Resurgimiento de los casos de bronquiolitis aguda tras la declaración del final del estado de alarma / The resurgence of acute bronchiolitis cases after the declaration of the end of state of emergency

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Pandemia por COVID-19 y su repercusión sobre las hospitalizaciones por bronquiolitis en el Centro y Este de España / Consequences of COVID-19 pandemic over acute bronchiolitis hospitalizations in the center and east of Spain

Introducción: Las intervenciones no farmacológicas puestas en marcha en territorios del hemisferio sur tras la declaración de la pandemia por COVID-19 en marzo de 2020, han puesto de manifiesto toda una serie de cambios inesperados en la propagación de otros virus. Dentro del proyecto Estudio Colaborativo Español para la Atención de Lactantes Hospitalizados por Bronquiolitis Aguda (ECEALHBA) presentamos este estudio cuyo objetivo ha sido constatar las repercusiones de la pandemia sobre la temporada epidémica de bronquiolitis de 2020 a 2021 en el centro y este de España. Material y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional, descriptivo y ambispectivo de una muestra de lactantes ingresados por bronquiolitis aguda en alguno de los 16 hospitales españoles participantes en la investigación. Se compararon desde el punto de vista cualitativo y cuantitativo las cinco temporadas epidémicas previas a la pandemia, de 2015 a 2020, con la última de 2020 a 2021. Resultados: Un total de 4.643 lactantes ingresaron en alguno de los hospitales participantes durante el periodo de estudio. Se describe un descenso porcentual de ingresos del 94,1% entre el periodo previo y la temporada epidémica coincidente con la pandemia. Septiembre pasó a ser el mes pico de ingresos en lugar de diciembre y enero como era habitual, con un descenso progresivo de los ingresos a partir de ese momento hasta el final del seguimiento en abril de 2021. El rinovirus, de forma atípica, ha sido el agente responsable de la mayoría de las bronquiolitis en esta última temporada de 2020 a 2021. (AU)

Introduction: Non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been implemented in southern hemisphere countries because of COVID-19 pandemic declaration in March 2020, have evidenced some unexpected changes in the way of spreading of many other viruses. This study as a part of ECEALHBA's Project, reports the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic over 2020–2021 bronchiolitis epidemic period in the Central and Eastern regions of Spain. Method: Multicenter, observational, descriptive and ambispective study of admitted infants with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis in 16 Spanish hospitals involved in the investigation project. Five epidemic periods previous to COVID-19 pandemic, from 2015 to 2020, were compared with the current one, 2020–2021, in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. Results: Total of 4643 infants were admitted to the participating hospitals along the study period. Pandemic season hospital admissions for bronchiolitis were 94.1% lower than in pre-pandemic period. December and January were peak months for bronchiolitis admissions during pre-pandemic period, but September was the peak month during pandemic year. There was a progressive decrease of admissions from this moment until the end of the follow up, in April 2021. Rhinovirus has been the commonest etiology for bronchiolitis in 2020–2021 epidemic period of bronchiolitis. (AU)

Consequences of COVID-19 pandemic over acute bronchiolitis hospitalizations in the center and east of Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been implemented in southern hemisphere countries because of COVID-19 pandemic declaration in March 2020, have evidenced some unexpected changes in the way of spreading of many other viruses. This study as a part of ECEALHBA's Project, reports the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic over 2020-2021 bronchiolitis epidemic period in the Central and Eastern regions of Spain. METHOD: Multicenter, observational, descriptive and ambispective study of admitted infants with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis in 16 Spanish hospitals involved in the investigation project. Five epidemic periods previous to COVID-19 pandemic, from 2015 to 2020, were compared with the current one, 2020-2021, in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. RESULTS: Total of 4643 infants were admitted to the participating hospitals along the study period. Pandemic season hospital admissions for bronchiolitis were 94.1% lower than in pre-pandemic period. December and January were peak months for bronchiolitis admissions during pre-pandemic period, but September was the peak month during pandemic year. There was a progressive decrease of admissions from this moment until the end of the follow-up, in April 2021. Rhinovirus has been the commonest etiology for bronchiolitis in 2020-2021 epidemic period of bronchiolitis. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the non-pharmaceutical interventions initiated because of COVID-19 pandemic are probably related to the dramatic decrease of bronchiolitis cases in 2020-2021 season. It would be rewarding to purpose novel research to clarify how these simple interventions can be useful, close to vaccines and antiviral drugs, to achieve the goal of avoiding the spread of respiratory viruses in pediatric population.

[Consequences of COVID-19 pandemic over acute bronchiolitis hospitalizations in the center and east of Spain]. / Pandemia por COVID-19 y su repercusión sobre las hospitalizaciones por bronquiolitis en el Centro y Este de España.

