[Blood cultures in the paediatric emergency department. Guidelines and recommendations on their indications, collection, processing and interpretation]. / Hemocultivos en urgencias pediátricas. Guía práctica de recomendaciones: indicaciones, técnica de extracción, procesamiento e interpretación.

Blood culture (BC) is the gold standard when a bacteraemia is suspected, and is one of the most requested microbiological tests in paediatrics. Some changes have occurred in recent years: the introduction of new vaccines, the increasing number of patients with central vascular catheters, as well as the introduction of continuous monitoring BC systems. These changes have led to the review and update of different factors related to this technique in order to optimise its use. A practice guideline is presented with recommendations on BC, established by the Spanish Society of Paediatric Emergency Care and the Spanish Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. After reviewing the available scientific evidence, several recommendations for each of the following aspects are presented: BC indications in the Emergency Department, how to obtain, transport and process cultures, special situations (indications and interpretation of results in immunosuppressed patients and/or central vascular catheter carriers, indications for anaerobic BC), differentiation between bacteraemia and contamination when a BC shows bacterial growth and actions to take with a positive BC in patients with fever of unknown origin.

Meningitis por Pseudomonas oryzihabitans / Pseudomonas oryzihabitans meningitis

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Características epidemiológicas, clínicas y terapéuticas de lactantes hospitalizados por bronquiolitis / Epidemiology, clinical features and medical interventions in children hospitalized for bronchiolitis

Objetivos: Describir los datos epidemiológicos, clínicos y actitud terapéutica empleada en los lactantes hospitalizados por bronquiolitis en nuestro medio. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y prospectivo de lactantes menores de 18 meses ingresados en Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia) con el diagnóstico de bronquiolitis, durante el periodo de máxima incidencia (diciembre 2008-abril 2009). Resultados: Ingresaron 235 lactantes, de los que el 78,7% tenía una edad menor o igual a 5 meses de vida. Había una correlación positiva entre el número de cigarrillos consumidos por la madre en la gestación y el número de días de oxigenoterapia y los días de estancia. Los niños cuya madre era fumadora en el momento de su ingreso fueron tratados con oxígeno un mayor número de días. Los lactantes que no habían recibido lactancia materna precisaron oxígeno durante más tiempo. El 23,8% tenía patología de base, siendo la prematuridad la más frecuente, la cual fue un factor de riesgo para la prolongación del tratamiento con oxígeno y de la estancia hospitalaria. La utilización de exploraciones complementarias y el uso de broncodilatadores, corticoides y antibióticos fueron elevados. La aparición de fiebre se asoció a un mayor uso de antibióticos en el medio extra e intrahospitalario y lo mismo sucedía si la radiografía de tórax era patológica o existía una elevación de la proteína C reactiva (PCR). El VRS fue el principal agente etiológico, seguido por rinovirus, bocavirus, adenovirus y metapneumovirus. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los ingresos por bronquiolitis ocurrieron en los primeros meses de la vida. La exposición al tabaco durante la gestación se asoció a una peor evolución clínica. A pesar de las indicaciones de las guías de práctica clínica, en nuestro medio, el uso de exploraciones complementarias y de tratamientos farmacológicos fue elevado(AU)

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatments prescribed in children with bronchiolitis admitted to our hospital. Material and methods: Observational, descriptive and prospective study of children younger than 18 months, admitted to Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca of Murcia (Spain), with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis, during the season of maximum incidence (December 2008-April 2009). Results: A total of 235 infants were admitted, of whom 78.7% of them were aged 5 months or less. We found a positive correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked by their mothers during pregnancy and the number of hospitalization and oxygen therapy days. Children whose mothers were smokers at the time of their admission needed a greater number of oxygen therapy days. Also infants who were not breastfed needed oxygen therapy during more days. Just under one quarter (23.8%) of them had underlying diseases, with prematurity being the most frequent and a risk factor for the ongoing of oxygen therapy and hospital stay. The use of diagnostic tests, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and antibiotics was high. The onset of high temperature was associated with an increased use of antibiotics in outside and inside the hospital setting. An abnormal chest X-ray or a raised C-reactive protein was associated with a higher use of antibiotics. Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) was the main aetiological agent, followed by Rhinovirus, Bocavirus, Adenovirus and Metapneumovirus. Conclusions: The majority of hospital admissions due to bronchiolitis took place during the first months of life. Infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a worse clinical outcome. Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines in our area, the use of diagnostic tests and pharmacological treatment was high(AU)

[Epidemiology, clinical features and medical interventions in children hospitalized for bronchiolitis]. / Características epidemiológicas, clínicas y terapéuticas de lactantes hospitalizados por bronquiolitis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatments prescribed in children with bronchiolitis admitted to our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and prospective study of children younger than 18 months, admitted to Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca of Murcia (Spain), with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis, during the season of maximum incidence (December 2008-April 2009). RESULTS: A total of 235 infants were admitted, of whom 78.7% of them were aged 5 months or less. We found a positive correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked by their mothers during pregnancy and the number of hospitalization and oxygen therapy days. Children whose mothers were smokers at the time of their admission needed a greater number of oxygen therapy days. Also infants who were not breastfed needed oxygen therapy during more days. Just under one quarter (23.8%) of them had underlying diseases, with prematurity being the most frequent and a risk factor for the ongoing of oxygen therapy and hospital stay. The use of diagnostic tests, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and antibiotics was high. The onset of high temperature was associated with an increased use of antibiotics in outside and inside the hospital setting. An abnormal chest X-ray or a raised C-reactive protein was associated with a higher use of antibiotics. Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) was the main aetiological agent, followed by Rhinovirus, Bocavirus, Adenovirus and Metapneumovirus CONCLUSIONS: The majority of hospital admissions due to bronchiolitis took place during the first months of life. Infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a worse clinical outcome. Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines in our area, the use of diagnostic tests and pharmacological treatment was high.