Severe persistent neurotoxicity associated with CAR T therapy in children.

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an important therapy for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, but its use carries the risk of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). In children, severe ICANS is almost universally reported in association with cytokine release syndrome and is reversible. We describe two cases of severe, intractable neurotoxicity following CAR T-cell therapy in children with pre-existing central nervous system (CNS) vulnerabilities. The cases were atypical in their delayed onset and independence from cytokine release syndrome and did not respond to standard therapies.

Density of antibiotic use and infectious complications in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics, while an essential component of supportive care in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), can have adverse effects and select for antibiotic resistance. Understanding of patterns of use will inform antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center cohort of children undergoing first allo-HCT (n = 125). Antibiotic prescription and infection data were included from the date conditioning was commenced until 30 days post allo-HCT. Antibiotic use was reported as length of therapy (LOT) (number of days a patient received an antibiotic) and days of therapy DOT (aggregating all antibiotics prescribed per day). Infections were classified as microbiologically documented infection (MDI) or clinically documented infections. RESULTS: At least one course of antibiotics was administered to 124 (99%) patients. The LOT was 636 per 1000 patient days and DOT was 959 per 1000 patient days. The median duration of cumulative antibiotic exposure per patient was 24 days (interquartile range [IQR] 20-30 days). There were 131 days of fever per 1000 patient days with patients febrile for a median of 4 days (IQR 1-7 days). Piperacillin-tazobactam was used for 116 (94%) of patients with an LOT of 532 per 1000 patient days. A total of 119 MDI episodes occurred in 74 (59%) patients, including blood stream infection in 30 (24%) and a proven/probable invasive fungal infection in 4 (3%). CONCLUSION: Pediatric HCT patients receive prolonged courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics relative to the frequency of fever and bacterial infections. This study has identified opportunities for AMS intervention to improve outcomes for our HCT patients.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus complex in children with cystic fibrosis: A practical management guideline.

The treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) pulmonary infections is an emerging challenge in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Multidrug therapy for prolonged durations is required and carries the significant burden of drug-related toxicity, cost and selective pressure for multiresistant bacteria. International guidelines acknowledge that clinical and in vitro data to support treatment regimens are limited, particularly in children. As part of a collaboration between the infectious diseases and respiratory units at our institution, we have developed a modified treatment guideline that aims to balance the aims of MABSC eradication and slowing disease progression with minimising drug toxicity and resistance. The outcomes of this treatment approach will be monitored and reported. In this manuscript, we discuss the available evidence for treatment choices and present our treatment guideline for paediatric patients with CF and MABSC infection.

Adverse effects of amphotericin B in children; a retrospective comparison of conventional and liposomal formulations.

AIMS: Lipid formulations of amphotericin B, rather than conventional amphotericin (c-amB), are increasingly used despite limited data comparing these preparations in children. Data on the incidence of adverse effects with amphotericin B at standard doses are scarce. This study aimed to compare the adverse effects associated with standard doses of c-amB and liposomal amphotericin (l-amB) in children. METHODS: Children admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne and treated with c-amB or l-amB between January 2010 and September 2013 were included. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively extracted from medical records to compare amphotericin-related infusion reactions, nephrotoxicity (glomerulotoxicity and tubulopathy) and hepatotoxicity. RESULTS: Seventy-six children received c-amB and 39 received l-amB. Standard drug administration (recommended dose and infusion time) occurred in 74% (56/76) of patients on c-amB and 85% (33/39) on l-amB. In these 89 children, infusion-related reactions were similar for both c-amB and l-amB (23% (13/56) vs. 9% (3/33); P = 0.15); none occurred in children aged <90 days. There was no difference in amphotericin-associated glomerulotoxicity (c-amB 14% (8/56) vs. l-amB 21% (7/33); P = 0.40) or in the median maximum potassium requirements (c-amB 3.1 vs. l-amB 2.3 mmol kg-1  d-1 ; P = 0.29). Hepatotoxicity occurred more frequently with l-amB than c-amB (83% (24/29) vs. 56% (20/36); P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: When appropriately administered, l-amB was associated with more hepatotoxicity than c-amB, with no difference in infusion-related reactions or nephrotoxicity. Differences in adverse effects between the preparations is not as marked in children as reported in adults.

Clinical Impact of Comprehensive Molecular Profiling in Adolescents and Young Adults with Sarcoma.

Sarcomas are a heterogenous group of tumours that commonly carry poor prognosis with limited therapeutic options. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with sarcoma are a unique and understudied patient population that have only achieved modest survival gains compared to other groups. We present our institutional experience of AYAs with sarcoma who underwent comprehensive molecular profiling (CMP) via either large-panel targeted DNA sequencing or whole genome and transcriptome sequencing and evaluated the feasibility and clinical impact of this approach. Genomic variants detected were determined to be clinically relevant and actionable following evaluation by the Molecular Tumour Board. Clinicians provided feedback regarding the utility of testing three months after reporting. Twenty-five patients who were recruited for CMP are included in this analysis. The median time from consent to final molecular report was 45 days (interquartile range: 37-57). Potentially actionable variants were detected for 14 patients (56%), and new treatment recommendations were identified for 12 patients (48%). Pathogenic germline variants were identified in three patients (12%), and one patient had a change in diagnosis. The implementation of CMP for AYAs with sarcoma is clinically valuable, feasible, and should be increasingly integrated into routine clinical practice as technologies and turnaround times continue to improve.

Seroprotection to vaccine-preventable diseases among workers at a Victorian tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine seroprotection for the vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B among new employees seen at a Victorian tertiary hospital staff clinic. METHODS: Employees who presented to the staff clinic for immunisation assessment between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013 were included. Demographic data, self-reported disease history and previous vaccination status were reviewed retrospectively to determine impact on serological results. RESULTS: A total of 1,901 new employees were included, 83% of whom were at risk of direct contact with blood or body substances. Overall, the proportion of workers seropositive to measles was 88%, mumps 90%, rubella 78%, varicella 93% and hepatitis B 80%. Staff born before 1966 were more likely to have positive measles or mumps serology but negative rubella or hepatitis B serology (p<0.05 for each). Staff who self-reported measles (99% vs. 93%, p=0.03) or varicella infection (98% vs. 92%, p<0.001) were more likely to be seropositive, but those reporting previous vaccination to measles, mumps or rubella were no more likely to be seropositive. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrated levels of seropositivity of 78-93% for the five VPDs. Despite recognised limitations of serological testing, 10-20% of new employees to a healthcare institution lacking seroprotection represents a potentially unacceptable risk of nosocomial transmission of these VPDs. Our findings support ongoing serological testing of new healthcare staff at risk of direct contact with blood or body substances.