Short-course antibiotic treatment of bone and joint infections in children: a retrospective study at Montpellier University Hospital from 2009 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: Acute haematogenous bone and joint infections (AHBJI) represent a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency in children, with significant potential sequelae in the case of delayed treatment. Although historically the recommendations for treatment have been based on surgery and prolonged antibiotic therapy, recent studies have demonstrated that short-course antibiotic therapy is also effective. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated a short-term antibiotic protocol for both osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in a 6 year retrospective study at the University Hospital of Montpellier. METHODS: This protocol was based on an initial intravenous treatment with a re-evaluation after 48 h and an early switch to oral therapy in the case of a favourable clinical course for a minimum total duration of 15 days. Antibiotics were selected based on local microbiological epidemiology and systematically adapted to bacteriological results. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-six cases of AHBJI were included, comprising 56 patients with osteomyelitis, 95 with septic arthritis and 25 who had both of these. The aetiological agent was identified in 42% of the cases, with the main pathogens being Staphylococcus aureus (39%) and Kingella kingae (27%). The mean intravenous treatment duration was 4 days, while the total treatment duration was 15 days. There were no treatment failures, mild sequelae occurred in 1% of the cases and the secondary surgical revision rate was 7%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are comparable to those reported for evaluations of prolonged antibiotic therapy protocols, thus indicating that a common short-term antimicrobial therapy for the management of both osteomyelitis and septic arthritis (minimum of 15 days) is a viable option for treating AHBJI in children. Further prospective studies to confirm these findings are hence warranted.

Clinical severity and molecular characteristics of circulating and emerging rotaviruses in young children attending hospital emergency departments in France.

Group A rotavirus (RVA) is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. A prospective surveillance network has been set up to investigate the virological and clinical features of RVA infections and to detect the emergence of potentially epidemic strains in France. From 2009 to 2014, RVA-positive stool samples were collected from 4800 children <5 years old attending the paediatric emergency units of 16 large hospitals. Rotaviruses were then genotyped by RT-PCR with regard to their outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7. Genotyping of 4708 RVA showed that G1P[8] strains (62.2%) were predominant. The incidence of G9P[8] (11.5%), G3P[8] (10.4%) and G2P[4] (6.6%) strains varied considerably, whereas G4P[8] (2.7%) strains were circulating mostly locally. Of note, G12P[8] (1.6%) strains emerged during the seasons 2011-12 and 2012-13 with 4.1% and 3.0% prevalence, respectively. Overall, 40 possible zoonotic reassortants, such as G6 (33.3%) and G8 (15.4%) strains, were detected, and were mostly associated with P[6] (67.5%). Analysis of clinical records of 624 hospitalized children and severity scores from 282 of them showed no difference in clinical manifestations or severity in relation to the genotype. The relative stability of RVA genotypes currently co-circulating and the large predominance of P[8] type strains may ensure vaccine effectiveness in France. The surveillance will continue to monitor the emergence of new reassortants that might not respond to current vaccines, all the more so as all genotypes can cause severe infections in infants.

Polytraumatism and solid organ bleeding syndrome: The role of imaging.

In multiple injuries, features of bleeding from solid organs mostly involve the liver, spleen and kidneys and may be treated by embolization. The indications and techniques for embolization vary between organs and depend on the pathophysiology of the injuries, type of vascularization (anastomotic or terminal) and type of embolization (curative or preventative). Interventional radiologists should have a full understanding of these indications and techniques and management algorithms should be produced within each facility in order to define the respective place of the different treatment options.

Mucosal relapse of visceral leishmaniasis in a child treated with anti-TNFα.

Visceral leishmaniasis is an enzootic parasitosis present across the Mediterranean Basin. Some consider it an opportunistic parasite. We report the case of a girl treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis who had previously presented with visceral leishmaniasis. Two and a half years later, she presented a tumour-like mass in the nasal mucous membrane caused by Leishmania parasites. Leishmania infantum is classically responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, but pure mucocutaneous leishmaniasis has also been described. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of a recurrence of visceral leishmaniasis in the mucocutaneous form. The occurrence of atypical forms and presentations in those on anti-TNF therapy should be considered.

[Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac computed tomography in clinical practice]. / Apport de l'IRM et du scanner cardiaque en pratique clinique courante.

Technological advances have enabled the rapid development of cardiovascular imaging techniques. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have become diagnostic and prognostic tools for the management of patients in routine clinical practice. This review gives the main indications and describes the performance of both techniques.

[Deep venous thrombosis complications during infections in pediatric patients: analysis of a series of 24 cases]. / Infections et thromboses veineuses en pédiatrie : analyse d'une série de 24 cas.

Venous thromboembolism disease (VTE) is rare in children (5.3 of 10,000 hospitalized children). However, morbidity and mortality are high, especially when the child is already suffering from severe sepsis. We report an analytical study of 24 cases of deep venous thrombosis occurring in children during infection, recorded at the Montpellier University Hospital between 1999 and 2009. Many parameters were studied in each population (age, sex, familial and personal history of thrombosis, history of thrombophilia, the presence of a venous catheter, a causative organism, time to onset of thrombus, topography of lesions, acquired abnormalities of hemostasis, and thrombosis prophylaxis). The children were aged from 1 day of life to 16 years. Thromboses occurred in two clinical contexts: "contact" thrombosis (which appeared near the infection) and disseminated thrombosis. This is an early complication because in most of the cases, it appeared in the first 10 days of sepsis. Infection and coagulation appear to be closely related and the states of latent or decompensated disseminated intravascular coagulation are common. Nevertheless, it is not possible to predict the occurence of a thrombotic event. The presence of risk factors (venous catheters, acquired thrombophilia, or constitutional thrombophilia) may increase the thrombogenic potential of the infection. VTE should always be suspected and sought in case of an unfavorable clinical course, and routine prophylaxis of thrombosis during sepsis should be discussed.

Blunt splenic injury: outcomes of proximal versus distal and combined splenic artery embolization.

PURPOSE: To assess clinical outcomes of blunt splenic injuries (BSI) managed with proximal versus distal versus combined splenic artery embolization (SAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients with BSI admitted to our trauma centre from 2005 to 2010 and managed with SAE were reviewed. Outcomes were compared between proximal (P), distal (D) or combined (C) embolization. We focused on embolization failure (splenectomy), every adverse events occurring during follow up and material used for embolization. RESULTS: Fifty patients were reviewed (P n = 18, 36%; D n = 22, 44%; C n = 8, 16%). Mean injury severity score was 20. The technical success rate was 98%. Four patients required splenectomy (P n = 1, D n = 3, C n = 0). Clinical success rate for haemostasis was 92% (4 re-bleeds: P n = 2, D n = 2, C n = 0). Outcomes were not statistically different between the materials used. Adverse events occurred in 65% of the patients during follow up. Four percent of the patients developed major complications and 56% developed minor complications attributable to embolization. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: SAE had an excellent success rate with adverse events occurring in 65% of the patients and no significant differences found between the embolization techniques used. Proximal preventive embolization appears to protect in high-grade traumatic injuries.

Group B streptococci in milk and late neonatal infections: an analysis of cases in the literature.

BACKGROUND: The source for late-onset neonatal infections (LONI) due to group B Streptococcus (GBS) has not been fully explored. We reviewed GBS LONI cases associated with contaminated breast milk to determine whether breast milk was a possible route for neonatal infection. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed search from January 1977 to March 2013 was performed with MeSH words "Streptococcus agalactiae", "group B Streptococcus", "infection", "milk", "human", "late-onset infection" and/or "neonate"; relevant cross references were also reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-eight documented cases of GBS LONI matched our search criteria and were retrieved from the literature. When performed, molecular typing identified clonal isolates in the neonate and milk samples taken after LONI in all cases, with the hypervirulent sequence type 17 (ST-17) clone identified in two of these cases. Caesarean delivery combined with the absence of GBS recovery from maternal samples other than milk was noted for four cases. The rate of recurrent infections was high (35%) and, together with the data reviewed, points to a potential role of breast milk in GBS LONI. CONCLUSIONS: The cases reviewed here, together with the evidence of breast milk transmission for other pathogens, suggest that breast milk, which would account for repeated GBS transmission to the neonate, may favour gut translocation and subsequent LONI. Further investigations are nevertheless needed to study the relative importance of this contamination route compared with persistent postnatal gut colonisation and the dynamics of milk and neonatal gut colonisation.

