A quality initiative to improve recognition of fluid overload among pediatric ICU patients requiring continuous kidney replacement therapy: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: Initiation of continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) greater than 20% fluid overload is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We aimed to reduce the number of patients initiated on CKRT greater than 20% fluid overload by 50% in one year by implementation of a quality improvement initiative. METHODS: This is a prospective quality improvement study set in a pediatric ICU of an urban children's hospital of patients initiated on CKRT over 2 years. The intervention included creation of an electronic health record order for daily calculation of net percent fluid overload, incorporation into daily rounds, and education programs tailored to physicians and bedside nursing. We measured adherence with the new order set, percent fluid overload at CKRT initiation, days on CKRT, timing of first nephrology consultation, and death prior to discharge. RESULTS: A total of 32% of patients were initiated on CKRT greater than 20% fluid overload pre-initiative and 9% post-initiative, a 72% reduction over 13 months. Patients initiated on CKRT greater than 20% fluid overload had median CKRT course of 8 (IQR 4-14) vs. 22 days (IQR 13.5-62). CONCLUSION: Creating a system using EHR with education may reduce initiation of CKRT after development of severe fluid overload. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Immunogenicity of the meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in pediatric kidney transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients may have suboptimal response to vaccinations. The aim of this study was to determine antibody response to a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) in adolescents with a kidney transplant. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, cohort study. Adolescent patients (11-22 years old) with a functioning kidney transplant for at least 3 months and no previous meningococcal vaccination were eligible for enrollment. Antibody levels to all serogroups were measured before vaccination (baseline) and at 4 weeks and 1, 2 and 3 years after vaccination. Seropositivity was defined as a titer ≥ 1:8 at baseline, and seroconversion as a fourfold or greater increase in antibody titer from baseline at 4 weeks post-vaccination. Geometric mean titers (GMTs) were calculated at each time point and compared to published GMTs from vaccinated healthy adolescents. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled. No patient had seroprotective titers against all four serogroups at baseline. At 4 weeks post-vaccination 41% of patients seroconverted to all four serogroups, with seroconversion rates of 88, 53, 71 and 94% for serogroups A, C, W and Y, respectively. GMTs were significantly lower in adolescents with a kidney transplant than in healthy adolescents at 1 month (p = 0.02) and 3 years (p = 0.04) post-vaccination. There were no significant adverse events, episodes of rejection or death in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with a kidney transplant may not respond adequately to MenACWY-D and may experience more rapid declines in antibody titers than healthy adolescents. Further study is needed to determine if alternative dosing schedules can improve antibody response in this population.

Immunogenicity of Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine in Children with CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is a disproportionate burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) -related genital tract disease in patients with CKD and kidney transplantation; therefore, the potential effect of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil; Merck GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany) is profound. Immune abnormalities associated with CKD and immunosuppression may prevent optimal vaccine response. Our objective was to determine antibody response to the HPV vaccine in adolescent girls with CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: This cohort study conducted from 2008 to 2012 included 57 girls aged 9-21 years old with CKD (n=25), on dialysis (n=9), or with status postkidney transplantation (n=23) who received the standard three-dose vaccine series of the HPV vaccine recruited from two pediatric nephrology clinics. Antibody levels to HPV genotypes 6, 11, 16, and 18 were measured before vaccine dose 1 (baseline), <12 months after vaccine dose 3 (blood draw 2), and ≥12 months after vaccine dose 3 (blood draw 3). Seropositivity was defined as antibody level above an established threshold for each HPV genotype. Not all participants completed three blood draws. RESULTS: Antibody response to all four HPV genotypes was 100% in the CKD and dialysis groups with samples drawn at <12 and ≥12 months after dose 3 of the HPV vaccine. Among patients with transplants, the percentages of patients achieving seropositivity were significantly lower at blood draw 2 for HPV genotypes 6 (63.6%; P=0.003), 11 (63.6%; P=0.003), and 18 (72.7%; P=0.02) and blood draw 3 for HPV genotypes 6 (62.5%; P=0.02), 11 (50%; P=0.001), 16 (75%; P=0.04), and 18 (50%; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Antibody response to the quadrivalent recombinant HPV vaccine was robust and sustained in girls and young women with CKD and on dialysis. A less robust response to the vaccine was observed among those with a kidney transplant. Additional study is needed to determine if vaccination before kidney transplantation or an alternative vaccination regimen would benefit transplant recipients.