Analysis of wound infections among pediatric patients following the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes.

PURPOSE: On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 occurred consecutively in Turkey and Syria. This study aimed to investigate the predisposing factors for wound infection (WI) and the microbiological characteristics of wounds after earthquake-related injuries. METHODS: This descriptive study evaluated pediatric patients' frequency of WI, and the clinical and laboratory parameters associated with the development of WI were investigated. RESULTS: The study included 180 patients (91 female). The mean age of the patients was 123.9 ± 64.9 months and 81.7% (n = 147) of them had been trapped under rubble. Antibiotic treatment to prevent WI had been administered to 58.8% (n = 106) of all patients. WI was observed in 12.2% (n = 22) of the cases. In patients who developed WI, the incidence of exposure to a collapse, crush syndrome, compartment syndrome, multiple extremity injury, fasciotomy, amputation, peripheral nerve injury, thoracic compression, blood product use, intubation, and the use of central venous catheters, urinary catheters, and thoracic tubes were more frequent (p < 0.05). The need for blood product transfusion was associated with the development of WI (OR = 9.878 [95% CI: 2.504-38.960], p = 0.001). The negative predictive values of not developing WI at values of white blood cell count of < 11,630/mm3, creatine kinase < 810 U/L, potassium < 4.1 mEq/L, ALT < 29 U/L, AST < 32 U/L, and CRP < 45.8 mg/L were 93.7%, 96.8%, 90.8%, 93.3%, 100%, and 93.5%, respectively. Gram-negative pathogens (81%) were detected most frequently in cases of WI. Seventy-five percent of patients were multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant. CONCLUSION: This study leans empirical approach of our disaster circumstances. In cases with risk factors predisposing to the development of WI, it may be rational to start broad-spectrum antibiotics while considering the causative microorganisms and resistance profile to prevent morbidity.

Evaluation of pediatric trauma score and pediatric age-adjusted shock index in pediatric patients admitted to the hospital after an earthquake.

BACKGROUND: In our earthquake-prone country, it is crucial to gather data from regional hospitals following earthquakes. This information is essential for preparing for future disasters and enhancing healthcare services for those affected by earthquakes. This study aimed to evaluate the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) and the Shock Index, Pediatric Age-Adjusted (SIPA), in children affected by earthquakes, to provide clinicians with insights into the severity of trauma and hemodynamic stability. METHODS: The study included patients admitted to our hospital's pediatric emergency service within the three weeks following the earthquake. We evaluated their age, sex, admission vital signs, mechanical ventilation requirements, development of crush syndrome, length of hospital stay, PTS, and SIPA. RESULTS: Our study included 176 children (89 females and 87 males) with trauma. Fifty-eight (32.95%) children had crush syndrome, and 87 (49.43%) were hospitalized. The median PTS was 10 (ranging from -3 to 12), and the median SIPA was 1.00 (ranging from 0.57 to 2.10). We observed a negative correlation between the time spent under debris and PTS (r=-0.228, p=0.002) and a positive correlation with the SIPA score (r=0.268, p<0.001). The time spent under debris (p<0.001) and SIPA score (p<0.001) were significantly higher in hospitalized children. PTS was significantly lower in hospitalized children than in others. A PTS cutoff point of 7.5, and a SIPA cutoff point of 1.05, predicted hospitalization in all children. Time spent under debris and SIPA were significantly higher in children with crush syndrome than in others (p<0.001). PTS at a cutoff point of 8.5 and SIPA at a cutoff point of 1.05 predicted crush syndrome in all children. CONCLUSION: PTS and SIPA are important practical scoring systems that can be used to predict the severity of trauma, hospitalization, crush syndrome, and the clinical course in pediatric patients admitted to the hospital due to earthquake trauma.

EXTL3-Associated Immunoskeletal Dysplasia with Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities: A Lethal Phenotype.

Background: Immunoskeletal dysplasia with neurodevelopmental abnormalities (ISDNA) caused by Exostosin-Like Glycosyltransferase 3 (EXTL3) biallelic mutations is a very rare syndrome with only 16 cases reported in the literature. Skeletal dysplasia, neurodevelopmental delay, immunodeficiency, liver, and kidney cysts are the most common findings of this syndrome. Case Presentation: Here, we report on a patient who exhibited a lethal phenotype with clinical characteristics of this syndrome and had a homozygous pathogenic mutation in EXTL3 gene. Conclusions: ISDNA should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with neuro-immuno-skeletal dysplasia phenotype.

Evaluation of 601 children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (Turk MISC study).

