Respiratory viruses and influenza-like illness: Epidemiology and outcomes in children aged 6 months to 10 years in a multi-country population sample.

BACKGROUND: Better population data on respiratory viruses in children in tropical and southern hemisphere countries is needed. METHODS: The epidemiology of respiratory viruses among healthy children (6 months to <10 years) with influenza-like illness (ILI) was determined in a population sample derived from an influenza vaccine trial (NCT01051661) in 17 centers in eight countries (Australia, South East Asia and Latin America). Active surveillance for ILI was conducted for approximately 1 year (between February 2010 and August 2011), with PCR analysis of nasal and throat swabs. RESULTS: 6266 children were included, of whom 2421 experienced 3717 ILI episodes. Rhinovirus/enterovirus had the highest prevalence (41.5%), followed by influenza (15.8%), adenovirus (9.8%), parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (both 9.7%), coronavirus (5.6%), human metapneumovirus (5.5%) and human bocavirus (HBov) (2.0%). Corresponding incidence per 100 person-years was 29.78, 11.34, 7.03, 6.96, 6.94, 4.00, 3.98 and 1.41. Except for influenza, respiratory virus prevalence declined with age. The incidence of medically-attended ILI associated with viral infection ranged from 1.03 (HBov) to 23.69 (rhinovirus/enterovirus). The percentage of children missing school or daycare ranged from 21.4% (HBov) to 52.1% (influenza). CONCLUSIONS: Active surveillance of healthy children provided evidence of respiratory illness burden associated with several viruses, with a substantial burden in older children.

Prevalence and Incidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Other Respiratory Viral Infections in Children Aged 6 Months to 10 Years With Influenza-like Illness Enrolled in a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The high burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated morbidity and mortality makes vaccine development a priority. METHODS: As part of an efficacy trial of pandemic influenza vaccines (NCT01051661), RSV epidemiology in healthy children aged 6 months to <10 years at first vaccination with influenza-like illness (ILI) was evaluated in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand between February 2010 and August 2011. Active surveillance for ILI was conducted for approximately 1 year, with nasal and throat swabs analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence and incidence of RSV among ILI episodes were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 6266 children were included, of whom 2421 experienced 3717 ILI episodes with a respiratory sample available. RSV was detected for 359 ILI episodes, a prevalence of 9.7% (95% confidence interval: 8.7-10.7). The highest prevalence was in children aged 12-23 or 24-35 months in all countries except the Philippines, where it was in children aged 6-11 months. The incidence of RSV-associated ILI was 7.0 (6.3-7.7) per 100 person-years (PY). Eighty-eight ILI episodes resulted in hospitalization, of which 8 were associated with RSV (prevalence 9.1% [4.0-17.1]; incidence 0.2 [0.1-0.3] per 100 PY). The incidence of RSV-associated ILI resulting in medical attendance was 6.0 (5.4-6.7) per 100 PY. RSV B subtypes were observed more frequently than A subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Active surveillance demonstrated the considerable burden of RSV-associated illness that would not be identified through hospital-based surveillance, with a substantial part of the burden occurring in older infants and children.

Relative efficacy of AS03-adjuvanted pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccine in children: results of a controlled, randomized efficacy trial.

BACKGROUND: The vaccine efficacy (VE) of 1 or 2 doses of AS03-adjuvanted influenza A(H1N1) vaccine relative to that of 2 doses of nonadjuvanted influenza A(H1N1) vaccine in children 6 months to <10 years of age in a multinational study conducted during 2010-2011. METHODS: A total of 6145 children were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1:1 to receive 2 injections 21 days apart of A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-AS03 vaccine at dose 1 and saline placebo at dose 2, 2 doses 21 days apart of A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-AS03 vaccine (the Ad2 group), or 2 doses 21 days apart of nonadjuvanted A/California/7/2009(H1N1) vaccine (the NAd2 group). Active surveillance for influenza-like illnesses continued from days 14 to 385. Nose and throat samples obtained during influenza-like illnesses were tested for A/California/7/2009(H1N1), using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety were assessed. RESULTS: There were 23 cases of confirmed 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) (A[H1N1]pdm09) infection for the primary relative VE analysis. The VE in the Ad2 group relative to that in the NAd2 group was 76.8% (95% confidence interval, 18.5%-93.4%). The benefit of the AS03 adjuvant was demonstrated in terms of the greater immunogenicity observed in the Ad2 group, compared with the NAd2 group. CONCLUSION: The 4-8-fold antigen-sparing adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine demonstrated superior and clinically important prevention of A(H1N1)pdm09 infection, compared with nonadjuvanted vaccine, with no observed increase in medically attended or serious adverse events. These data support the use of adjuvanted influenza vaccines during influenza pandemics. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT01051661.

