[Spanish Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases guidelines on tuberculosis in pregnant women and neonates (i): Epidemiology and diagnosis. Congenital tuberculosis]. / Guía de la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica sobre tuberculosis en la embarazada y el recién nacido (I): epidemiología y diagnóstico. Tuberculosis congénita.

Tuberculosis (TB) screening in pregnancy using tuberculin skin test (TST) is recommended in case of symptoms of TB disease, close contact with a patient with infectious TB, or high risk of developing active disease. The new interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) tests are recommended in BCG-vaccinated pregnant women with positive TST and no known risk factors for TB, and in those immunocompromised, with clinical suspicion of TB but negative TST. TB diagnosis is difficult due to the non-specific symptoms, the increased frequency of extrapulmonary disease, the delay in radiological examinations, and the high rate of tuberculin anergy. Neonatal TB can be acquired in utero (congenital TB), or through airborne transmission after delivery (postnatal TB). Congenital TB is extremely rare and does not cause fetal malformations. It may be evident at birth, although it usually presents after the second week of life. In newborns with no family history of TB, the disease should be considered in cases of miliary pneumonia, hepatosplenomegaly with focal lesions, or lymphocytic meningitis with hypoglycorrhachia, especially in those born to immigrants from high TB-burden countries. TST is usually negative, and IGRAs have lower sensitivity than in older children. However, the yield of acid-fast smear and culture is higher, mostly in congenital TB. Molecular diagnosis techniques enable early diagnosis and detection of drug resistance mutations. There is a substantial risk of disseminated disease and death.

[Spanish Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases guidelines on tuberculosis in pregnant women and neonates (ii): Prophylaxis and treatment]. / Guía de la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica sobre tuberculosis en la embarazada y el recién nacido (ii): profilaxis y tratamiento.

In pregnant women who have been exposed to tuberculosis (TB), primary isoniazid prophylaxis is only recommended in cases of immunosuppression, chronic medical conditions or obstetric risk factors, and close and sustained contact with a patient with infectious TB. Isoniazid prophylaxis for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended in women who have close contact with an infectious TB patient or have risk factors for progression to active disease. Otherwise, it should be delayed until at least three weeks after delivery. Treatment of TB disease during pregnancy is the same as for the general adult population. Infants born to mothers with disseminated or extrapulmonary TB in pregnancy, with active TB at delivery, or with postnatal exposure to TB, should undergo a complete diagnostic evaluation. Primary isoniazid prophylaxis for at least 12 weeks is recommended for those with negative diagnostic tests and no evidence of disease. Repeated negative diagnostic tests are mandatory before interrupting prophylaxis. Isoniazid for 9 months is recommended in LTBI. Treatment of neonatal TB disease is similar to that of older children, but should be maintained for at least 9 months. Respiratory isolation is recommended in congenital TB, and in postnatal TB with positive gastric or bronchial aspirate acid-fast smears. Separation of mother and infant is only necessary when the mother has received treatment for less than 2 weeks, is sputum smear-positive, or has drug-resistant TB. Breastfeeding is not contraindicated, and in case of mother-infant separation expressed breast milk feeding is recommended.

[Emergence of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by non-vaccine serotypes in the era of the 7-valent conjugate vaccine]. / Serotipos no vacunales emergentes causantes de enfermedad neumocócica invasora en la era de la vacuna 7-valente.

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increased incidence in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) produced by non-vaccine serotype (NVS) of Streptococcus pneumoniae after the introduction of PCV7. Our objective was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics of IPD caused by NVS in a tertiary hospital in Madrid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective (1998-2004) and prospective (2005-2009) study evaluating IPD caused by NVS in children. The study was divided into three periods: P1 (1998-2001) when PCV7 was not commercialized; P2 (2002-2005) with 40% vaccine coverage among children; and P3 (2006-2009) when the vaccine was added to the Childhood Immunization Schedule in Madrid. RESULTS: We analyzed 155 cases of IPD. One hundred and fifty of these isolates were serotyped (100 were NVS). There was an increase in the prevalence of IPD from P1 (31%) to P2 (54%) and P3 (91%). The most relevant emerging serotypes were 19A, 7F, 1, 5, 3 and 15C. The most significant clinical syndromes produced by some specific serotypes were as follows: lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) by serotypes 1, 3, 5 and 15C; LRTI, primary bacteremia and meningitis by serotype 19A; and primary bacteremia by serotype 7F (66%). The large majority (83.8%) of NVS were sensitive to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increased prevalence of IPD caused by NVS since the introduction of PCV7. These changes should prompt the introduction of new pneumococcal vaccines, which include most of the NVS, in the childhood immunization calendar to prevent IPD in children.

