Measuring Gastric pH in Tube-fed Children With Neurologic Impairments and Gastroesophageal Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the extent of agreement between pH paper and handheld pH meter with a laboratory pH meter for gastric pH measurement in children with neurologic impairments and gastrostomy tubes who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: In this prospective observational study, gastric contents were aspirated from gastric or nasogastric tubes and the pH measured using 3 techniques: pH paper, handheld pH meter, and laboratory pH meter (the gold standard). Agreement between techniques was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman analysis, and kappa statistic. RESULTS: Among 43 patients contributing 67 gastric samples, the ICC was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.97) between the handheld and laboratory meters, 0.69 (95% CI: 0.63--0.94) between the pH paper and laboratory meter and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.63-0.94) between the handheld meter and paper. The Bland-Altman analysis between the handheld and lab meters showed a mean difference of -0.03 pH units (limits of agreement: -0.52 to 0.47 pH units) and 0.17 pH units (limits of agreement: -0.99 to 1.33 pH units) between the paper and lab meter. The kappa coefficients for a pH ≥4 were 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0--1.0) between the handheld and lab meters and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.77--1.0) between the paper and lab meter. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that both point-of-care tests, the pH meter and pH paper, correlate well with the gold standard for testing pH with a laboratory pH meter, indicating usefulness in point-of-care testing for monitoring gastric pH in tube-fed children with neurologic impairments and GERD.

Guideline for the prevention and treatment of anticipatory nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy in pediatric cancer patients.

This guideline provides an approach to the prevention and treatment of anticipatory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children. It was developed by an international, inter-professional panel using AGREE II methods and is based on systematic literature reviews. Evidence-based recommendations for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to prevent and treat anticipatory CINV in children receiving antineoplastic agents are provided. Gaps in the evidence used to support the recommendations are identified. The contribution of this guideline to anticipatory CINV control in children requires prospective evaluation.

Ceftriaxone-induced immune hemolytic anemia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a case of ceftriaxone-induced immune hemolytic anemia (CIIHA) in a 6 year-old boy with sickle cell disease (SCD) and perform a systematic literature review to delineate the clinical and laboratory features of this condition. DATA SOURCES: EMBASE (1947-January 2014), MEDLINE (1946-January 2014), and databases from the US Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada were searched, using anemia, hemolytic anemia, hemolysis, and ceftriaxone as search terms. Additional references were identified from a review of literature citations. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All case reports and observational studies describing clinical and laboratory features of CIIHA were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 37 eligible reports of CIIHA were identified, including our index case, and 70% were children. Mortality was 30% in all age groups and 64% in children. The majority of patients had underlying conditions (70%), of which SCD was most commonly reported. Previous ceftriaxone exposure was reported in 65%. Common features included elevated lactate dehydrogenase (70%); early, new-onset hemoglobinuria (59%); acute renal failure (46%); positive direct antibody testing (70%); and anticeftriaxone antibodies (68%). Also, 32% had a preceding, unrecognized, hemolytic episode associated with ceftriaxone. SUMMARY: Given the common use of ceftriaxone worldwide, knowledge of CIIHA, which often goes undiagnosed until late in the course, is essential for clinicians. Based on the findings of this review, we suggest obtaining past history of ceftriaxone exposures and screening for new-onset hemoglobinuria during ceftriaxone therapy in selected patients as potential methods for early diagnosis of this rare but potentially fatal condition.

Guideline for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting due to antineoplastic medication in pediatric cancer patients.

This guideline provides an approach to the prevention of acute antineoplastic-induced nausea and vomiting (AINV) in children. It was developed by an international, inter-professional panel using AGREE and CAN-IMPLEMENT methods. Evidence-based interventions that provide optimal AINV control in children receiving antineoplastic agents of high, moderate, low, and minimal emetogenicity are recommended. Recommendations are also made regarding selection of antiemetic agents for children who are unable to receive corticosteroids for AINV control, the role of aprepitant and optimal doses of antiemetic agents. Gaps in the evidence used to support the recommendations were identified. The contribution of this guideline to AINV control in children requires prospective evaluation.

Guideline for the classification of the acute emetogenic potential of antineoplastic medication in pediatric cancer patients.

This guideline provides clinicians caring for children with an approach to assessing the acute emetogenic potential of antineoplastic therapies. It was developed by an international, inter-professional panel of clinicians and researchers using AGREE and CAN-ADAPTE methods. The emetogenicity of antineoplastic agents was evaluated and ranked as high, moderate, low, or minimal. The emetogenicity of multiple-agent and multiple-day antineoplastic therapy was also classified. Gaps in the evidence used to underpin the guideline recommendations were identified. The contribution of this guideline to the prevention of antineoplastic-induced nausea and vomiting in individual children about to receive antineoplastic therapy requires prospective evaluation.

Canadian Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: Current Resources and Implementation Characteristics.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) became an accreditation requirement for Canadian hospitals in 2013. Pediatric programs are in various stages of program development and implementation, with 93% of surveyed Canadian academic pediatric hospitals having established ASPs. The programs varied in their team composition, implementation of stewardship strategies, and measured metrics. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:350-354.

