Relationship between biologic modifying agents and development of latent tuberculosis in pediatrics.

INTRODUCTION: Biologic modifying agents are associated with an increased risk for infection with mycobacteria. The aim of this study is to document patients who received different biologic modifying therapies in our pediatric rheumatology department and the possibility of development of tuberculosis (TB). METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study was conducted in Ankara City Hospital. Pediatric patients who were treated with biologic modifying agents between 2010-2020 were documented. Development of TB and the risk factors were assessed in this patient group. RESULTS: There were 72 patients who were treated with different biologic modifying agents. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was positive in 7 (9.7%) patients during follow up. Three patients whose TST was positive had received canakinumab, 2 received etanercept, 1 received adalimumab and 1 received anakinra. Median duration of therapy was 43.5 (16.5-168) months for these patients and the duration was longer than patients who did not develop latent tuberculosis (p = 0.04). Patients who developed latent TB under treatment were significantly older than the patients who did not (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, 9.7% of pediatric patients who received biologic modifying agent therapy developed latent TB. Patients who developed latent TB were older, and the duration of treatment was longer than patients who did not develop latent TB. Although not statistically significant, canakinumab, which is known as an agent less likely to cause TST conversion, was in fact the most common agent that caused TST conversion.

A pediatric case series of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by S.Pneumonia serotype-19A despite full dose vaccination.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia and bacterial meningitis in children. Although pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are commonly available, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) still remains a life-threatening complication. Serotype 19A has high invasive potential and is capable of causing extensive and destructive lung disease. This strain has greater invasive potential, may have a growth advantage over other pneumococcal serotypes in normally sterile sites, and is often resistant to multiple antibiotics. Although being a component of PCV13 vaccine, serotype 19A may still be seen in fully vaccinated children and can cause invasive disease. Herein, we present four cases of IPD caused by S. pneumoniae serotype 19A who received the full regimen of PCV13 vaccination.

Congenital Rubella syndrome: A short report and literature review.

Rubella infections are rarely seen where immunization programmes are in place. Congenital rubella syndrome is however still observed where the vaccination programme against rubella is not administered or interrupted. We present such a case, with typical clinical anomalies including congenital cataracts, sensorineural hearing loss and bone lesions. The diagnosis was verified by detection of rubella immunoglobulin M positivity in the mother in the first trimester and positive rubella serology in both baby and mother.

Persistent Rhinovirus Infection in a Child With Leukemia.

Human Rhinovirus (HRV) is one of the most common pathogens causing acute respiratory tract infections in infants and children. Several reports suggest that HRV has the potential to cause chronic infection after an acute viral infection in an immunosuppressed patient. Although chronic HRV infection has been reported in lung transplant recipients, patients with hypogammaglobulinemia and cystic fibrosis, the duration and severity of HRV infection remain unclear. In this study, we present a case of persistent HRV infection in a stem cell transplanted leukemia patient. This report raises several questions regarding the risk factors, duration, and severity of persistent HRV infection in acute leukemia patients, which warrants prospective and longitudinal studies.

The effect of apoprotein E gene polymorphism on neurocognitive functions of children with CHD.

Studies have demonstrated an association between CHD and neurodevelopmental delay. This delay is associated with many factors like reduced blood flow and oxygen, cardiac catheterisations, and genetic factors. Apo E gene polymorphism is one of these genetic factors. This study aims to show the effect of Apo E gene polymorphism on neurodevelopmental process in children having CHD. A total of 188 children having CHD were admitted to the study. Apo E gene polymorphism of these patients was determined, and psychometric evaluation was performed. The relationship between psychometric test results and gene polymorphism was evaluated. This study shows that, similar to the literature, patients having cyanotic CHD have worse scores than acyanotic patients, and the children with CHD are under risk in terms of neuropsychiatric disorders. Other novel and important findings of this study were the lower verbal scores of ε2 allele carriers than ε4 carriers in Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised group and the worse test score of patients having VSD than other acyanotic patients. Besides, some special disorders may be seen in this patient group.

