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.

[Monitoring serum vancomycin concentrations in the treatment of Staphylococcus infections in children]. / Surveillance des taux sériques de vancomycine dans le traitement des infections à staphylocoque en pédiatrie.

INTRODUCTION: Vancomycin is the cornerstone of therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus in both community- and hospital-acquired infections. Monitoring vancomycin concentration is essential to prevent over- or underdosing of pediatric patients. However, only initial trough vancomycin concentrations may be needed to optimize dosages. The optimal rate of the trough serum level to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) should be equal to or greater than 8 in severe infections. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the initial trough serum levels of vancomycin obtained from pediatric patients treated with vancomycin for suspected or confirmed Staphylococcus infections in combination with MIC determination. PATIENTS: We reviewed the medical records of 3759 children aged, more than 1 month, and 358 neonate patients during a period of 10 years in Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris. METHODS: Serum levels were determined using the polarization fluorescence method. MIC was determined using the E-test method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of the 3759 children studied, 55% had a through serum level less than 10mg/L and 24% had greater than 15 mg/L. Of the 358 neonates, 43% had a trough serum level less than 10mg/L and 31% greater than 15 mg/L. Among these children, 425 had documented Staphylococcus bacteremia with vancomycin MIC determination. Determining the trough level concentration in infected pediatric patients remains mandatory to optimize the vancomycin regimen. The rate of the trough serum level to MIC was less than 4 in 50% of the patients and more than 10 in 5% of the patients.

[Group B streptococcal meningitis'clinical, biological and evolutive features in children]. / Caractéristiques cliniques, biologiques et évolutives des méningites à streptocoque du groupe B de l'enfant.

OBJECTIVE: The group B streptococcal meningitis (GBS) remains an important cause of child's morbidity and mortality. The purposes of this work were to appreciate the GBS place among the bacterial meningitis, to define clinical and biological factors associated with death and to study the immediate complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study concerned 276 GBS meningitis listed by the observatory of GPIP/ACTIV on the child's bacterial meningitis in France from January, 2001 to December, 2005. This report is one of the biggest series of child's GBS meningitis published to this day. RESULTS: The GBS was the third germ in frequency responsible for bacterial meningitis at every age (13 %) : 65 % of the GBS meningitis affected infants less than one month of age, 29 % infants between 1 month and 3 months of age and only 6 % infants more than 3 months of age. The male/female ratio in GBS meningitis was nearly equal (51 % vs 49 %). There was no variation of the GBS meningitis number according to the season. The serotype III was mostly involved in this cohort (81 %) followed by the serotype I (13 %). Statistically we observed a significant decline in the number of early onset meningitis from 2001 to 2004 whereas the number of late meningitis and the total meningitis cases were stable. The biological results mostly present in child's GBS meningitis were a high CSF protein level (95 %), a CSF neutrophil count more than fifteen percent (90 %), a low CSF glucose level (83.5 %), leukopenia (49 %) or a normal blood level leukocyte (38 %). Eighty three percent of the children affected by GBS meningitis were term infants. However, the prematurity seemed to be a risk factor to develop late meningitis (age between 7 days and 3 months) and very late meningitis (after 3 months) but no early onset meningitis. Prematurity, convulsions, shock, coma, assisted ventilation, high CSF protein level, weak CSF cell level and leukopenia seemed to be factors associated with death in the GBS meningitis. The mortality of the GBS meningitis was still 14 % and the immediate complications were observed in 62 % of cases, the most frequent being convulsions (45 %). CONCLUSION: The GBS meningitis in children remains a frequent problem in pediatrics despite intra partum antibioprophylaxy and thus must encourage to strengthen the prevention of these meningitis.

