Dynamic Viral Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA Shedding in Children: Preliminary Data and Clinical Consideration from a Italian Regional Center.

We evaluated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA clearance in 22 children. The estimation of positivity at day 14 was 52% for nasopharyngeal swab and 31% for stool samples. These data underline the significance of nasopharyngeal and stoolsample for detecting infected children. Additional studies are needed for transmissibility.

Local anesthesia in pediatric dermatologic surgery: Evaluation of a patient-centered approach.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A few studies have documented the effect of local anesthesia for minor dermatologic surgical procedures on children and their parents. Our objective was to evaluate the psychological effect and global satisfaction of a patient-centered approach to dermatologic surgery under local anesthesia. METHODS: Two self-administered questionnaires were used to evaluate the distress and global satisfaction of 388 children who underwent dermatologic surgery under local anesthesia, accompanied by oral and written therapeutic education measures (structured information and a cartoon brochure illustrating the procedure) addressed to children and parents. Distraction techniques were also used during the procedures. RESULTS: Although 54.5% of patients manifested some degree of fear, all other parameters analyzed (pain, surgery-related distress, surgical team-patient and -family relationship, global satisfaction) indicated that the procedures resulted in limited distress and that the large majority of children and parents tolerated them well. CONCLUSION: Specific measures for therapeutic pediatric patient education may be helpful in limiting discomfort, anxiety, and pain perception linked to procedures performed under local anesthesia. Further controlled studies are required to more precisely assess the benefits of specific therapeutic education measures.

Accuracy of Bedside Paediatric Early Warning System (BedsidePEWS) in a Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Unit.

Hospital mortality in children who undergo stem cell transplant (SCT) is high. Early warning scores aim at identifying deteriorating patients and at preventing adverse outcomes. The bedside pediatric early warning system (BedsidePEWS) is a pediatric early warning score based on 7 clinical indicators, ranging from 0 (all indicators within normal ranges for age) to 26. The aim of this case-control study was to assess the performance of BedsidePEWS in identifying clinical deterioration events among children admitted to an SCT unit. Cases were defined as clinical deterioration events; controls were all the other patients hospitalized on the same ward at the time of case occurrence. BedsidePEWS was retrospectively measured at 4-hour intervals in cases and controls 24 hours before an event (T4-T24). We studied 19 cases and 80 controls. The score significantly increased in cases from a median of 4 at T24 to a median of 14 at T4. The proportion of correctly classified cases and controls was >90% since T8. The area under the curve receiver operating characteristic was 0.9. BedsidePEWS is an accurate screening tool to predict clinical deterioration in SCT patients.

Healthcare workers' and parents' perceptions of measures for improving adherence to hand-hygiene.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate perceptions of healthcare workers (HCW) and parents regarding hand-hygiene and effectiveness of measures for increasing hand-hygiene adherence, in a children's hospital in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from 5 to 13 July 2010, using two self-administered anonymous questionnaires (one for HCWs and one for parents/caregivers). The questionnaires included information regarding individual perceptions associated with hand hygiene. RESULTS: We collected 139 questionnaires from HCWs and 236 questionnaires from parents. Alcohol-based handrub was reported to be available at the point of care by 95.0% of the HCWs and in the child's room by 97.0% of the parents. For both HCWs and parents, availability of alcohol-based handrub was perceived as the most useful action for improving adherence to hand hygiene (scores ≥ 6 on a 7-point Likert-type scale: 84.8% [CI95%78.0-90.1] for HCWs and 87.9% [CI95% 83.3-91.7] for parents). Parents' reminding HCWs to perform hand hygiene was perceived as the least useful action (scores ≥ 6: 48.9% [CI95% 40.5-57.3] for HCWs and 55.7% [CI95% 49.2-62.1] for parents). Factors that affected HCWs' perceptions of the effectiveness of actions for improving adherence to hand hygiene included years of practice, type of ward and previous formal training on hand hygiene. For parents, factors affecting perceptions included previous information on hand hygiene and previous hospitalizations for their child. CONCLUSIONS: Investigating HCWs' and parents' perceptions of measures for improving adherence can provide useful information for implementing actions for hand-hygiene promotion in children's hospitals. In this study, HCWs' and parents' perceptions were similar; alcohol-based hand-rub availability was perceived as the most useful tool, confirming its crucial role in multimodal interventions. Poor perception of inviting parents to remind HCWs to perform hand-hygiene has been previously observed, and deserves further investigation. Information and education activities were associated with more positive perceptions regarding various improvement measures. Though the relationship between perceptions and behaviours remains to be fully determined, HCWs should participate in formal training and families should be properly informed, not only to increase knowledge but also to improve perceptions on effectiveness of actions to be implemented.