Management of a Pediatric Burn Center During the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of an algorithm that was created to prevent coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) transmission during the management of children with burns in a tertiary pediatric burn center. Children admitted to the burn center between May 2020 and November 2020 were prospectively evaluated for cause, burn depth, TBSA, length of stay, symptoms suggesting COVID-19, suspicious contact history, history of travel abroad, and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. Patients were divided into two groups: unsuspected (group 1) and suspected (group 2), depending on any history of suspicious contact, travel abroad, and/or presence of symptoms. A total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study, which included 59 boys (58.4%) and 42 girls (41.6%). Group 1 included 79 (78.2%) patients, and group 2 consisted of 22 (21.8%) patients. The most common cause of the burns was scald injuries (74.2%). The mean age, TBSA, and length of stay were 4.5 years, 12.0%, and 13.2 days, respectively. Four patients (3.9%) had a positive PCR test (two patients in each group). Comparing groups, males were more commonly found in group 2 (P = .042), but no differences were found for the other variables. No patients or burn center staff members developed COVID-19 during the course of hospitalization. In conclusion, every child should be tested for COVID-19 upon admission to a burn unit, and a modified algorithm should be constructed for the handling and management of pediatric burn patients.

An outbreak of Ralstonia pickettii bloodstream infection among pediatric leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Ralstonia pickettii is an opportunistic waterborne microbe which can survive in many kinds of solutions. Contamination of these solutions may result as outbreaks, which can be mortal for immuncompromised patients. Herein we report an outbreak of R. pickettii related to contaminated saline infusion in our center. METHODS: This study was conducted in Ankara Pediatric City Hospital. An outbreak occured in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit between August 28, 2019 and September 13, 2019. When the outbreak occured, infection control team began an investigation. Environmental samples were collected in order to find the source of the outbreak. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients with catheter related blood stream infection caused by R. pickettii who were diagnosed with leukemia were affected. None of the patients infected with R. pickettii died during the outbreak. A total of seventy environmental samples were cultured with the purpose of finding the source of outbreak. R. pickettii grew in normal saline solution culture and all isolates had the same clone of R. pickettii. The outbreak lasted two weeks and was controlled by stopping the usage and sending back the saline solutions belonging to the same manufacturing batch. CONCLUSIONS: We reported an outbreak of R. pickettii BSIs in highly immunocompromised patients due to contaminated intravascular solution, which was rapidly controlled by infection control measures. Vigilant surveillance by hospital infection control teams and prompt investigation to identify the source of nosocomial infections are crucial to stop an outbreak.

Risk Factors for Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Survival in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Graft-versus-host disease is still one of the most important complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The risk factors remain unclear, with effects of graft-versus-host disease on survival varying among different centers. We aimed to determine risk factors that may affect development of graft-versus-host disease and the corresponding patient survival rates at a single pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit. METHODS: Our study included 104 of 118 pediatric patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant at our institute between 2005 and 2018. Patient characteristics, clinical information, pretransplant and posttransplant factors, and laboratory parameters were obtained from the database. RESULTS: Acute graft-versus-host disease was seen in 19 pediatric patients. Chronic graft-versus-host disease, which was seen in 13 of our pediatric study patients, occurred more often in those with peripheral blood stem cell than in those with bone marrow transplant (odds ratio of 9.969; 95% CI, 1.040-95.547; P = .046). Female donor-to-male recipient transplant was significantly associated with incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (odds ratio of 8.51; 95% CI, 1.323-54.843; P = .024). Later neutrophil engraftment was associated with incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (odds ratio of 1.107; 95% CI, 1.012-1.212; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Although there are some known risk factors for graft-versus-host disease in adult patients, little is known about risk factors in children. In our comprehensive study in pediatric patients, we found that peripheral blood stem cell transplant, female-tomale transplant, and later neutrophil engraftment were associated with incidence of graft-versus-host disease. Although peripheral blood as a source of stem cells and female-to-male transplant are known risk factors, later neutrophil engraftment was a new finding as a possible risk factor for acute graft-versushost disease. This finding requires further verification in future prospective studies.