[Increase in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 19A prior to the implementation of the expanded pneumococcal vaccines]. / Aumento de la incidencia de enfermedad neumocócica invasora producida por el serotipo 19A previo a la introducción de las vacunas neumocócicas ampliadas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology, clinical syndromes and microbiological characteristics of serotype 19A as the main cause of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children admitted to a tertiary hospital in Spain. METHODS: A retrospective (1998-2004) and prospective (2005-2009) study was conducted on children with IPD produced by serotype 19A. The study was divided into three periods (P): P1 (1998-2001) when PCV7 had not been commercialized; P2 (2002-2005) with 40% vaccine coverage among children; and P3 (2006-2009) when the vaccine was added to the Childhood Immunization Schedule in Madrid. RESULTS: A total of 155 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) producing IPD were analysed, with 21 of them being serotype 19A (14%). An increased prevalence of serotype 19A was found: 2/45 cases (4.4%) in P1, 3/41 cases (7.3%) in P2 and 16/69 cases (23.2%) in P3. It occurred mostly in children younger than 2 years (16/21; 76%). This serotype was the main cause of meningitis (5/20; 25%), pleural empyema (3/22; 14%) and bacteraemic mastoiditis (2/4; 50%). Thirteen isolates (61.5%) had an MIC ≥ 0.12µ/ml for penicillin in extra-meningeal infections, and 3 of the 5 isolates causing meningitis (60%) had an MIC ≥ 1µ/ml for cefotaxime. CONCLUSIONS: Serotype 19A was the main causal agent of IPD in the PCV7 era (P3), with high antibiotic resistance rates. This serotype was responsible for all types of IPD, being the main cause of meningitis.

[Consensus document by the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and the advisory committee on vaccines of the Spanish Paediatrics Association on vaccination in immunocompromised children]. / Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica y el Comité Asesor de Vacunas de la Asociación Española de Pediatría para la vacunación en inmunodeprimidos.

Vaccination in immunocompromised infants, children and adolescents is a major aspect in the follow-up of this complex pathology in specific Paediatric Units. Vaccination is also an important prevention tool, as this can, to a certain extent, determine the morbidity and mortality in these patients. This consensus document was jointly prepared by Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and the Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Paediatric Association, who are usually involved in updating the management of vaccinations in immunocompromised children, and reflects their opinions. The consensus specifically summarises indications for vaccination in the following special paediatric populations: Solid organ and haematopoietic transplant-recipients; primary immunodeficiency; asplenic children; non-previously transplanted immunocompromised patients; chronically ill patients; HIV-infected children and also the vaccines recommended for immunodeficient children who travel.

[Spondylodiscitis in the autonomus community of Madrid (Spain)]. / Espondilodiscitis en la Comunidad de Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: Spondylodiscitis is a relatively uncommon entity in infancy and childhood, with typical, although non-specific symptoms. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features at presentation and follow-up in patients diagnosed with spondylodiscitis in hospitals in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cases of spondylodiscitis diagnosed in children in the hospitals of La Paz, Niño Jesús, Gregorio Marañón, Severo Ochoa, Doce de Octubre and Getafe in Madrid were reviewed. Their clinical features, diagnostic tests, treatment and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty children with a mean age of 37 months were studied. The level of disc involvement was L5-S1 in six patients, L2-L3 in five, L3-L4 in four, C6-C7 in two, and D12-L1 in one. The mean time before diagnosis was 20 +/- 16 days. The most frequent symptoms were gait disturbances, limping, or inability to remain seated. Eleven patients had low grade fever (< 38.5 degrees C). Other less specific symptoms were irritability, constipation and abdominal pain. All patients presented moderate leukocytosis without neutrophilia. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 60 +/- 26. The most frequently used diagnostic tests were conventional spine radiographs, technetium-99m bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging. All patients received antibiotics; three received oral antibiotics only and the remaining patients received intravenous and oral antibiotics. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were cefuroxime, cloxacillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate. The duration of treatment ranged between 3 and 8 weeks. All patients had a favorable outcome, although in eight, radiological sequelae were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Spondylodiscitis is not exceptional in childhood and awareness of this entity among pediatricians should be increased.