The epidemiology of Varicella Zoster Virus infection in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiological importance of varicella and zoster and the availability of an efficacious and safe vaccine have led to an important international debate regarding the suitability of mass vaccination. The objective of the study was to describe the epidemiology of varicella and zoster in Italy and to determine whether there have been changes with respect to observations provided by an analogous study conducted 8 years ago, in order to define the most appropriate vaccination strategy. METHODS: A number of data sources were evaluated, a cross-sectional population-based seroprevalence study was conducted on samples collected in 2004, and the results were compared with data obtained in 1996. RESULTS: The data from active and passive surveillance systems confirm that varicella is a widespread infectious disease which mainly affects children. VZV seroprevalence did not substantially differ from that found in the previous study. The sero-epidemiological profile in Italy is different from that in other European countries. In particular, the percentage of susceptible adolescents is at least nearly twice as high as in other European countries and in the age group 20-39 yrs, approximately 9% of individuals are susceptible to VZV. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can contribute to evaluating the options for varicella vaccination. It is possible that in a few years, in all Italian Regions, there will exist the conditions necessary for implementing a mass vaccination campaign and that the large-scale availability of MMRV tetravalent vaccines will facilitate mass vaccination.

A cohort study to evaluate persistence of hepatitis B immunogenicity after administration of hexavalent vaccines.

BACKGROUND: In 2001, two hexavalent vaccines were licensed in Italy (Hexavac, Infanrix Hexa), and since 2002 were extensively used for primary immunization in the first year of life (at 3, 5, 11/12 months of age). In 2005, the market authorization of Hexavac was precautionary suspended by EMEA, because of doubts on long-term protection against hepatitis B virus. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the persistence of antibodies to anti-HBs, in children in the third year of life, and to investigate the response to a booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine. METHODS: Participant children were enrolled concomitantly with the offering of anti-polio booster dose, in the third year of life. Anti-HBs titers were determined on capillary blood samples. A booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine was administered to children with anti-HBs titers < 10 mIU/ml, with the monovalent precursor product of the previously received hexavalent vaccine. HBsAb titers were tested again one month after the booster. RESULTS: Sera from 113 children previously vaccinated with Hexavac, and from 124 vaccinated with Infanrix Hexa were tested for anti-HBs. Titers were > or = 10 mIU/ml in 69% and 96% (p < 0,0001) respectively. The proportion of children with titers > or = 100 mIU/ml did also significantly differ among groups (27% and 78%; p < 0,0001).Post-booster, 93% of children achieved titers > or = 10 mIU/ml, with no significant difference by vaccine group. DISCUSSION: Fifteen months after third dose administration, a significant difference in anti-HBs titers was noted in the two vaccine groups considered. Monovalent hepatitis B vaccine administration in 3-year old children induced a proper booster response, confirming that immunologic memory persists in children with anti-HBs titers < 10 mIU/ml. However, long-term persistence of HBV protection after hexavalent vaccines administration should be further evaluated over time.

Basic mathematical models for the temporal dynamics of HAV in medium-endemicity Italian areas.

In some Southern Italy areas Hepatitis A still represents a serious public health issue. In 1996 a big epidemics in Puglia led that region to adopt a mass vaccination programme. In this paper a basic mathematical model for the temporal trends of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in Southern Italy is proposed and investigated. The model includes the main distinctive features of HAV in Southern Italy, i.e. multiplicity of exposure factors, and periodic forcing caused by yearly patterns of seafood consumption. The analysis illustrates the role played by the risk factors on equilibria, stability, and the period of HAV oscillations, both natural and in presence of vaccination. The model also fits well temporal trends of HAV in Southern Italy, suggesting that it is a good starting point for more structured modelling.

Health burden and economic impact of measles-related hospitalizations in Italy in 2002-2003.

