Nutritional status in survivors of childhood cancer: Experience from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for several cardiometabolic complications. Obesity/overweight and metabolic syndrome have been widely reported in Western literature, but data from India are lacking. AIMS: To perform an objective assessment of nutritional status in a cohort of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and to find risk factors for extremes in nutritional status. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was a retrospective chart review of CCSs who attended the late effects clinic of a referral pediatric oncology center over the period of 1 year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An objective assessment of nutritional status was done, and results were analyzed in two groups: Adult survivors (present age <18 years) and child and adolescent survivors (CASs) (<18 years). The data were then analyzed for possible risk factors. RESULTS: Six hundred and forty-eight survivors were included in the study; of these, 471 were <18 years at follow-up, and 177 were 18 years or older. The prevalence of obesity, overweight, normal, and undernutrition was 2.6%, 10.8%, 62.7%, and 28.8% (CASs) and 0%, 8.5%, 62.7%, and 28.8% (adult survivors), respectively. Factors predictive of overweight/obesity were an initial diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or brain tumor and follow-up duration of >20 years or current age >30 years in adult survivors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity/overweight is lower in our cohort when compared to Western literature. It remains to be clarified whether this reflects the underlying undernutrition in our country, or whether our cohort of survivors is indeed distinct from their Western counterparts. Comparison with age/sex-matched normal controls and baseline parameters would yield more meaningful results.

Alarming prevalence of community-acquired multidrug-resistant organisms colonization in children with cancer and implications for therapy: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Infection or colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Knowledge of MDRO colonization may help in planning empirical antibiotic approach in neutropenic patients, which is known to improve patient outcomes. While routine cultures are positive and may help direct antibiotic therapy in only up to 15% neutropenic patients, surveillance cultures are positive in more than 90% of cancer patients. AIMS: To assess the rate of MDRO carrier status at presentation and rate of conversion to MDRO during the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rectal swabs of all the outpatients presenting to pediatric oncology unit were sent within 7 days from date of registration from January 2014 to December 2014. Furthermore, stool cultures/rectal swabs of all patients who got directly admitted to the pediatric ward at presentation were sent within 24 h. Repeat rectal swabs were sent again for patients from this cohort when they got readmitted to the ward at least 15 days after last discharge or when clinically indicated. RESULTS: Baseline surveillance rectal swabs were sent for 618 patients, which included 528 children with hematological malignancies and 90 children with solid tumors. Forty-five (7.3%) showed no growth. Of the remaining 573, 197 (34.4%) patients were colonized by two organisms and 30 (5.2%) by three organisms. Three hundred and thirty-four (58.4%) showed extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Enterobacteriaceae, of which 165 (49.5%) were ESBL sensitive to beta-lactam with beta-lactamase inhibitors combinations and 169 (50.5%) were resistant to combinations. One hundred and sixteen (20.2%) were carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and 65 (11.4%) had vancomycin-resistant enterococci in baseline cultures. Only 63 (21%) patients were colonized by a sensitive organism in their baseline surveillance cultures. Morbidity (Intensive Care Unit stay) and mortality was higher in patients colonized by MDR organisms. There was a significant correlation between the place of residence and CRE colonization status with the highest rate (60%) of CRE colonization observed in children from East India. The repeat cultures showed the further conversion of sensitive isolates to MDRO in 80% of these children, of which 40% each converted from non-ESBL and non-CRE to ESBL and CRE, respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first study illustrating the alarming high prevalence of community-acquired MDRO colonization, especially CRE, which has grave implications for therapy for children with cancer potentially compromising delivery of aggressive chemotherapy and affecting outcomes. This incidence further increases during the course of treatment. Knowing the baseline colonization also guides us for the planning of chemotherapy as well as antibiotic approach and infection control strategies. Local antibiotics stewardship including education of the healthcare workers as well as national level interventions to prevent antibiotic misuse in the community is critical to minimize this problem.

Epidemiology of blood stream infections in pediatric patients at a Tertiary Care Cancer Centre.