[Temporary vena caval filters: report on cohort of 72 patients in Grenoble, France]. / Filtres cave temporaires: suivi d'une cohorte de 72 patients au CHU de Grenoble.

Patients with a contra-indication for anticoagulation can benefit from temporary vena caval filters for protection against pulmonary embolism or recurrence. The filter can be removed secondarily, once the contra-indication is overcome, enabling better long-term outcome by reducing the risk of thrombotic and mechanic complications inherent in these devices. However, it has been shown in several studies that effective withdrawal rates were low and could be improved by the establishment of protocols and registries. We report a retrospective study of withdrawal in 72 patients in whom an ALN® vena caval filter was implanted at the Grenoble University Hospital over a period of three years with an intention for secondary retrieval. Seventy percent of the indications were related to the coexistence of thrombotic and hemorrhagic conditions. Fifty-five percent of filters were removed, the remaining 45% shared involved patients who died before retrieval (11%), those lost to follow-up (4%), technical failure of retrieval (6%), withdrawal technically unfeasible (3%), retrieval refused by patients (6%) and medical indications for continuing filtration (15%). Despite an effective follow-up of these patients and 91% success rate of withdrawal, nearly one out of two filters remains in place. A long-term follow-up of these patients is needed to learn more about the outcome of these filters.

[Intravenous immunoglobulin-resistant Kawasaki disease with hemophagocytosis]. / Maladie de Kawasaki résistante aux immunoglobulines et compliquée de syndrome d'activation macrophagique.

Kawasaki disease is acute self-limited vasculitis of unknown etiology that mainly affects infants and young children. Many different clinical aspects can be encountered. A single dose of intravenous immunoglobulin and treatment by aspirin are the standard therapy. Cases of immunoglobulin therapy resistance pose a real problem. We report on the case of a 14-year-old boy with Kawasaki disease and hemophagocytic syndrome, resistant to the combination of two doses of immunoglobulins and three doses of corticosteroids. Recovery was obtained with one dose of infliximab. This observation highlights Kawasaki disease in adolescents and the therapeutic difficulties that may be encountered in cases of resistance to immunoglobulins. Association with macrophage activation syndrome is rare.

[Childhood parvovirus B19 encephalitis]. / Encéphalite à parvovirus B19 de l'enfant.

INTRODUCTION: Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) causes erythema infectiosum or 5(th) disease in childhood, which mainly affects children between 3 and 15 years of age. PVB19 infections have also been described in association with a variety of neurologic manifestations including encephalitis. CASE REPORT: This 3-year 8-month-old boy developed febrile encephalitis (mental status change with seizures and left limb hypertonia) associated with a rash. The electroencephalographs revealed focal slowing with some spikes in front of the left centro-temporo-occipital areas ; bacteriological and biochemical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were normal, brain radiologic studies (tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) were normal. The diagnosis of encephalitis associated with PVB19 primo infection was based on viral DNA detection in the serum and CSF using PCR and on the specific immunoglobulin M (without immunoglobulin G) detection in the serum. DISCUSSION: In France, encephalitis etiology is unknown in 48% of the cases. PVB19 accounts for 4.3% of undiagnosed meningoencephalitis in children. Although there is no specific sign, seizures and rash are reported in about one-half and one-quarter of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Even if PVB19 research is not cited in the French or American infectious disease society recommendations on the diagnosis and management of infectious encephalitis, this virus may be responsible, especially in cases of child febrile rash. Therefore, PVB19 research seems reasonable if the clinical presentation is concordant in children due to its diagnostic simplicity and efficacy.