PURPOSE: Due to its link with the 2019 coronavirus, the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MISC) has garnered considerable international interest. The aim of this study, in which MISC patients were evaluated multicenter, and the data of the third period of the Turk-MISC study group, to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of MISC patients who did and did not require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This retrospective multicenter observational study was carried out between June 11, 2021, and January 01, 2022. The demographics, complaints, laboratory results, system involvements, and outcomes of the patients were documented. RESULTS: A total of 601 patients were enrolled; 157 patients (26.1%) required hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU). Median age was 8 years (interquartile range (IQR) 4.5-11.3 years. The proportion of Kawasaki disease-like features in the ICU group was significantly higher than in the non-ICU group (56.1% vs. 43.2% p = 0.006). The ICU group had considerably lower counts of both lymphocytes and platelets (lymphocyte count 900 vs. 1280 cells × µL, platelet count 153 vs. 212 cells × 103/ µL, all for p< 0.001). C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and ferritin levels were significantly higher in the ICU group (CRP 164 vs. 129 mg/L, procalcitonin 9.2 vs. 2.2 µg/L, ferritin 644 vs. 334 µg/L, all for p< 0.001). Being between ages 5-12 and older than 12 increased the likelihood of hospitalization in the ICU by four [95% confidence intervals (CI)1.971-8.627] and six times (95% CI 2.575-14.654), respectively, compared to being between the ages 0-5. A one-unit increase in log D-dimer (µg/L) and log troponin (ng/L) was also demonstrated to increase the need for intensive care by 1.8 (95% CI 1.079-3.233) and 1.4 times (95% CI 1.133-1.789), respectively.     Conclusion: By comparing this study to our other studies, we found that the median age of MISC patients has been rising. Patients requiring an ICU stay had considerably higher levels of procalcitonin, CRP, and ferritin but significantly lower levels of lymphocyte and thrombocyte. In particular, high levels of procalcitonin in the serum might serve as a valuable laboratory marker for anticipating the need for intensive care. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were an independent predictor factors in patients with MISC who needed to stay in intensive care unit. • The possibility of the need to stay in the intensive care unit in patients with MISC who had Kawasaki disease-like findings was controversial compared with those who did not. WHAT IS NEW: • A one-unit increase log D dimer and log troponin was demonstrated to require for intensive care unit by 1.8 and 1.4 times, respectively. • Serum procalcitonin levels had the best performance to predict stay in the intensive care unit stay.

Thromboprophylaxis in pediatric patients with earthquake-related crush syndrome: a single centre experience.

PURPOSE: Injuries increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the literature on the management of anticoagulant therapy in pediatric patients with crush injury is limited. In this study, we aimed to share our experience about anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in pediatric patients with earthquake-related crush syndrome. METHODS: This study included patients who were evaluated for VTE risk after the Turkey-Syria earthquake in 2023. Since there is no specific pediatric guideline for the prevention of VTE in trauma patients, risk assessment for VTE and decision for thromboprophylaxis was made by adapting the guideline for the prevention of perioperative VTE in adolescent patients. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients [25 males and 24 females] with earthquake-related crush syndrome had participated in the study. The median age of the patients was 13.5 (8.8-15.5) years. Seven patients (14.6%) who had no risk factors for thrombosis were considered to be at low risk and did not receive thromboprophylaxis. Thirteen patients (27.1%) with one risk factor for thrombosis were considered to be at moderate risk and 28 patients (58.3%) with two or more risk factors for thrombosis were considered to be at high risk. Moderate-risk patients (n = 8) and high-risk patients aged < 13 years (n = 11) received prophylactic enoxaparin if they could not be mobilized early, while all high-risk patients aged ≥ 13 years (n = 13) received prophylactic enoxaparin. CONCLUSION: With the decision-making algorithm for thyromboprophylaxis we used, we observed a VTE rate of 2.1% in pediatric patients with earthquake-related crush syndrome.

COVID-19 associated multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in 614 children with and without overlap with Kawasaki disease-Turk MIS-C study group.

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) diagnosis remains difficult because the clinical features overlap with Kawasaki disease (KD). The study aims to highlight the clinical and laboratory features and outcomes of patients with MISC whose clinical manifestations overlap with or without KD. This study is a retrospective analysis of a case series designed for patients aged 1 month to 18 years in 28 hospitals between November 1, 2020, and June 9, 2021. Patient demographics, complaints, laboratory results, echocardiographic results, system involvement, and outcomes were recorded. A total of 614 patients were enrolled; the median age was 7.4 years (interquartile range (IQR) 3.9-12 years). A total of 277 (45.1%) patients with MIS-C had manifestations that overlapped with KD, including 92 (33.3%) patients with complete KD and 185 (66.7%) with incomplete KD. Lymphocyte and platelet counts were significantly lower in patients with MISC, overlapped with KD (lymphocyte count 1080 vs. 1280 cells × µL, p = 0.028; platelet count 166 vs. 216 cells × 103/µL, p < 0.001). The median serum procalcitonin levels were statistically higher in patients overlapped with KD (3.18 vs. 1.68 µg/L, p = 0.001). Coronary artery dilatation was statistically significant in patients with overlap with KD (13.4% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.007), while myocarditis was significantly more common in patients without overlap with KD features (2.6% vs 7.4%, p = 0.009). The association between clinical and laboratory findings and overlap with KD was investigated. Age > 12 years reduced the risk of overlap with KD by 66% (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.217-0.550), lethargy increased the risk of overlap with KD by 2.6-fold (p = 0.011, 95% CI 1.244-5.439), and each unit more albumin (g/dl) reduced the risk of overlap with KD by 60% (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.298-0.559). CONCLUSION: Almost half of the patients with MISC had clinical features that overlapped with KD; in particular, incomplete KD was present. The median age was lower in patients with KD-like features. Lymphocyte and platelet counts were lower, and ferritin and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in patients with overlap with KD. WHAT IS KNOWN: • In some cases of MIS-C, the clinical symptoms overlap with Kawasaki disease. • Compared to Kawasaki disease, lymphopenia was an independent predictor of MIS-C. WHAT IS NEW: • Half of the patients had clinical features that overlapped with Kawasaki disease. • In patients whose clinical features overlapped with KD, procalcitonin levels were almost 15 times higher than normal. • Lethargy increased the risk of overlap with KD by 2.6-fold in MIS-C patients. • Transient bradycardia was noted in approximately 10% of our patients after initiation of treatment.