Albendazole therapy for Microsporidium diarrhea in immunocompetent Costa Rican children.

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia comprise a large group of obligate intracellular parasites. Although several species have emerged as opportunistic agents in immunocompromised patients, cases have also been reported in immunocompetent patients. METHODS: During 21 months, we conducted a randomized, open label study in 200 children hospitalized with Microsporidium subacute diarrhea. Patients had prolonged, nonbloody, nonmucoid diarrhea, with > or =10 bowel movements/day for >10 days. Patients had negative rotavirus tests, bacterial stool cultures and sugar reductive tests in feces. Stool examinations to rule out Giardia intestinalis and intestinal nematodes were performed. Microsporidium was identified by light microscopy in stool specimens stained with Giemsa and Weber techniques. One hundred patients received oral albendazole (15 mg/kg/day twice a day for 7 days) and 100 patients received only supportive therapy. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding gender, age, clinical evolution and weight. Median (range) age was 24 (6-36) months. All children had abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and anorexia. The primary endpoint, defined as clinical improvement within 48 h of initial therapy, occurred in 95 and 30% of the albendazole-treated and untreated patients, respectively (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in stool frequency, reduction of clinical findings and decrease in Microsporidium parasites in stool specimens of children treated with albendazole compared with the untreated group. Median (range) duration of diarrhea was 5 (3-7) days in albendazole-treated patients versus 10 (8-15) days in untreated patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Albendazole therapy was effective in improving the clinical manifestations and decreasing the duration of the illness of children with diarrhea caused by Microsporidium.

Ganciclovir therapy in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcome of immunocompetent pediatric patients who had positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia and received ganciclovir. METHODS: A retrospective review was done of patients who had a CMV infection based on positive antigenemia. Medical charts were reviewed for the following information: age, sex, underlying disease, symptoms and signs, laboratory results, complementary diagnostic procedures, duration and dose of ganciclovir therapy, concomitant medications, complications, and outcome. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with positive CMV antigenemia were identified; 15 patients were excluded from the study because of their underlying diseases. Of the remaining 49 patients, 26 (53%) were female; the median age was 11.5 months (range 0.3-132 months). Sixty-one percent (30/49) of these patients received ganciclovir (5-10 mg/kg/day) for a median of 14 days (range 7-42 days). Clinical findings included: fever, anemia, hepatomegaly, failure to thrive, elevated liver enzymes, splenomegaly, seizures, and thrombocytopenia. Sixty-three percent (19/30) of the treated patients had negative antigenemia at the end of therapy. CMV antigenemia remained positive in six (20%) patients. Nine patients received a second course of ganciclovir. CONCLUSIONS: Ganciclovir was effective in 80% of patients, as determined by negative antigenemia at the end of therapy.