[Bronchopulmonary squamous cell carcinoma associated with HPV 11 in a 15-year-old girl with a history of severe recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: a case report]. / Papillomatose laryngée sévère évoluant vers un carcinome bronchopulmonaire associé à HPV 11 chez une enfant de 15 ans : à propos d'un cas.

Malignant transformation of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare event and the cases reported have been mainly observed in adults. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl with a history of severe RRP who died of a HPV 11-associated bronchopulmonary squamous cell carcinoma with pericardial invasion. HPV 11 was identified in nasopharyngeal and tracheal papillomas, as well as in the pericardial fluid. HPV 11 isolate was further analyzed by amplification and sequencing of the E1, E2, E4, E6, and E7 genes. Only one amino acid substitution in E4 due to natural polymorphism was observed. Exons 5-9 of the patient's tumor protein 53 (TP53) gene were sequenced and no mutations were identified. This observation confirms that malignant conversion of juvenile-onset RRP associated with HPV 11 to squamous cell carcinoma may arise in children. HPV 11-induced carcinogenesis needs to be further investigated.

[Acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy and membranous glomerulonephritis following Epbstein-Barr virus primary infection in a 12-year-old girl]. / Polyradiculonévrite aiguë et glomérulonéphrite extramembraneuse au décours d'une primo-infection à Epstein-Barr virus chez une patiente de 12 ans.

Acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, or Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), is characterized by peripheral nerve demyelination, which leads to rapidly progressive weakness, loss of sensation, and loss of deep tendon reflexes. It is a prototype of postinfectious autoimmune disease, whose pathophysiology is well described in the forms provoked by certain bacteria (molecular mimicry with Campylobacter jejuni), but remains unclear for the forms related to other organisms (cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and other herpes group viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae). Glomerular lesions can be associated with the neurological symptoms and have also been described after various infections, independently of any signs of polyradiculoneuropathy. We report the observation of a 12-year-old girl who presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome with facial diplegia, ataxia, and intracranial hypertension following Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) primary infection. During the course of the neurological disease, membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) was diagnosed. The neurological impairment was regressive within 6 months after intravenous immunoglobulin treatment followed by intravenous then oral corticosteroid administration. Viremia remained high more than 6 months after the onset of symptoms. Glomerulopathy progressed independently and finally required immunosuppressant medication with cyclosporine. EBV might be the factor that triggered the autoimmune disorders, as previously reported for systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis in children. To the best of our knowledge, this association of 3 conditions (GBS, MGN, and EBV primary infection) has never been reported in the literature.

[Gut translocation septicemia in infant]. / Septicémie par translocation d'origine digestive chez l'enfant.

Intestinal microbiotype necessary for life is a source of complications in childhood. Bacterial translocation is responsible of endogenous septicaemia and invasive complications. We report five cases of severe invasive infections associated with diarrhoea, digestive bleeding or sepsis. Biological parameters for inflammation are highly positive, and blood cultures reveal bacterial identification: salmonella enteridis, enterobacter cloacae, campylobacter jejuni, escherichia coli or clostridium difficile. We describe the predisposing factors and susceptibility status to develop translocation: invasive diarrhoea, asplenia, gasto-intestinal disease… All invasive infections in children require etiological approach with the possibility of an endogenous septicaemia (bacterial translocation). This approach minimises the nosocomial features undercurrent in these invasive infections, and leads also to other alternative preventive measures: antibiotic association, maintaining an enteral nutrition, pre or probiotic use, specific digestive decontamination.

[Multifocal inflammatory syndrome after invasive infection due to an M1 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes]. / Manifestations inflammatoires réactionnelles multifocales après infection invasive à Streptococcus pyogenes de type M1.

