.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) are defined as ß-lactamase capable of hydrolyzine oximino-cephalosporins and aztreonam and are encoded by mobile genes. The most frequently encountered ESBLs belong to the CTX-M, SHV, and TEM families. ESBLs were found first in Klebsiella pneumonia and then predominantly in E. coli. The incidence of patients with ESBLs E. coli increase since 2000 in Robert Debré Hospital. They were responsible of cystitis or pyelopnephritis and rarely of materno-foetal infections or neonatal meningitis. These strains were susceptible to colimycin, carbapenems and fosfomycin.

[Implication of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase enterobacteriaceae in nosocomial infections in neonates]. / Infections néonatales tardives à entérobactéries multirésistantes.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLS) enterobacteriaceae colonization and infection in hospitalized children. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit from 2000 to 2009. We recorded all isolations of ESBLs enterobacteriaceae from clinical samples that were obtained from hospitalized children. Anorectal samples were taken at admission and every 10 days. We systematically recorded cases of confirmed infections that was caused by ESBLs enterobacteriacea. RESULTS: A total of 46 ESBL(S) pathogens (E coli 58.7 %, Enterobacter cloacae 10.8 %, Klebsiella Pneumonia 19.5%, K. oxytoca 6.5 %, Citrobacter 4.5 %) were isolated during 10 years, the global incidence was 5.1 cases per 1000 admissions. Three infants developed nosocomial infections, E. coli sepsis and pneumonia and Enterobacter cloacae omphalitis. These patients were treated with carbapenem with significant clinical improvement. ESBLs enterobacteriaceae were found first in Klebsiella pneumonia and then predominantly in E. coli. Current efforts have focused on monitoring proper hand hygiene, evaluation of potential reservoirs of bacterial acquisition and transmission, cohorting and isolation of colonized infants, and fostering of effective inter- and intrahospital communication. Carbapenem seems to be safe in newborn and is recommended for the treatment of EBLSEs enterobacteriaceae infections.

[Streptococcus pyogenes or group A streptococcal infections in child: French national reference center data]. / Infections à Streptococcus pyogenes ou streptocoque du groupe A chez l'enfant : données du Centre national de référence (CNR).

Since the 1980s, infections due to Streptococcus pyogenes or group A streptococci (GAS) were marked by the increase in invasive infections and the emergence of clones which were resistant to macrolides. Those challenges led the French national reference center for streptococci to enhance the epidemiological survey and the characterization of GAS strains, in collaboration with the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance. Active surveillance is of major importance for implementation of therapeutic and prophylactic guidelines and for evaluation of future streptococcal vaccines.

Subtyping of emm1 group A Streptococci causing invasive infections in France.

By combining PCR amplification of toxin-encoding genes and sic gene sequencing, we distinguished 24 genotypes among 47 M/emm1 group A streptococci isolated from children and adults in France in 9 cases of infection comprising four clusters and 38 unrelated invasive infection cases used as controls.

[Epidemiology of acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae: emergence of serotype 19A]. / Epidémiologie des otites moyennes aiguës à pneumocoque : émergence du sérotype 19A.

In this study, the authors report the distribution of serogroups/serotypes and their susceptibility profiles of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing recurrent and difficulties to treat acute otitis media (AOM) in children obtained at the ENT outpatient clinic of Robert Debré Hospital in Paris, between 2002-2008 after the implementation of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. In this retrospective study, 126 S. pneumoniae isolates were obtained by tympanocentesis from 126 children with AOM during three different periods: 2002-2003 (period 1), 2004-2005 (period 2), and 2006-2008 (period 3). In period 1, the most common serotype was 19F. Between period 1 and period 3, the proportion of serotype 19F decreased from 39 to 13% (P=0.03). In contrast, the proportion of serotype 19A increased from 25 to 60% (P=0.03). So, they observed that vaccine-related serotype 19A became dominant among young children with AOM in 2006-2008. Overall, 15.1% of the isolates were penicillin susceptible, 73.8% intermediate and 11.1% were resistant. Most (94%) of the S. pneumoniae serotype 19A were penicillin intermediate.

[Rotavirus infections in a paediatric hospital during 5 years]. / Gastroentérites à rotavirus dans un hôpital pédiatrique au cours de cinq années consécutives.

Rotavirus is the major cause of gastroenteritis in children and the main cause of hospital acquired-infection in paediatric unit. We report the epidemiology of gastroenteritis in our hospital during five consecutive years. Rotavirus was involved in 13% of the patients. Seasonal peaks were observed in January and 45.8% of the patients were less than 6 month old. The rotavirus infection was hospital-acquired in 1/3 of the cases. During the winter period, the incidence of rotavirus nosocomial infection was 4.4%.

[Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections in newborns: personal data and review of the literature]. / Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis et pathologies néonatales: Données personnelles et revue de la littérature.

Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis colonized 20-40% of newborns and are more frequent in premature. They are responsible for localized infections such as pleural effusion, pneumopathy, adenopathy, abscess or systemic sepsis. An important hyperleukocytosis is often associated with pulmonary infections. Their responsibility, as pathogen agents, is questionable in some non bacterial meningitis. There is large controversy for their role as cofactor, in chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) and periventricular leukomalacia, because of a too low number of newborns in prospective trials. Genital mycoplamas are resistant to beta lactamines. Macrolides have a good sensitivity, particularly josamycine, but Mycoplasma hominis is resistant to erythromycin. For systemic sepsis, fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacine have less deleterious effects than IV erythromycin.

Bacterial contamination of enteral nutrition in a paediatric hospital.

A prospective study was performed in a paediatric hospital to evaluate the incidence of bacterial contamination in enteral nutrition bags and to determine the critical points of process. During two separate one-month periods, all children receiving pump-assisted enteral nutrition were enrolled in the study. Samples for microbiological analysis were collected from enteral nutrition bags after administration in the first and second study period (sample T(2)). In the second study period, two additional samples were made at the end of the feed preparation process. One was refrigerated immediately (sample T(0)) and the other was sealed in a tube that followed the enteral nutrition solution until the end of its administration (sample T(1)). Bacterial contamination was detectable above 10(2)cfu/mL. Twenty-six out of 40 patients were included in the first study period and 14 out of 44 in the second study period. Contamination (>10(2)cfu/mL) occurred in nine of 26 samples (35%) and seven of 14 samples (50%) in the first and second study periods, respectively. Of these, five (20%) and three (21%) contained significant contamination (>/=10(4)cfu/mL). Bacteria of low pathogenicity were found in T(0) samples. Bacteria present in T(2) samples were pathogenic and multiple in 50% of cases. These results suggest that manipulation of the enteral nutrition bags at the bedside is critical for bacterial safety.