BACKGROUND: Blood stream infections (BSI) are among the most common causes of preventable deaths in children with cancer in a developing country. Knowledge of its etiology as well as antibiotic sensitivity is essential not only for planning antimicrobial policy, but also the larger infection prevention and control measures. AIMS: To describe the etiology and sensitivity of BSI in the pediatric oncology unit at a tertiary cancer center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the samples representative of BSI sent from pediatric oncology unit during the period of January to December, 2013 were included in the study, and analyzed for microbiological spectrum with their antibiotic sensitivity. RESULTS: A total of 4198 samples were representative of BSI. The overall cultures positivity rate was 6.97% with higher positivity rate (10.28%) from central lines. Of the positive cultures, 208 (70.9%) were Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), 71 (24.2%) were Gram-positive organisms, and 14 (4.7%) were Candida species. Lactose fermenting Enterobacteriaceae i.e., Escherichia coli (28.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.1%), and Enterobacter (4.8%) accounted for 55.3% of all GNB. Pseudomonas accounted for 53 (25.5%) and Acinetobacter 19 (9.1%) of GNB. Among Gram-positive isolates, staphylococci were the most frequent (47.8%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae 17 (23.9%), beta-hemolytic streptococci 11 (15.5%), and enterococci 9 (12.68%). Of GNB, 45.7% were pan-sensitive, 24% extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, 27% were resistant to carbapenems, and 3.4% resistant to colistin. Pseudomonas was most sensitive, and Klebsiella was least sensitive of GNB. Of the staphylococcal isolates, 41.67% were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 10% of Coagulase Negative Stapylococci (CONS) were methicillin. CONCLUSION: A high degree of ESBL producers and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae is concerning; with emerging resistance to colistin, raising the fear of a return to the preantibiotic era. An urgent intervention including creating awareness and establishment of robust infection control and antibiotic stewardship program is the most important need of the hour.

Clinico-biologic profile of Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a single institutional study.

CONTEXT: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare atypical cellular disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells leading to myriad clinical presentations and highly variable outcomes. There is a paucity of Indian studies on this subject. AIM: To present the experience of management of LCH at a single institution. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a retrospective observational study of patients with LCH who presented at the Tata Memorial Hospital between January 1987 and December 2002. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with LCH were treated in the study period. Due to the long observation period and variability in diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, the patients were risk-stratified based on present criteria. The disease pattern, management approaches and treatment outcomes of patients were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analyses were done using Student's 't' test, test for proportion and survival estimates based on the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The median age at presentation was 3 years and more than 48% of the patients had Group I disease. Skeleton, skin and lymphoreticular system were the commonly involved organs. Majority (80%) required some form of therapy. The projected overall survival is 63% at 10 years and mean survival is 118 months. Seventeen percent of surviving patients developed long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: The clinico-biologic profile of LCH patients in India is largely similar to international patterns except a higher incidence of lymphoreticular involvement. Majority of the patients respond favorably to therapy and have a good outcome, except a subset of Group I patients who warrant enrollment in clinical trials with innovative therapeutic strategies to improve outcome.

Neurocysticercosis--New Millennium, ancient disease and unending debate.

A spurt of cases of Neurocysticercosis (NCC) at our department reopened the debate on whether to treat or not and spurred us on to review the available literature for a viable solution. Despite the disease having been around for centuries a cogent treatment plan eludes us even as other ancient scources have been successfully engaged. Neurocysticercosis presents a peculiar problem as it is an end-stage infection, accidental in man, with a benign natural course and would have merited considerably less attention, had it not chosen to infest the brain. These unique and characteristic features are the fundamental reasons why so many different treatment strategies are continuously proffered; many or none seem to work, depending on the viewpoint. And the target organs of this otherwise unglamorous tapeworm cyst--the brain, eye and spinal cord-ensure that there is always pressure, and temptation to treat rather than let it be, even if the weight of evidence is to the contrary. An overview of the history of the disease and the most recent happenings is presented here, in which these issues are reviewed with special attention to the debate on treatment. From the facts that emerge, an attempt has been made to present a workable plan that would help practicing pediatricians in treating most encountered cases till such time we hear the last word on the issue.