Trends in Pediatric Candidemia: Epidemiology, Anti-Fungal Susceptibility, and Patient Characteristics in a Children's Hospital.

Candida bloodstream infections (CBSIs) have decreased among pediatric populations in the United States, but remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Species distributions and susceptibility patterns of CBSI isolates diverge widely between children and adults. The awareness of these patterns can inform clinical decision-making for empiric or pre-emptive therapy of children at risk for candidemia. CBSIs occurring from 2006-2016 among patients in a large children's hospital were analyzed for age specific trends in incidence rate, risk factors for breakthrough-CBSI, and death, as well as underlying conditions. Candida species distributions and susceptibility patterns were evaluated in addition to the anti-fungal agent use. The overall incidence rate of CBSI among this complex patient population was 1.97/1000 patient-days. About half of CBSI episodes occurred in immunocompetent children and 14% in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. Anti-fungal resistance was minimal: 96.7% of isolates were fluconazole, 99% were micafungin, and all were amphotericin susceptible. Liposomal amphotericin was the most commonly prescribed anti-fungal agent included for NICU patients. Overall, CBSI-associated mortality was 13.7%; there were no deaths associated with CBSI among NICU patients after 2011. Pediatric CBSI characteristics differ substantially from those in adults. The improved management of underlying diseases and antimicrobial stewardship may further decrease morbidity and mortality from CBSI, while continuing to maintain low resistance rates among Candida isolates.

Recent changes in candidemia trends in a tertiary hospital (2011-2018).

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of candidemia has changed over the last decades and varies widely among geographic areas. AIMS: We examined in children (aged 0-14) with candidemia the trends in the incidence rate of this infection, as well as the clinical characteristics of the patients, in order to optimize the prognosis and the control measures of this serious disease. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of candidemia in the period 2011-2018 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric ICU (PICU) and pediatric wards of a tertiary hospital, was conducted. The clinical course, Candida species isolated, antifungal susceptibility, outcome and incidence rates were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: We diagnosed 68 episodes of candidemia in 62 children, 48% occurred in the NICU, 31% in the PICU and 21% in pediatric wards. Candida albicans was the most frequent species isolated in NICU infants (53%), and Candida parapsilosis predominated among PICU patients (59%) and pediatric wards (50%). One third of NICU infants had invasive candidiasis (IC), most of them having extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (35%). All isolates were susceptible to the antifungal administered. Over time, the incidence of candidemia decreased in the PICU (from 2.2 to 0.3 episodes/1000 patient-days, OR=0.6; 95%CI 0.5-0.8), whereas in the NICU and in the wards remained stable. Mortality occurred mostly in NICU patients (26%), predominated in ELBW infants and did not change over time. CONCLUSIONS: The higher incidence and mortality of candidemia and IC observed in preterm infants requires a continuous evaluation of practices and diagnostic methods which will allow improving the prognosis of this most vulnerable population.

Intrathoracic nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in otherwise healthy children.

BACKGROUND: Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is typically associated with lymphadenitis in immune competent children, and disseminated disease in children with immune deficiencies. Isolated pulmonary NTM disease is seen in cystic fibrosis, and is increasingly recognized in immunocompetent elderly women, where it is associated with an increased incidence of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) mutations. Thoracic NTM infection has been reported rarely in otherwise healthy children. We aimed to determine whether otherwise healthy children with pulmonary NTM disease had immunologic abnormalities or CFTR mutations. Clinical presentations of five otherwise healthy children with pulmonary NTM were reviewed. Immunologic studies were performed including a complete blood cell count (CBC), flow cytometric lymphocyte phenotyping and IFN-gamma receptor expression, in vitro cytokine stimulation, and serum immunoglobulin levels. Mutational analysis was performed for CFTR. The children ranged in age from 12 months to 2.5 years at diagnosis. Four presented with new onset wheezing or stridor failing bronchodilator therapy. One child was asymptomatic. Endobronchial lesions and/or hilar lymph nodes causing bronchial obstruction were identified in all patients. Mycobacterium avium complex was cultured from four patients, and Mycobacterium abscessus from one patient. All patients were successfully treated with anti-mycobacterial therapy with or without surgery. No definitive immunologic abnormalities were identified. No clinically significant mutations were found in CFTR. Pulmonary NTM infection should be considered in otherwise healthy young children presenting with refractory stridor or wheezing with endobronchial lesions or hilar lymphadenopathy. It does not appear to be associated with recognized underlying immune deficiency or CFTR mutations.