Primary and booster vaccination with DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent vaccine in Costa Rican children who had received a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: The DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent combination vaccine has been developed following recommendations of the World Health Organization for the introduction of hepatitis B (HB) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines into routine childhood vaccination programs. The objectives of this study were to: 1) analyze the immunogenicity and the reactogenicity of the DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent combination vaccine in comparison to separate injections of DTPw-HB and Hib vaccines as primary vaccination in a group of children who had received a dose of HB vaccine at birth and 2) in the second year of life to assess the antibody persistence as well as the response to a DTPw-HB/Hib or DTPw/Hib booster. METHODS: In the first part of the study (primary-vaccination stage), conducted in 1998-1999, we analyzed the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the DTPw-HB/Hib combination vaccine in comparison to separate injections of DTPw-HB and Hib vaccines as primary vaccination at 2, 4, and 6 months of age in 207 Costa Rican children who had received a dose of HB vaccine at birth. Later, in the booster-vaccination stage of the study, in 1999-2000, in a subset of the children (69 toddlers, now 15-18 months old), antibody persistence was measured, and response to a DTPw-HB/Hib or DTPw/Hib booster was also assessed. RESULTS: In both primary-vaccination groups, at least 97.5% of the infants reached protective levels of antibodies (seropositivity) against the antigens employed in the vaccines. The DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent combination vaccine did not result in more local reactions than did the DTPw-HB vaccine alone, and, in terms of general reactions, there was no clinically significant difference between the combination or separate injections, and with the pentavalent vaccine having the benefit of needing one less injection. Nine months after the third dose of the primary-vaccination course, antibody persistence was similar in both groups, with over 93% of children still having protective/seropositive titers for Hib, HB, and tetanus and about 50% for diphtheria and Bordetella pertussis. At 15 months of age, virtually all the toddlers responded with a strong boost response to all the vaccine antigens, whether they received the DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent vaccine or the DTPw/Hib vaccine as a booster. Both booster regimens were equally well tolerated, indicating that up to five doses of the HB vaccine can be given without impact on safety. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent vaccine is highly immunogenic as a primary vaccination in children who received an HB vaccine at birth, with the pentavalent combination inducing both persisting immunity and boostable memory. The pentavalent vaccine was safe both for primary and booster vaccinations. Thus, this study in Costa Rican infants supports the routine use of the pentavalent DTPw-HB/Hib vaccine as part of childhood vaccination programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Primary and booster vaccination with DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent vaccine in Costa Rican children who had received a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine / Vacunación primaria y de refuerzo con la vacuna pentavalente DTPw-HB/Hib en niños costarricenses vacunados al nacer contra la hepatitis B

Objective. The DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent combination vaccine has been developed following recommendations of the World Health Organization for the introduction of hepatitis B (HB) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines into routine childhood vaccination programs. The objectives of this study were to: 1) analyze the immunogenicity and the reactogenicity of the DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent combination vaccine in comparison to separate injections of DTPw-HB and Hib vaccines as primary vaccination in a group of children who had received a dose of HB vaccine at birth and 2) in the second year of life to assess the antibody persistence as well as the response to a DTPw-HB/Hib or DTPw/Hib booster. Methods. In the first part of the study (primary-vaccination stage), conducted in 1998-1999, we analyzed the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the DTPw-HB/Hib combination vaccine in comparison to separate injections of DTPw-HB and Hib vaccines as primary vaccination at 2, 4, and 6 months of age in 207 Costa Rican children who had received a dose of HB vaccine at birth. Later, in the booster-vaccination stage of the study, in 1999-2000, in a subset of the children (69 toddlers, now 15-18 months old), antibody persistence was measured, and response to a DTPw-HB/Hib or DTPw/Hib booster was also assessed. Results. In both primary-vaccination groups, at least 97.5 percent of the infants reached protective levels of antibodies (seropositivity) against the antigens employed in the vaccines. The DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent combination vaccine did not result in more local reactions than did the DTPw-HB vaccine alone, and, in terms of general reactions, there was no clinically significant difference between the combination or separate injections, and with the pentavalent vaccine having the benefit of needing one less injection. Nine months after the third dose of the primary-vaccination course, antibody persistence was similar in both groups, with over 93 percent of children still having protective/seropositive titers for Hib, HB, and tetanus and about 50 percent for diphtheria and Bordetella pertussis. At 15 months of age, virtually all the toddlers responded with a strong boost response to all the vaccine antigens, whether they received the DTPw-HB/Hib pentavalent vaccine or the DTPw/Hib vaccine as a booster. Both booster regimens were equally well tolerated, indicating that up to five...