We report on a case of Streptococcus pyogenes invasive disease with toxic shock syndrome due to an M1 strain producing SpeA and SmeZ superantigenic toxins. Post-streptococcal sequelae included several episodes of reactive arthritis and orchitis whose outcome was favorable with corticosteroid therapy. Invasive streptococcal infections are increasingly reported and may associate septic, toxinic, and immunological diseases. High-grade systemic inflammation may induce nonsuppurative complications and autoimmune diseases by molecular mimicry. Among them, reactive arthritis has been recognized as a separate entity from acute rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal orchitis has not been described before. Treatment should be quickly started and should be effective on the etiologic agent but also on its toxins due to the severity of the invasive infections associated with the spread of highly virulent bacterial clones and the potential development of multifocal nonsuppurative sequelae.

[Post treatment thoracic aorta: CT and MR imaging features]. / Comment je contrôle une aorte thoracique après traitement en scanner ou en IRM?

Follow-up after thoracic aortic repair relies on CT and MR imaging in order to detect complications from the treatment or underlying pathology. Following prosthetic repair of the ascending aorta, peri-prosthetic hematoma and anastomotic complications (leak, false aneurysm, peri-prosthetic circulation) should be excluded. Following treatment with a covered stent, the location of the prosthesis and its skeleton should be evaluated and endo-leaks and wall defects should be excluded. Following treatment of a dissection, there often is persistent flow in the false lumen. The entry points into the false lumen should be identified. The caliber of the aorta at different levels should be assessed. Signs of ischemia (static and dynamic) and acute complications should be excluded in patients with acute chest pain. Atherosclerosis and dysplastic conditions may affect other segments of the aorta (aneurysm, dissection, hematoma). Follow-up is performed with CT, if possible, when high-resolution evaluation is required, of with MRI in other cases. Follow-up is obtained on a yearly basis or twice a year when an evolutive process is identified. It is performed every two to five years when the risk is low. Follow-up should be suggested by the radiologist.

[Psychosocial dwarfism, a reality: Case report]. / Le nanisme psychosocial, une réalité toujours d'actualité - à propos d'un cas.

Psychosocial dwarfism is a rare condition, but can still be observed. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl seen in our clinic for severe growth retardation that had been evolving for several years. A growth arrest was observed beginning at the age of 3.5years. Initial clinical examination and biological investigations were negative. As the child was hospitalized, serious disturbances in mother-child relations were observed. A significant modification of the child's behavior was observed when the mother was absent. Following questioning, the mother admitted social problems; the pregnancy had not been desired and this contributed to a lack of attachment between the mother and the child. Psychosocial dwarfism seems to originate from serious disturbances in the mother-child relationship. It seems to be caused by a partial growth hormone deficiency and a frequent context of malnutrition due to food behavior disorders. Family problems need to be taken into account and intensive medical and psychological follow-up is required. Prognosis is good if an early diagnosis is made and followed with a close and prolonged follow-up.

[Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Epstein-Barr virus infection in children]. / Syndrome d'activation macrophagique et infection à virus d'Epstein-Barr chez l'enfant.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to review pediatric cases of EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis observed, between January 1999 and December 2007, to compare their characteristics to literature data, and to suggest a pragmatic strategy for diagnosis and treatment. DESIGN: The following were analyzed for each patient: age at diagnosis, family history, revised Henter diagnostic criteria, EBV serology and/or PCR, results of genetic studies when available, treatment, short and long-term outcome. RESULTS: Four patients 11 months to seven years of age were admitted for high and prolonged fever, hepato and/or splenomegaly, and biological markers of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. They were all initially treated with corticosteroids. The outcome was severe for the two younger patients, with acute hepatocellular failure leading to death for the first, and severe neurological impairment for the second. The two older patients responded well to corticosteroids alone, and are alive. There was no recurrence at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is the most severe complication of infectious mononucleosis. A primary cytotoxicity deficiency must be ruled out, especially in children under two years of age. Treatment is consensus free, but many studies report interesting results in terms of outcome with regimens including etoposide.