[Short duration of initial intravenous treatment in 70 pediatric patients with osteoarticular infections]. / Tratamiento intravenoso inicial abreviado en 70 pacientes pediátricos con infecciones osteo-articulares.

UNLABELLED: Osteoarticular infections (OAI) are infrequent in pediatrics and there is controversy on the need for prolonged use of intravenous antimicrobials. OBJECTIVE: To characterize and describe evolution and complications of a regimen of 7 days initial intravenous antibiotic treatment for OAI in children, completing 4-6 weeks of total treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a large pediatric hospital, 70 children younger than 15 years of age were diagnosed with OAI between March 2003 and December 2004. Children received 7 days of intravenous antibiotics followed by 3 to 5 weeks of oral treatment. RESULTS: Incidence of OAI in this hospital was 1.8:10000. Patients mean age was 6.4 +/-4.4 years and 60% presented with septic arthritis, 36% osteomyelitis and 4% osteoarthritis. In 80% of cases, the infection was located in the lower extremity. Positive cultures were obtained in 59% predominating Staphylococcus aureus (46.5%). Seven patients had prolonged pain or persistently high or increasing serum C reactive protein levels and were maintained on prolonged intravenous therapy. None of the 63 children with 7 day intravenous antimicrobials nor the 7 children with prolonged intravenous use developed a complication in the short-term follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Seven days of intravenous antibiotic for the initial phase of OAI treatment was effective in a majority of children and may be recommended.

Tratamiento intravenoso inicial abreviado en 70 pacientes pediátricos con infecciones osteo-articulares / Short duration of initial intravenous treatment in 70 pediatric patients with osteoarticular infections

Osteoarticular infections (OAI) are infrequent in pediatrics and there is controversy on the need for prolonged use of intravenous antimicrobials. Objective: To characterize and describe evolution and complications of a regimen of 7 days initial intravenous antibiotic treatment for OAI in children, completing 4-6 weeks of total treatment. Patients and methods: In a large pediatric hospital, 70 children younger than 15 years of age were diagnosed with OAI between March 2003 and December 2004. Children received 7 days of intravenous antibiotics followed by 3 to 5 weeks of oral treatment. Results: Incidence of OAI in this hospital was 1.8:10000. Patients mean age was 6.4 ±4.4 years and 60 percent presented with septic arthritis, 36 percent osteomyelitis and 4 percent osteoarthritis. In 80 percent of cases, the infection was located in the lower extremity. Positive cultures were obtained in 59 percent predominating Staphylococcus aureus (46.5 percent). Seven patients had prolonged pain or persistantly high or increasing serum C reactive protein levels and were maintained on prolonged intravenous therapy. None of the 63 children with 7 day intravenous antimicrobials nor the 7 children with prolonged intravenous use developed a complication in the short-term follow up. Conclusions: Seven days of intravenous antibiotic for the initial phase of OAI treatment was effective in a majority of children and may be recommended.

Las infecciones osteoarticulares (IOA) son poco frecuentes en pediatría. Existe controversia acerca de la óptima duración y la vía de administración de la terapia antimicrobiana. Objetivo: Caracterizar y describir la evolución y complicaciones en niños con IOA que recibieron 7 días iniciales de terapia endovenosa, completando 4 a 6 semanas de terapia total. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, que incluyó a 70 niños con diagnóstico de IOA, entre marzo de 2003 y diciembre de 2004 en un hospital pediátrico, quienes recibieron tratamiento endovenoso abreviado a 7 días, seguido de terapia oral por 3 a 5 semanas. Resultados: La incidencia de IOA fue de 1,8: 10.000 niños bajo 15 años de edad. El promedio de edad fue 6,4 ± 4,4 años. Sesenta por ciento presentaba artritis séptica, 36 por ciento osteomielitis y 4 por ciento osteoartritis. En 80 por ciento la infección se localizó en extremidades inferiores. Los cultivos fueron positivos en 59 por ciento. En 46,5 por ciento se aisló Staphylococcus aureus. Siete niños evolucionaron con dolor persistente o elevación significativa de PCR y requirieron prolongar la terapia endovenosa y/o total, sin presentar complicaciones a corto plazo. Conclusiones: Siete días de terapia antimicrobiana intravenosa parece ser efectivo y recomendable para el tratamiento, en su fase inicial, de las infecciones osteo-articulares.