Epidemiological, Clinical, and Laboratory Features of Children With COVID-19 in Turkey.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by pediatric infectious disease specialists from 32 different hospitals from all over Turkey by case record forms. Pediatric cases who were diagnosed as COVID-19 between March 16, 2020, and June 15, 2020 were included. Case characteristics including age, sex, dates of disease onset and diagnosis, family, and contact information were recorded. Clinical data, including the duration and severity of symptoms, were also collected. Laboratory parameters like biochemical tests and complete blood count, chest X-ray, and chest computed tomography (CT) were determined. Results: There were 1,156 confirmed pediatric COVID-19 cases. In total, male cases constituted 50.3% (n = 582) and females constituted 49.7% (n = 574). The median age of the confirmed cases was 10.75 years (4.5-14.6). Of the total cases, 90 were younger than 1 year of age (7.8%), 108 were 1-3 years of age (9.3%), 148 were 3-6 years of age (12.8%), 298 were 6-12 years of age (25.8%), 233 were 12-15 years of age (20.2%), and 268 cases were older than 15 years of age (23.2%). The most common symptom of the patients at the first visit was fever (50.4%) (n = 583) for a median of 2 days (IQR: 1-3 days). Fever was median at 38.4°C (38.0-38.7°C). The second most common symptom was cough (n = 543, 46.9%). The other common symptoms were sore throat (n = 143, 12.4%), myalgia (n = 141, 12.2%), dyspnea (n = 118, 10.2%), diarrhea (n = 112, 9.7%), stomachache (n = 71, 6.1%), and nasal discharge (n = 63, 5.4%). When patients were classified according to disease severity, 263 (22.7%) patients were asymptomatic, 668 (57.7%) patients had mild disease, 209 (18.1%) had moderate disease, and 16 (1.5%) cases had severe disease. One hundred and forty-nine (12.9%) cases had underlying diseases among the total cases; 56% of the patients who had severe disease had an underlying condition (p < 0.01). The need for hospitalization did not differ between patients who had an underlying condition and those who do not have (p = 0.38), but the need for intensive care was higher in patients who had an underlying condition (p < 0.01). Forty-seven (31.5%) of the cases having underlying conditions had asthma or lung disease (38 of them had asthma). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the largest pediatric data about confirmed COVID-19 cases. Children from all ages appear to be susceptible to COVID-19, and there is a significant difference in symptomatology and laboratory findings by means of age distribution.

The prevalence and diagnostic criteria of health-care associated infections in neonatal intensive care units in Turkey: A multicenter point- prevalence study.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) in the neonatal period cause substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of HAIs, antimicrobial susceptibility of causative agents, and the adaptivity of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria in neonatal HAI diagnosis. METHODS: A HAI point prevalence survey was conducted in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of 31 hospitals from different geographic regions in Turkey. RESULTS: The Point HAI prevalence was 7.6%. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and late onset sepsis were predominant. The point prevalence of VAP was 2.1%, and the point prevalence of CLABSI was 1.2% in our study. The most common causative agents in HAIs were Gram-negative rods (43.0%), and the most common agent was Klebsiella spp (24.6%); 81.2% of these species were extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) (+). Blood culture positivity was seen in 33.3% of samples taken from the umbilical venous catheter, whereas 0.9% of samples of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) were positive. In our study, 60% of patients who had culture positivity in endotracheal aspirate or who had purulent endotracheal secretions did not have any daily FiO2 change (p = 0.67) and also 80% did not have any increase in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (p = 0.7). On the other hand, 18.1% of patients who had clinical deterioration compatible with VAP did not have endotracheal culture positivity (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal HAIs are frequent adverse events in district and regional hospitals. This at-risk population should be prioritized for HAI surveillance and prevention programs through improved infection prevention practices, and hand hygiene compliance should be conducted. CDC diagnostic criteria are not sufficient for NICUs. Future studies are warranted for the diagnosis of HAIs in NICUs.

Antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis: Still an issue in paediatrics.

OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) is an important means of reducing surgical site infections. The goal of this study was to evaluate the perioperative AP in paediatric practice and its compliance with surgical prophylaxis guidelines. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, between September 2015 and April 2016. Paediatric patients who underwent surgical procedures were included in the study. Surgical AP was evaluated. RESULTS: During the entire study period, 466 children underwent surgery at our centre; 433 (92.7%) received antimicrobial prophylaxis. Overall adherence to the guidelines regarding surgical prophylaxis was 22.1%. The rate of administration of surgical prophylaxis was significantly lower, and the duration was shorter when the surgical procedure was clean (P = 0.002). When the duration of the procedure was longer, the rate of administration of prophylaxis was higher (P = 0.000). The duration of postoperative prophylaxis was longer than recommended in 72.2% of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, application errors increased with longer surgical time (P = 0.01, OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.19-4.03). CONCLUSIONS: High rates of misapplication of antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis were observed in this study. Awareness and usage of guidelines should be encouraged. The education of clinicians should be supported by studies regarding surgical prophylaxis in children.