[Pneumococcal meningitis in children in France: 832 cases from 2001 to 2007]. / Méningites à pneumocoque de l'enfant en France : 832 cas de 2001 à 2007.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal meningitis represents one major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in France. The GPIP/ACTIV (Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique and Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne) set up an active surveillance network to analyze the clinical and biological features of pneumococcal meningitis and the impact of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). METHODS: From 2001 to 2007, 252 French pediatric wards working with 168 microbiology laboratories enrolled all children (0-18 years old) with bacterial meningitis. Risk factors, signs and symptoms, vaccination status, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, treatments and case fatality rate were recorded. RESULTS: Within the 7 years study period, 832 pneumococcal meningitis were reported among 2951 bacterial meningitis. In 2001 as in 2007, excluding the neonatal period, pneumococal meningitis represented nearly 1/3 of bacterial meningitis without significant decline in the number of reported cases (less than 30% for children under 2 years old). The peak of incidence was at 5 months of age and 61.7% of cases occured in children 2 to 24 months old. PCV7 vaccinated patients represented 154 cases from 2003 to 2007. In the vaccinated population, serotypes were identified in 136 cases. Few vaccine serotypes (VT) were identified (n=18). The most important was serotype 19F (n=8) followed by 6B (n=4) and 14 (n=3). Three vaccine failures (case occurring after complete vaccination) were observed (serotypes 6B, 4 and 19F). Remaining cases (n=118) were mainly due to non vaccine serotypes (NVT): serotypes 19A, 15B/C and 7F. In 2007, the serotype 19A, more often intermediary strains to cytoxin, represented about 20% of cases. Among non vaccinated children, VT decreased between 2001 and 2007 (59/92 in 2001 vs 15/39 in 2007). Case fatality rate was stable around 11.4%. CONCLUSION: In France, probably because of the insufficient vaccination coverage and the slow implementation of the PCV7, the expected decline in the number of cases of pneumococcal meningitis has not been observed. The impact of PCV7 appeared clearly since only few cases of VT pneumococcal meningitis were reported in vaccinated children.

[Clinical outcome and bacterial characteristics of 99 Escherichia coli meningitis in young infants]. / Méningite à Escherichia coli de l'enfant : analyse descriptive clinique et microbiologique de 99 cas.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a descriptive analysis of clinical, biological and prognostic aspects of Escherichia coli meningitis in young infants. METHODS: Clinical and biological data on young infants diagnosed with neonatal E. coli meningitis (NECM) between 1988 and 2004 were collected retrospectively and analyzed with respect to the isolates'phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The molecular analyses focused on the phylogenetic group, the sequence-O-type, and genetic virulence traits. The virulence of lethal strains was tested in a newborn rat meningitis model. RESULTS: The median age of the 99 children analyzed was 10 days (0 to 90 days), and 83 of the patients were newborns. Thirty-three children were premature. Hyper- or hypothermia was the most frequent clinical sign at admission. Intercurrent urinary tract infection was present in 28% of cases, all over 6 days of age. 81% of blood cultures were positive. The CSF cytology was abnormal in 97% of cases. Twelve hours after admission, 34% of infants were transferred to intensive care. One-third of transfontanellar ultrasound scans done on admission were abnormal. CSH sterilization was slow in 15 % of cases, despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. The use of ciprofloxacin was associated with more rapid CSF sterilization (94 % vs 77 %, p=0.03). Six children relapsed. The average follow-up was eight months, and 21 % of children had sequelae. The case lethality rate was 14%. Fatal outcome was associated with signs of septic shock (57% vs 3%, p<10(-4)) and neurological failure (76% vs 19%, p<10(-4)) within the first 24 hours, and with abnormalities on the first ultrasound scan (63% vs 27%, p=0.03). The risk of death was higher among children infected by strains belonging to unusual sequence-O-types (50% vs 18%, p=0.01), which harbored fewer virulence factors (4.8 vs 5.9, p<10(-4)). Only aerobactin was less frequent in lethal strains (71 % vs 94%, p=0.02). Strains belonging to unusual sequence-O-types and that were lethal in the animal model induced a significantly lower level of bacteremia than strains belonging to frequent sequence-O-types (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: E. coli meningitis remains highly lethal in infants. Clinical and molecular analyses showed a link between lethality and infrequent sequence-O-types. The avirulence of these strains in animal models suggests that fatal outcome could be due to host susceptibility more than to strain virulence.

[Surveillance network of bacterial meningitis in children, 7 years of survey in France]. / Observatoire national des méningites bactériennes de l'enfant en France : résultats de 7 années d'étude.