[Evaluation of Micafungin Use in Children]. / Çocuklarda Mikafungin Kullaniminin Degerlendirilmesi.

Micafungin is recommended especially in patients with liver and kidney failure and in the presence of other side effects due to antifungals apart from its known priority indications such as invasive candidiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the children who have received micafungin treatment. In the study, 125 children who were hospitalized in the pediatric wards and intensive care units of our hospital and had used micafungin between November 2016 and January 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical data, micafungin indication, blood values on the first and fourth days of the treatment, side effects of the drug and efficacy were evaluated. Sixty percent (75/125) of the patients were male and the mean age of all the patients were 58 ± 67 (0-215, 30) months. Approximately half of the cases (48%) had malignancy and 13% of them were premature. Sixty-two percent (n= 37) of the malignencies were hematological (27 acute lymphocytic leukemia, nine acute myeloid leukemia, one myelodysplastic syndrome) and 38% (n= 23) were oncological (six neuroblastoma, four Hodgkin lymphoma, two Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, five sarcomas, one hepatoblastoma, five others) malignencies. The major cause of hospitalization was sepsis (53%). The patients had several risk factors like immunosuppressive therapy (n= 68, 54%), neutropenia (n= 61, 49%), central venous catheter (n= 102, 82%), nasogastric tube (n= 63, 50%), endotracheal intubation tube (n= 49, 39%), urinary catheter (n= 14, 11%) and total parenteral nutrition (n= 81, 65%). Thirteen percent (n= 16) of the cases were post-operative patients. Candida species were cultivated in 97 clinical specimens (blood, endotracheal aspirate, sputum, urine, etc.) among 23 (18%) of the patients. Thirteen (10%) of the patients had candidemia and 62% of them were non-albicans strains. In all candidemias, strains were echinocandin susceptible, and blood cultures were negative within four days. When all the patients (n= 125) were evaluated, a significant decrease in C-reactive protein, an increase in sodium, and a decrease in alanine aminotransferase were observed on the fourth day of micafungin treatment (p<0.05). A total of 39 (31%) patients underwent various antifungal treatments for median seven (1-60) days prior to micafungin treatment. Fourteen (36%) of these 39 patients, had elevated liver function tests (LFT), 10 (26%) of them had hypokalemia, and five (13%) of them had elevated renal function tests. Ten (26%) patients had antifungal-induced hypokalemia previously; and potassium levels were normalized after micafungin treatment (p= 0.0001). The patients for which micafungin treatment was chosen due to elevated liver function tests (n= 47, 38%), whether the antifungalinduced or not; alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were decreased after micafungin treatment (p= 0.0001 and p= 0.0001, respectively). Nineteen (15%) of the patients have died within the first 30 days of micafungin treatment and one of them had candidemia. No micafungin treatment related significant side effects were observed in any of the patients. Our study showed that micafungin could be a safe and effective option in pediatric cases including newborns with high liver and kidney function tests.

Investigation of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Pediatric Patients with Brain Cancer.

AIM: In recent years, it is believed that Vitamin D may play a protective role in some cancer types. Certain regions of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene may show a genetic difference in structure. The most frequent polymorphisms in this gene are in Taq-1, Fok-1, and Bsm-1 regions. Some adult cancer types are associated with VDR gene polymorphism such as; colorectal carcinoma, breast carcinoma, and prostate carcinoma. Reviewing the medical literature, no such study had been done on children so far. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the association of the three most common gene polymorphisms (Taq-1, Fok-1, and Bsm-1 regions) in VDR gene in 32 children with brain tumors and forty control healthy volunteers. RESULTS: We could not find any relationship between childhood brain tumors and VDR gene polymorphism in these three regions. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the Taq-1, Fok-1, and Bsm-1 polymorphism in the VDR gene and pediatric brain cancers have no association.