Vaccine failures in pediatric cases caused by streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity worldwide. PCV-13 has implemented incidence of CAP undoubtedly in a very good way but continuous surveillance for vaccine failures is still very important for future vaccination programs. To support this opinion we report seven children (age of the seven patients ranged between 10 months and 5 y, 10 months old patients were vaccinated 3 times with PCV13 whereas others were fully vaccinated as 3 + 1) infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 19A in last 4 y (2015-2018).

Severe suppurative otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in a fully vaccinated infant by age.

The routine use of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCVs) in childhood has significantly reduced the frequency of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs). Serotype replacement has occurred, resulting in an increase in nonvaccine serotypes. Despite this changing profile, both invasive and noninvasive cases continue to be seen with strains within the scope of PCV coverage. Although older children with comorbid disease are described as a risky group for vaccine insufficiency, vaccine failure patterns should be described in detail.

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in children

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was firstly reported at the end of 2019. The disease rapidly spread all around the world in a few months and was declared a worldwide pandemic by WHO in March 2020. By April 9, there were 1,436,198 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, nearly with 6% mortality rate. This novel infectious disease causes respiratory tract illness that may generally occur as mild upper respiratory tract disease or pneumonia. In older patients and/or patients with underlying conditions, it may result in acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi organ failure and even death. According to the current literature, children account approximately for 1%­5% of diagnosed COVID-19 cases. Generally, COVID-19 seems to be a less severe disease for children than adults. Approximately 90% of pediatric patients are diagnosed as asymptomatic, mild, or moderate disease. However, up to 6.7% of cases may be severe. Severe illness is generally seen in patients smaller than 1 year of age and patients who have underlying disesases. The epidemiological and clinical patterns of COVID-19 and treatment approaches in pediatric patients still remain unclear although many pediatric reports are published. This review aims to summarize the current epidemics, clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 in pediatric patients.

Major Aspects of Burkholderia gladioli and Burkholderia cepacia Infections in Children.

BACKGROUND: Burkholderia cepacia complex is an aerobic, non-spore-forming, catalase-positive, nonfermentative, Gram-negative bacterium common in environment. It is a serious pathogen especially for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). But pathogenicity of Burkholderia is not limited to patients with CF. Herein, we aimed to reveal clinical patterns and outcomes of Burkholderia infections in pediatric patients in our hospital and also antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated strain. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in Ankara Hematology Oncology Children's Training and Research Hospital. Patients with isolates of Burkholderia spp. between January 6, 2013, and January 12, 2018, were included in the study. RESULTS: Burkholderia spp. was isolated from 55 patients. 94.6% of these patients had underlying diseases and had prior hospitalization within a year. Burkholderia gladioli grew in 15 patients' samples (27.3%); 38 patients grew B. cepacia (69.1%). None of the patients that B. gladioli was isolated was diagnosed as CF;. all had nosocomial infections. B. gladioli seemed to be more susceptible to aminoglycosides, piperacillin-tazobactam, carbapenems and ciprofloxacin than B. cepacia (P = 0.00), whereas B. cepacia seemed to be more susceptible to ceftazidime than B. gladioli (P = 0.032). In addition, B. cepacia was more susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and levofloxacin than B. gladioli, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of nosocomial infections caused by Burkholderia spp. is rare especially in pediatric literature. In our study, nosocomial Burkholderia infections occurred mostly in intensive care unit patients. The surveillance of Burkholderia infections is still very important, and the clinicians should be aware of changing epidemiology and increasing resistance of the microorganism. Besides, there are no internationally agreed minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoints and disk-diffusion test thresholds for susceptibility testing for Burkholderia. Thus, the methods which were used for antibiotic susceptibility testing in our center might cause uncertainty about the results and internationally agreed minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoints and disk-diffusion test thresholds for susceptibility testing for Burkholderia is still a gap to fill for the current literature.