OBJECTIVES: Consequence of the introduction of vaccines against bacteria involved in meningitis in children and various recommendations concerning antibiotics, the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis has changed during the last fifteen years. The GPIP/ACTIV (Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique and Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne) set up an active surveillance network to analyze the clinical and biological features of bacterial meningitis. METHODS: From 2001 to 2007, 252 French pediatric wards working with 168 microbiology laboratories enrolled all children (0-18 years old) with bacterial meningitis. Risk factors, vaccination status, signs and symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, treatments and case fatality rate were recorded. RESULTS: 2951 cases of bacterial menigitis were recorded by 237 pediatric wards. Geographical distribution covered a large part of the national territory. Overall, the annual number of cases varied from 452 (in 2001 and 2003) to 378 (in 2004). Meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis respectively represented about the half (46 %) and the third (28 %) of cases. Few cases of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis were reported (3 %). For the neonatal period, group B Streptococcus and E. coli were the most frequently identified pathogens. In children less than one year old, pneumococcus was the first one, and after 1 year, meningococcus was predominant. The mortality rate varied according to bacteria, 6.6 % for the meningococcus, 11.6 % for pneumococcus, 14.1 % for group B streptococcus and 16.7 % for Listeria meningitis. It varied also with age, 14.9 % among infants 1 to 2 months old and 6.3 % in children over 5 years. CONCLUSION: Closed to 3000 meningitis were recorded during seven years in children, which underlines the interest of the survey. This network is principally supported by the goodwill and availability of pediatricians and microbiologists who participate in the study. This special supplement issue of Archive de Pédiatrie allows a complete presentation of our results. In next following years, any amendment to the immunization schedule, any perspective of implementation of new vaccines will transform the epidemiology and clinical caracteristics of bacterial menigitis. Therefore, continued surveillance appears necessary.

[Premature rupture of membranes: pathophysiology of neurological impact]. / Rupture très prématurée des membranes: physiopathologie des conséquences neurologiques.

The premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is responsible for 30 % of the premature births because of a high risk of associated chorioamnionitis. PROM and the perinatal infection are recognized as 2 of the main risk factors of periventricular leukomalacia and white matter disease in very preterm neonates. Inflammation associated with PROM is likely to induce neuronal or glial cell death at a developmental stage of great vulnerability for the developing brain. Several mechanisms (release of cytokines, accumulation of free radicals, excitotoxicity, apoptosis...) account for this deleterious effect. The decision to actively extract a fetus subjected to a fetal inflammatory response syndrome should take account of the risks of a proved intrauterine infection for both the mother and the fetus and the risks for the neonate related to a very preterm birth per se. A reasonable attitude seems not to maintain a fetus in an undoubtful septic context in utero if a preterm birth in the very short term appears unevitable. Practically, no consensus gives a recommendation between aggressive or conservative management in case of PROM within 30 and 34 weeks'gestation. Expectant management seems to be indicated before 28 weeks'gestation and intentional delivery could be recommended beyond 34 weeks'gestation due to increased maternal risks compared to relatively low incidence of the complications of prematurity at this term.

[Determinants of diphemanil methylsulfate (Prantal) utilization: a survey of practice in the French neonatal and intensive care units]. / Enquête française sur l'utilisation du diphémanil méthylsulfate (Prantal) dans les unités de néonatologie.

UNLABELLED: Diphemanil methylsulfate (Prantal) is a quaternary ammonium with parasympathicolytic properties. It is used in premature and term neonates with bradycardias related to vagal hyper reflectivity (HRV). OBJECTIVES: To assess the use of Prantal in the French neonatal and intensive care units: its indications, its modalities of use, its side effects and the number of patients treated during 1 year (2004) in France. METHODS: A questionnaire was electronically sent to all neonatology units and all neonatal intensive care units in France. RESULTS: Among 202 units, 121 (60%) answered the questionnaire. Prantal was reported to be used in 51 (42.1%) units. Among them, 38 (31.4%) actually treated 169 patients in 2004 with a mean number of patients treated by unit of 4. The diagnostic of HRV was supported by: a history of malaise (84.3%), bradycardia (94.1%), oculocardiac reflex (74.5%), cardiac Holter (76.4%), cardiorespirographic recording (19.6%), esophageal pHmetry (35.2%) and esophageal fibroscopy (21.5%). The mean starting dosing was 4.7 mg/kg/d, the mean maximal dosing was 9 mg/kg/d and the mean daily intakes were initially 2.3 and secondary 2.9. Prantal dosing was adjusted to weight in 54.9%, every month in 85.7%. Treatment was stopped at the mean post-natal age of 6 months, mostly in a progressive manner and without monitoring help. CONCLUSION: Prantal was seldom used in 2004 in France for different reasons: HRV is an uncertain entity, the efficacy of Prantal has not been validated and atropinic side effects can be encountered.

[Two cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa neonatal meningitis treated by ciprofloxacine]. / Infections néonatales a Pseudomonas aeruginosa et atteintes neuroméningées. Intérêt de la ciprofloxacine.