Epidemiological observations of the judicious use of antibiotics in a pediatric teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study in a tertiary care teaching center with 361 beds was conducted to assess use, misuse, and abuse of antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Every day of the study, a computer program was used to compile a list of patients' bedside records. On a specific day, the bedside charts of selected patients were reviewed to determine whether: (1) a justification for antibiotic prescription was recorded; (2) duration of antibiotic therapy had been defined; (3) suitable cultures had been obtained; and (4) treatment was appropriate for the infection to be treated. For 6 months, charts were evaluated 3 days per week. RESULTS: Of 750 bedside charts 500 (67%) were selected for review. Of the 500 patients, 175 (35%) did not receive antibiotics. The abuses or misuses of antibiotics most frequently observed among the 325 treated patients were no record of justification for the antibiotic prescribed (130/325, 40%); no appropriate blood or fluid samples obtained for culture (45/325, 14%); no subsequent control cultures or cultures obtained before modifying therapy (80/175, 46%); no indication of a planned duration of therapy (180/325, 55%); and improper dosage prescribed in relation to weight (25/325, 8%). Abuse or misuse of antibiotics was more frequently observed among surgical patients than among nonsurgical patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rational use of antibiotics should be emphasized in every training program as a main strategy to control the increase in drug resistance and to prolong the usefulness of antibiotics.

Evaluación de la respuesta serológica a la vacuna contra la hepatitis B en una población laboral hospitalaria / Evaluation of serologic response of Hepatitis B vaccine in the hospitalable group

Se evaluó la efectividad de la vacuna contra la hepatitis B (Engerix B) en 116 empleados del Hospital Nacional de Niños, San José, Costa Rica, de 120 que ingresaron voluntariamente al programa de vacunación en el período 1995-1996. La vacunación fue exitosa en el 99,13 por ciento de los individuos alcanzando éstos respuestas de seroprotección con niveles de anti HBs mayores a 10mUI/ml. Se puede corroborar que la edad y el sexo tienen influencia directa sobre los niveles de seroconversión; en general son mejores respondedores los jóvenes y las mujeres

Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson: experiencia del Hospital Nacional de Niños durante los últimos diez años / Stevens-Johnson syndrome: experience of Hospital Nacional de Niños during the 10 years

Objetivo: Conocer la experiencia del Hospital de Niños acerca del SSJ en los últimos 10 años. Revisar las recomendaciones en relación al manejo del SSJ. Métodos: Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de los expedientes de los pacientes egresados con el diagnóstico de SSJ, de enero de 1987 a enero de 1997, analizando edad, sexo, procedencia, exposición previa a medicamentos, manifestaciones clínicas, complicaciones y tratamiento. Resultados: Durante 10 años, 26 pacientes fueron egresados del Hospital Nacional de Niños con el diagnóstico de SSJ. 69 por ciento (18/26) fueron varones. La mayoría de los niños provenía de San José. El promedio de edad fue de 5 años, con una mediana de 4 años, y una desviación estandar (DS) de +/- 3.6. La historia de exposición previa a medicamentos fue positiva en el 77 por ciento de los pacientes, siendo los antibióticos los más usados (50 por ciento), seguidos de los anticonvulsivantes (40 por ciento). 69 por ciento de los pacientes tenía historia previa de infección respiratoria superior. Se usaron esteroides en el 42 por ciento de los pacientes, en éstos la estancia hospitalaria fue 6 +/- 7 vrs 11 +/- 11.4. días en aquellos que no los recibieron, p=0.01. Las complicaciones fueron menos frecuentes en el grupo que recibió esteroides (9 por ciento), comparado con el que no recibió esteroides (33 por ciento), p=0.1. No se reportaron muertes por esta patología. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico y particularmente el uso de esteroides en el manejo de pacientes con SSJ es controversial. En esta enfermedad la muerte puede ocurrir debido a varias causas, entre ellas la infección secundaria y el daño visceral. En esta serie, los esteroides parecieron ser benéficos, sin embargo, son necesarios estudios controlados, para establecer su verdadera unidad