A reliable and safe method of collecting blood samples from implantable central venous catheters for determination of plasma gentamicin concentrations.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent of agreement between plasma gentamicin concentrations determined from samples collected by using implantable subcutaneous central venous catheters (ports) with the push-pull method and those collected by finger lancet punctures in children with febrile neutropenia. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: University-affiliated, tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-two children with cancer who had single- or double-lumen ports and who received gentamicin for treatment of febrile neutropenia between February 2008 and October 2009. INTERVENTION: One blood sample was collected from the port by using the push-pull method at the same time one blood sample was collected by finger lancet puncture for determination of plasma gentamicin concentrations. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Forty-four pairs of samples were available for assessment of agreement, and 43 were available for pharmacokinetic analysis. Agreement between plasma gentamicin concentrations determined from blood samples from ports and finger lancet punctures was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman analysis, and comparison of simulated dosage adjustments. Changes in port patency were monitored for 1 week after port sampling. Differences in simulated dosage adjustments calculated by using either the port or finger lancet puncture samples that differed by greater than 20% were considered clinically significant. Agreement between the 44 finger lancet puncture and port sample pairs was excellent (ICC 0.991, 95% confidence interval 0.984-0.995). Port plasma gentamicin concentrations were 4.7% lower than those concentrations determined in blood from finger lancet punctures. The observed limits of agreement ranged from -20.5% to 11%. Differences in dosage adjustments calculated by using port and finger lancet puncture plasma gentamicin concentrations were not clinically significant in 38 (88%) of 43 cases. No changes in port patency were observed in the week after port sampling. CONCLUSION: The push-pull method of blood sampling is a reliable and safe option for determining plasma gentamicin concentrations in children with ports.

Once-daily gentamicin dosing in children with febrile neutropenia resulting from antineoplastic therapy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate an existing once-daily gentamicin dosing guideline in children with febrile neutropenia resulting from antineoplastic therapy and, if necessary, to develop a new simulated dosing guideline that would achieve pharmacokinetic targets more reliably after the first dose. DESIGN: Pharmacokinetic analysis of data from a retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Hematology-oncology unit of a university-affiliated pediatric hospital in Canada. PATIENTS: One hundred eleven patients aged 1-18 years who received once-daily gentamicin between April 2006 and January 2008 for the treatment of febrile neutropenia resulting from antineoplastic therapy, and who had plasma gentamicin concentrations determined after their first dose. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Demographic data, gentamicin dosing information, blood sampling times, and plasma gentamicin concentrations were noted. Plasma gentamicin concentrations were determined at approximately 3 and 6 hours after the start of the 30-minute infusion of the first dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to standard first-order, one-compartment equations. The proportion of children who achieved pharmacokinetic targets after the first gentamicin dose was used as a measure of dosing guideline performance; the guideline achieved maximum concentration (C(max)) values below the target range (20-25mg/L) in 51% of patients. Ideal dosing guidelines were then developed using the mean dose required to achieved a C(max) of 23 mg/L for each patient. Univariate analysis or the Student t test was used to determine the existence of significant relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters and patient age and sex. The recursive binary partitioning method was used to determine critical values of age for dosage guideline development; analysis of variance was then used to compare the different levels obtained after use of this technique. Simulated administration of once-daily gentamicin in the following doses achieved a C(max) within or above target in 73% of patients: 1 year to < 6 years, 10.5mg/kg/dose; girls > or = 6 years, 9.5mg/kg/dose; and boys > or = 6 years, 7.5mg/kg/dose. Doses were based on actual body weight for children who weighed less than 125% of ideal body weight or based on effective body weight for children 125% or more of ideal body weight. CONCLUSION: The initial gentamicin dosing guidelines were not effective in achieving C(max). The new proposed dosing guidelines are predicted to achieve a C(max) within or above the target range in almost three quarters of patients. Subsequent dosing should be tailored according to plasma gentamicin concentrations.

Extent of agreement in gentamicin concentration between serum that is drawn peripherally and from central venous catheters.

OBJECTIVE: At our institution, patients who receive once-daily dosing of gentamicin have serum concentrations determined 3 and 6 hours after dose administration. Patients with single-lumen central venous catheters have the 3-hour samples drawn peripherally. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of agreement between peripheral and central venous catheter serum gentamicin concentrations drawn 3 hours after dose administration. METHODS: In this prospective, observational study, patients provided both a peripheral and a central blood sample for determination of serum gentamicin concentration. The order of sampling (central venous catheter versus peripheral first) was randomized. Agreement was assessed by determination of the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. The clinically acceptable targets for the lower limit of the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman limits of agreement were defined a priori as >0.80 and +/-6%, respectively. Differences between the theoretical dose adjustments using the central venous catheter versus the peripheral sample result were described. RESULTS: Forty-five pairs of samples were collected: 42 from single-lumen implantable central venous catheters (ports) and 3 from peripherally inserted central venous catheters. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91. However, the Bland-Altman analysis resulted in a mean percentage difference (central venous catheter versus peripheral) of -0.92% and limits of agreement of -27.9% to 26.0%. The gentamicin dose adjustment based on the central venous catheter sample result would have led to clinically significant dose adjustments in 19 (42%) cases, when compared with the peripheral sample result. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a lack of agreement between peripheral and single-lumen central venous catheter samples. In particular, ports are not appropriate sites for monitoring serum gentamicin concentrations.