[Coinfection with chlamydia and mycoplasma. Incidence in our environment]. / Coinfección por Chlamydia y Mycoplasma. Incidencia en nuestro medio.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presence Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae and to determine their importance as the cause of community-acquired pneumonia in childhood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of all the patients aged less than 15 years old diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia due to M. pneumoniae in the pediatric emergency department of our hospital between May 1998 and May 2000. Patients in whom C. pneumoniae was also identified as a cause of pneumonia were investigated. RESULTS: Of 242 cases of community-acquired pneumonia, 82 were due to M. pneumoniae (34.7 %) and 32 were due to C. pneumoniae (13.22 %) Of these, eight cases were coinfections with C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae. Most infections occurred in boys (5/8). The mean age at diagnosis was 7.7 years. No seasonal predominance was found. CONCLUSIONS: Both C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae play a substantial role in community-acquired pneumonia in children aged more than 5 years old. Although coinfection with both species usually worsens the course of the disease, outcome in all the patients studied was satisfactory.

Neumonía por mycoplasma: cuatro años de estudio / Mycoplasma pneumonia: four years study

Mycoplasma pneumoniae constituye una de las causas, cada vez mas frecuente, de neumonias en la infancia. Objetivos: estudiar 105 casos de neumonias por Mycoplasma pneumoniae habidos en nuestro hospital en los ultimos cuatro anos. Material y metodos: durante dicho tiempo se diagnosticaron en el Servicio de Urgencias de nuestro hospital, un total de 452 neumonias ambulatorias, 132 de ellas causadas por Mycoplasma pneumonlae, lo que significa un porcentaje de casi 30 por ciento; todas fueron seguidas mediante un protocolo de neumonias, recogiendose datos epidemiológicos, clínicos, analíticos y microbiológicos, analizándose sus resultados según un programa estadístico. Resultados: edad media de presentación de 6.38 anos, 38.6 por ciento menores de cinco arlos. No encontramos ningun predominio de sexos en su distribución, aunque si una mayor distribución de los casos entre los meses de enero y julio con 83 por ciento de los casos. Epidemiológicamente encontramos la aparición de casos familiares similares en 37 por ciento de los casos, por 52 por ciento de casos en donde no se encontraron casos similares en el entorno, se hallaron factores de riesgo en 36 por ciento de los casos (enfermedades del tracto respiratorio inferior). La clinica consistió fundamentalmente en fiebre superior a 38§C, tos seca y buen estado general, acompanandose de sintomatologia catarral en los pacientes mas pequenos. A la exploración ffsica encontramos estertores a la auscultación pulmonar en 75 pacientes y una auscultación normal en 23 casos, cinco pacientes cursaron con derrame pleural de leve a moderado. La afectación faringo-amigdalar estaba presente en 74 casos y 14 pacientes cursaron con afectación dermatológica, sólo cuatro de los pacientes precisaron ingreso hospitalario. El tratamiento consistió en batalactamicos y macrólidos, evolucionando a su total curación al mes de iniciado el estudio 93 por ciento de los casos

[Orbital and periorbital cellulitis in childhood. A review of 116 cases]. / Celulitis orbitarias y periorbitarias en la infancia. Revisión de 116 casos.

Orbital and periorbital cellulitis, which can result from a spectrum of disorders that are commonly encountered in pediatric practice, usually develops as a complication of paranasal sinus infection, and also can result from dental infection, trauma to the eyelids or external ocular infection. The clinical features, microbiological data and treatment of 97 children with periorbital cellulitis and 19 children with orbital cellulitis, admitted to our hospital from January 1983 through December 1993, are reported here. Twenty-three percent of the children (27 cases) had positive cultures, 7 cases with orbital cellulitis developed neurological or ophthalmological complications. Antibiotic therapy alone was effective in 97 patients, but a significant proportion required paranasal sinus or orbital surgery (16%).