[Human metapneumovirus as hospitalization cause in children under 3 years old with acute respiratory infections during 2004]. / Metapneumovirus humano como causa de hospitalización en niños bajo 3 años de edad, con infección respiratoria aguda, durante el año 2004.

Human metapneumovirus was detected in 15 of 123 children (12%) younger than 3 years of age hospitalized for treatment of acute respiratory infection between July and November 2004. The virus was detected by RT-PCR directly from nasopharyngeal swabs and/or from supernatants after cell culture. Children infected with hMPV were mostly younger than one year of age (67%), all presenting with fever and cough. The main cause for hospitalization was the need for oxygen therapy (73%). Four hMPV positive children had an identifiable co-morbid condition but had a similar clinical evolution when compared to previously healthy infants. Chest radiography showed an increase in interstitial infiltrates with focal consolidation in 6 children. Obstructive bronchial syndrome and bronchiolitis, with or without pneumonia, were the most frequent diagnosis associated with hMPV positivity. A rapid and sensitive diagnostic method is required to improve diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Metapneumovirus humano como causa de hospitalización en niños bajo 3 años de edad, con infección respiratoria aguda, durante el año 2004 / Human metapneumovirus as hospitalization cause in children under 3 years old with acute respiratory infections during 2004

Metapneumovirus humano (MPVh) fue detectado entre julio y noviembre en 15 de 123 niños bajo 3 años de edad hospitalizados por infección respiratoria aguda (12 por ciento). Las muestras fueron estudiadas mediante técnicas de biología molecular (RPC-TR de muestra de hisopado nasofaríngeo y/o de sobrenadante de cultivo). El 67 por ciento de los niños hospitalizados con MPVh tenían menos de 1 año de edad, todos ellos presentaron tos y fiebre y el principal motivo de hospitalización fue el requerimiento de oxígeno en 73 por ciento de los casos. Si bien un tercio de los pacientes tenía patología previa, su evolución clínica no fue diferente respecto de los niños previamente sanos. El patrón radiológico mostró aumento de la trama intersticial, con focos de consolidación en 6 casos (40 por ciento). El diagnóstico más frecuente fue síndrome bronquial obstructivo o bronquiolitis, asociado o no a neumonía. Destaca la necesidad de un método de diagnóstico rápido para optimizar el diagnóstico diferencial, manejo y control de infecciones en estos pacientes.

Human metapneumovirus was detected in 15 of 123 children (12 percent) younger than 3 years of age hospitalized for treatment of acute respiratory infection between July and November 2004. The virus was detected by RT-PCR directly from nasopharyngeal swabs and/or from supernatants after cell culture. Children infected with hMPV were mostly younger than one year of age (67 percent), all presenting with fever and cough. The main cause for hospitalization was the need for oxygen therapy (73 percent). Four hMPV positive children had an identifiable co-morbid condition but had a similar clinical evolution when compared to previously healthy infants. Chest radiography showed an increase in interstitial infiltrates with focal consolidation in 6 children. Obstructive bronchial syndrome and bronchiolitis, with or without pneumonia, were the most frequent diagnosis associated with hMPV positivity. A rapid and sensitive diagnostic method is required to improve diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Endocarditis por Streptococcus pneumoniae en niños: presentación de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Endocarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children: case report and review

La endocarditis causada por Streptococcus pneumoniae es una patología muy poco frecuente en niños, correspondiendo sólo a 3 - 7 por ciento de los casos. Sin embargo, su importancia radica en que se puede presentar de forma muy agresiva, con complicaciones como destrucción valvular y abscesos, y con una mortalidad reportada hasta 61 por ciento, de no mediar tratamiento antimicrobiano precoz y muchas veces cardiocirugía. En más del 50 por ciento se puede asociar a otros focos infecciosos, como meningitis, neumonía, sinusitis o mastoiditis. Se describe el caso de una lactante de 10 meses que presentó una meningitis asociada a endocarditis debidas a S. pneumoniae, con grave compromiso cardíaco, y que requirió reemplazo valvular. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura médica acerca de endocarditis por S. pneumoniae en niños.