Two cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa neonatal meningitis are reported. Case 1 occurred on day 6 of life, at home, in a full term newborn. Favourable outcome was obtained with a treatment associating ceftazidime, 21 days, gentamicin, 10 days and ciprofloxacin, 10 days. Case no 2 was a nosocomial meningitis in a 32 weeks and 4 days gestational age premature newborn. Despite in vitro effective antibiotherapy with ceftazidime, netilmicine and ciprofloxacine, six cerebral abscesses were observed during the second week of treatment. Ceftazidime was stopped after 6 weeks and ciprofloxacine prolonged until neuroradiological cure of cerebral lesions at one year of age. Normal outcome was observed at 3 and 4 and half year of age. Therapeutic indications and clinical tolerance of ciprofloxacine in neonatal meningitis are discussed.

[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.

[Pneumococcal meningitis in France: age and medical risk factors in children]. / Méningites à pneumocoque de l'enfant en France: âge de survenue et facteurs de risques médicaux.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among paediatric infectious diseases. The aim of this study is to analyse specific data on Sp meningitis out of the Bacterial Meningitis (BM) French Surveillance Network about mean age of BM cases and clinical features. Overall 367 Sp BM were reported between January 2001 to January 2004 (sex ratio M/F: 1.3), 69.7% were < 2 years old, median age 0.8 year (minmax 0-16.8 years). Before two years old children, 94.1% had no medical risk factor and no underlying conditions: on the other hand, after two years old, these factors were reported in 27% cases (P < 0.001). Mortality rate was 10.9%. On account of a Sp BM's pic at five months, data of the BM French Surveillance Network confirm the necessity of an early vaccination. The vaccine administration at two, three, four months with a booster during the second year, recommended in the vaccinal french calendar, seems particularly adapted to the Sp BM in France.

[Treatment of severe perianal cutaneous lesions in hospitalized neonates: Orabase ointment interest]. / Traitement des lésions cutanées sévères du siège chez le nouveau-né hospitalisé: intérêt de la pâte Orabase.

Cholestyramine ointment is an hospital preparation used as a second-intention treatment for severe perianal skin lesions. These preparations have to be declared to AFSSAPS. The aim of this study was to assess the equivalence of Orabase, a marketed paste, with intention of substitution. A clinical trial was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of cholestyramine ointment versus Orabase paste. This study was conducted in the neonatalogy unit. The principal evaluation criterion was the time to clinical recovery. Nurses also gave their subjective evaluation of each product. Although 34 children were included in the study, the time to clinical recovery delay was evaluated in 28. Time to clinical recovery was 90.5 hours for the cholestyramine ointment and 81 hours for Orabase paste. Concerning the subjective assessment, Orabase paste achieved a higher score than cholestyramine ointment (p<0.01). Orabase paste was considered to be equivalent to cholestyramine ointment.

[Dermo-hypodermitis caused by group B Streptococcus in infants under 3 months of age: A retrospective study in two hospitals]. / Dermo-hypodermites à streptocoque du groupe B chez les nourrissons de moins de 3 mois : étude rétrospective dans deux centres hospitaliers.

BACKGROUND: Very few studies describe group B streptococcal dermo-hypodermitis in newborns. OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, and course of group B streptococcal dermo-hypodermitis in infants less than 3 months old. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Infants under 3 months of age, hospitalized for group B streptococcal dermo-hypodermitis at Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France, and at Orsay Hospital, Orsay, France, between January 2002 and August 2013, were included in a retrospective study. RESULTS: Five infants were included in this study. All the infections occurred late. Dermo-hypodermitis accounted for 7% of the overall late-onset group B streptococcal infections during the same period. Four patients were male and had a risk factor of maternal-fetal infection (prematurity/hypotrophy). Four patients had specific clinical signs of dermo-hypodermitis with septic shock features on admission. One patient had meningitis and associated parotitis. Group B Streptococcus was isolated from blood culture of all patients. Serotype III Streptococcus was identified in four cases. The duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy varied from 7 to 23 days and the total duration of antibiotic therapy was between 14 and 44 days. The progression was favorable for all the infants, with no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Dermo-hypodermitis in infants under 3 months of age is rare but could be an early indicator of group B streptococcal bacteremia and/or sepsis. Early diagnosis of this severe complication and appropriate antibiotic therapy are critical.

Comparative efficacy and safety of four-day cefuroxime axetil and ten-day penicillin treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in children.

