ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to monovalent 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1/2009) and seasonal trivalent influenza (TIV) vaccines were evaluated in healthy children and children with asthma, sickle cell disease (SCD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and solid organ transplantation (SOT). STUDY DESIGN: Blood was collected from 112 subjects at the time of H1N1/2009 vaccination and 46 ± 15 days later for hemagglutination inhibition titers and γ-interferon ELISPOT responses to H1N1/2009 vaccine and TIV; unvaccinated children also received TIV at enrollment. RESULTS: A significant increase in the percentage of subjects with seroprotective hemagglutination inhibition titers to both vaccines was observed in all high-risk groups. Children with asthma and SCD were most likely to achieve seroprotective titers to H1N1/2009, whereas <50% of subjects with SOT and SLE had a seroprotective response. Subjects with SOT and SLE also had lower rates of seroprotection after TIV, and subjects with SLE had the lowest ELISPOT responses to both vaccines. Overall, 73% of healthy children exhibited protective responses to TIV; only 35% achieved seroprotection for H1N1/2009. CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation of immune responses to H1N1/2009 in high-risk children suggests suboptimal responses for SOT and SLE subjects, but not for subjects with SCD or asthma. Higher antigen dose, additional dose regimens, or both for immunocompromised children warrant further investigation.
Subject(s)
Immunity, Cellular , Immunity, Humoral , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology , Influenza Vaccines/immunology , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Chryseobacterium species are a rare cause of human disease and are usually associated with indwelling devices or altered immune status. This is the first case to our knowledge, of Chryseobacterium indologenes bacteremia in a previously healthy infant. Chryseobacteria are pathogens resistant to the usual empiric treatments for neonatal or infantile septicemia.
Subject(s)
Bacteremia/diagnosis , Bacteremia/microbiology , Chryseobacterium/isolation & purification , Flavobacteriaceae Infections/diagnosis , Flavobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Bacteremia/drug therapy , Cefepime , Cephalosporins/therapeutic use , Chryseobacterium/drug effects , Female , Flavobacteriaceae Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Infant , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We studied the association between herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection and Bell palsy in children. Thirty-three of 42 affected patients had a positive HSV-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay compared with 16 of 41 controls (P = 0.0003). Ten of 47 affected patients had a positive HSV-1 polymerase chain reaction compared with 4 of 45 of controls (P = 0.08). Our findings support an association between HSV-1 infection and Bell palsy in children.