BACKGROUND: A large measles outbreak occurred in Italy in 2002-2003. This study evaluates the health burden and economic impact of measles-related hospitalizations in Italy during the specified period. METHODS: Hospital discharge abstract data for measles hospitalizations in Italy during 2002-2003 were analysed to obtain information regarding number and rates of measles hospitalizations by geographical area and age group, length of hospital stay, and complications. Hospitalization costs were estimated on the basis of Diagnosis-Related Groups. RESULTS: A total of 5,154 hospitalizations were identified, 3,478 (67%) of which occurred in children <15 years of age. Most hospitalizations occurred in southern Italy (71 %) and children below 1 year of age presented the greatest hospitalization rates (46.2/100,000 and 19.0/100,000, respectively in 2002 and 2003). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 594 cases (11.5%) and encephalitis in 138 cases (2.7%). Total hospital charges were approximately euro 8.8 million. CONCLUSION: The nationwide health burden associated with measles during the 2002-2003 outbreak was substantial and a high cost was incurred by the Italian National Health Service for the thousands of measles-related hospitalizations which occurred. By assuming that hospital costs represent 40-50% of the direct costs of measles cases, direct costs of measles for the two years combined were estimated to be between 17.6-22.0 million euros, which equates to the vaccination of 1.5-1.9 million children (3-4 birth cohorts) with one dose of MMR. The high cost of measles and the severity of its complications fully justify the commitment required to reach measles elimination.

Comparison of pertussis surveillance systems in Europe.

We compared pertussis surveillance systems of 16 European countries in the period 1998-2002. In twelve out of sixteen countries the system covered the general population. Ten countries relied on WHO case definition for surveillance of pertussis. Eleven countries applied laboratory tests, and eight of them used PCR for case confirmation. The proportion of hospitalised rates in children<1 year varied between 33.1 and 100%, while case fatality in the same age group varied between 0 and 21.3 per 1000. The adoption of WHO case definition, standardisation of laboratory diagnosis, and integration of information on deaths from alternative sources should be supported.

Clinical presentation of pertussis in unvaccinated and vaccinated children in the first six years of life.

OBJECTIVES: Identifying the determinants of the clinical presentation of pertussis is important for the purposes of diagnosis, therapy, and control and for predicting the disease's clinical course and choosing an appropriate case definition for surveillance. Potential determinants include vaccination status, antibiotic treatment, age at diagnosis, and sex, although the available data are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical course of pertussis in unvaccinated and vaccinated children in a well-defined and strictly studied population and to identify determinants of the disease's clinical presentation. METHODS: The clinical presentation of pertussis was studied in children who participated in a randomized, controlled clinical trial of efficacy of acellular pertussis vaccine. The children belonged to the same birth cohort and were followed from infancy to 6 years of age in 3 distinct periods (stages 1, 2, and 3). Children had received 1 of 2 three-component acellular pertussis vaccines produced by 2 manufacturers (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis from, Chiron Biocine [DTaP CB]; DTaP from SmithKline Beecham [DTaP SB]) or a diphtheria-tetanus vaccine only (DT; Chiron Biocine). Pertussis was confirmed through culture or serology. For each pertussis episode, information was collected on age at onset, sex, type of vaccine received, antibiotic treatment, culture results, duration of cough, spasmodic cough, and other symptoms. The simultaneous effect of potential determinants of clinical presentation of pertussis on the duration of cough and spasmodic cough was studied through analysis of variance models. RESULTS: The analysis was conducted on 788 laboratory-confirmed cases of pertussis. The median duration of cough in DT recipients varied from 52 to 61 days across the 3 stages, whereas the median duration of cough in DTaP recipients varied from 29 to 39 days. The median duration of spasmodic cough varied from 20 to 45 days in DT recipients and from 14 to 29 days in DTaP recipients. The results of the analysis of variance models showed that vaccination against pertussis reduced the length of cough from 3 to 10 days and the length of spasmodic cough from 4 to 8 days. Culture-positive patients had a cough 11 to 22 days longer and a spasmodic cough 12 to 22 days longer than culture-negative patients. Children who received an antibiotic had a duration of cough 6 to 11 days longer and spasmodic cough 4 to 13 days longer than untreated patients. Girls had a duration of spasmodic cough 7 days longer than boys only after 3 years of age. Age was directly related to duration of cough, whereas it was inversely related to duration of spasmodic cough after 3 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of cough can be greatly influenced by vaccination status. A positive culture for Bordetella pertussis is more frequently found in patients with long duration of cough, and antibiotic therapy may be a marker of severe disease. Gender may affect the clinical presentation of pertussis only after infancy. Pertussis in older children may be characterized by short duration of spasmodic cough. These results should be taken into account in the clinical evaluation of patients with suspected pertussis. Clinical case definitions for the purpose of surveillance based on the presence of 2 weeks of spasmodic cough may not be appropriate where pertussis vaccination uptake is high.