In a prospective randomized multicenter study, 308 children, ages 2 to 15 years, were randomized to receive either cefuroxime axetil suspension (N = 152; 20 mg/kg/day twice daily) for 4 days, penicillin suspension (N = 156; 45 mg/kg/day divided three times daily) for 10 days, of whom 97 and 103, respectively, had culture-proved group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus infection. Two to 4 days after completion of the treatment, group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus were eradicated from 85 of 97 (87.6%) children taking cefuroxime and from 90 of 103 (87.4%) taking penicillin; respective clinical cure rates were 94.8% and 96.1%. Clinical signs and symptoms resolved significantly more rapidly with cefuroxime (P < 0.05). At 28 to 32 days posttreatment the eradication of the primary isolate was confirmed in 94.4 and 91.9% of cefuroxime axetil and penicillin-treated patients, respectively. Drug-related adverse events (mainly gastrointestinal and cutaneous reactions) were reported in 2.1 and 2.7% of the cefuroxime- and penicillin-treated patients, respectively. Results indicated that a 4-day treatment with cefuroxime axetil was as effective and well-tolerated as the conventional 10-day treatment with penicillin in children with acute group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pharyngitis.

Nosocomial infections in pediatric patients: a European, multicenter prospective study. European Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the site and bacterial epidemiology of nosocomial infections (NIs) in children. DESIGN: 6-month prospective study with periodic chart review during hospitalization using a uniform prospective questionnaire in each unit, analyzed at a coordinating center. SETTING: 20 units in eight European countries: 5 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), 7 neonatal units, 2 hematology-oncology units, 8 general pediatric units. PARTICIPANTS: All children hospitalized during the study period with an NI according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. RESULTS: The overall incidence of NI was 2.5%, ranging from 1% in general pediatric units to 23.6% in PICUs. Bacteria were responsible for 68% (gram-negative bacilli, 37%; gram-positive cocci, 31%), Candida for 9%, and viruses for 22% of cases. The proportion of lower respiratory tract infections was 13% in general pediatric units and 53% in PICUs. Bloodstream infections were most frequent in neonatal units (71% of NIs) and were associated with a central venous catheter in 66% of cases. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) was the main pathogen. Eleven percent of NI were urinary tract infections. Gastrointestinal infections were most commonly viral and accounted for 76% of NIs in general pediatric units. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance depended on the type of unit. The highest rates were observed in PICUs: 26.3% of Staphylococcus aureus and 89% of CNS were methicillin-resistant, and 37.5% of Klebsiella pneumoniae had an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Mortality due to NI was 10% in PICUs and 17% in neonatal units. CONCLUSIONS: We found large differences in NI frequency and microbial epidemiology in this European study. Viruses were the main pathogens in general pediatrics units. Catheter-related sepsis and CNS were frequent in newborns. A high frequency of multiresistant bacteria was observed in some units. Clinical monitoring of NIs and bacterial resistance profiles are required in all pediatric units.

Pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime in the newborn.

A study of the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefotaxime (CTX) and desacetylcefotaxime (dCTX) in newborns was conducted; the former is commonly used for neonatal infections. The elimination half life of CTX correlated with gestational age (GA) and postnatal age (PNA). Elimination of dCTX was longer permitting a synergistic or additive effect with CTX against Gram-negative bacteria. CTX is indicated in the treatment of neonatal sepsis because of the increasing resistance of Escherichia coli to ampicillin and its good efficacy against group B streptococcus.

Prolongation of hospital stay and extra costs due to hospital-acquired infection in a neonatal unit.

A case-control study to evaluate the mean extra stay and corresponding cost of neonates acquiring a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) was performed on all patients admitted to a neonatology unit and discharged alive in 1994. Cases were identified from medical records. Controls were matched to cases for birthweight, gestational age, mode of admission to the unit, previous stay in an intensive care unit and presence of a central venous catheter. Costs were taken as those of the extra days attributable to HAI, i.e. the mean difference in the length of stay between cases and controls. Among a cohort of 616 neonates, 34 (5.5%) had one or more HAIs (average = 1.1). The mean extra cost per infected case was 52,192 FF (US$10,440), corresponding to 5.2 extra days in hospital.

Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants.

Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease is associated with unacceptable morbidity and mortality in children, especially in young children. Underlying conditions including prematurity with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, immunosuppression or another underlying respiratory condition, such as cystic fibrosis, increase the risk of contracting and developing severe RSV disease. Environmental factors such as crowding, day-care attendance, and exposure to passive smoke can increase the risk of severe RSV disease. Children with severe RSV disease often require intensified medical care, including hospitalization, which places a burden on the child, the family, and the health care system. There are currently no effective curative treatments for severe RSV disease. Preventive measures, such as infection control and prophylaxis, appear to be the best options in the management of RSV disease in these high-risk patients.