INTRODUCTION: Non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been implemented in southern hemisphere countries because of COVID-19 pandemic declaration in March 2020, have evidenced some unexpected changes in the way of spreading of many other viruses. This study as a part of ECEALHBA's Project, reports the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic over 2020-2021 bronchiolitis epidemic period in the Central and Eastern regions of Spain. METHOD: Multicenter, observational, descriptive and ambispective study of admitted infants with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis in 16 Spanish hospitals involved in the investigation project. Five epidemic periods previous to COVID-19 pandemic, from 2015 to 2020, were compared with the current one, 2020-2021, in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. RESULTS: Total of 4643 infants were admitted to the participating hospitals along the study period. Pandemic season hospital admissions for bronchiolitis were 94.1% lower than in pre-pandemic period. December and January were peak months for bronchiolitis admissions during pre-pandemic period, but September was the peak month during pandemic year. There was a progressive decrease of admissions from this moment until the end of the follow up, in April 2021. Rhinovirus has been the commonest etiology for bronchiolitis in 2020-2021 epidemic period of bronchiolitis. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the non-pharmaceutical interventions initiated because of COVID-19 pandemic are probably related to the dramatic decrease of bronchiolitis cases in 2020-2021 season. It would be rewarding to purpose novel research to clarify how these simple interventions can be useful, close to vaccines and antiviral drugs, to achieve the goal of avoiding the spread of respiratory viruses in pediatric population.

[The chest x-ray in acute bronchiolitis: Technical quality, findings, and an assessment of its reliability]. / La radiografía de tórax en la bronquiolitis aguda: calidad técnica, hallazgos y evaluación de su fiabilidad.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the recommendations of the current Clinical Practice Guidelines, the chest x-ray continues to be a widely used diagnostic test in the assessment of infants with acute bronchiolitis (AB). However, there have not been many studies that have assessed its reproducibility in these patients. In the present study, an evaluation is made on the radiographs, describing their quality, their radiological findings, and provides new evidence on the agreement between observers. METHOD: Out of a total of 281 infants admitted due to acute bronchiolitis, 140 chest x-rays were performed. Twelve doctors from different specialities evaluated the presence or absence of 10 radiological signs previously agreed by consensus. The level of agreement between 2 observers, and in groups of 3 or more, were analysed using the Cohen and Fleiss kappa index, respectively. RESULTS: Only 8.5% of the radiographs showed evidence of a complicated AB. The between-observer agreement in groups of 3 or more was medium, and with little variability (kappa: 0.20-0.40). However, between 2 observers, each observer against radiologist, the variability was wider, (kappa: -0.20-0.60). This level of agreement was associated with factors including, the sign to evaluate, the medical specialty, and level of professional experience. CONCLUSION: The low levels of agreement between observers and the wide variability, makes the chest x-ray an unreliable diagnostic tool, and is not recommended for the assessment of infants with AB.

Uso de sueros hipotónicos en la prescripción de la fluidoterapia intravenosa de mantenimiento / Use of hypotonic fluids in the prescription of maintenance intravenous fluid therapy

Introducción: Los fluidos isotónicos, en la mayoría de los casos, constituyen la forma más segura de administración de líquidos por vía intravenosa. Los objetivos de nuestro trabajo han sido describir las prácticas de prescripción de los fluidos intravenosos de mantenimiento y estudiar los posibles factores asociados. Material y método: Estudio transversal, descriptivo, multicéntrico de ámbito nacional, mediante encuesta on-line, difundida a través de sociedades científicas médicas y la Organización Médica Colegial, entre diciembre de 2016 y diciembre de 2017. Resultados: Un total de 487 encuestas fueron recibidas, 456 de pediatras. El 28,95% (IC 95%: 24,77-33,13) de ellos prescribían habitualmente fluidos hipotónicos y el 81,14% (IC 95%: 77,54-84,74) se basaba en la regla de Holliday y Segar para calcular el volumen total a infundir. El perfil del pediatra en España que utiliza fluidos hipotónicos intravenosos es el de médico residente de pediatría, pediatra que trabaja en áreas diferentes a las unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos, en hospitales privados, y aquellos que reconocen que no existe un consenso al respecto en su grupo de trabajo. Conclusiones: Más de una cuarta parte de los pediatras en nuestro país sigue utilizando los fluidos hipotónicos como fluidoterapia intravenosa de mantenimiento. Diferentes factores podrían estar asociados a este hecho. Estos estudios son prueba de las grandes dificultades existentes para trasladar el conocimiento a la práctica

Introduction: Isotonic fluids, in most cases, are the safest way to dispense fluids intravenously. The aim of this study was to determine the prescription of maintenance intravenous fluids and to study possible associated factors. Material and method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-centre study was performed. A questionnaire was sent nationwide to several healthcare providers via an on-line survey, sent by email through different Medical Scientific Societies, and the Official Spanish Medical Association, between December 2016 and December 2017. Results: A total of 487 questionnaires were received, of which 456 were submitted by paediatricians. More than one quarter (28.95%) (95% CI; 24.77-33.13) of the paediatricians usually dispense hypotonic fluids and 81.14% (95% CI; 77.54-84.74) prescribe infusion rates based on the Holliday and Segar protocol. The general profile of paediatricians who prescribe hypotonic fluids intravenously in Spain are medical residents, paediatricians working in paediatric non-intensive care units, in private hospitals, and those who recognise that no consensus exists among their direct work colleagues regarding this subject. Conclusions: More than twenty-five per cent of all paediatricians in our country continue to use hypotonic fluids as maintenance intravenous fluid therapy. There might be several potential factors associated to this. These kind of studies provide evidence of the great difficulties in transferring scientific knowledge to clinical practice

[Use of hypotonic fluids in the prescription of maintenance intravenous fluid therapy]. / Uso de sueros hipotónicos en la prescripción de la fluidoterapia intravenosa de mantenimiento.

INTRODUCTION: Isotonic fluids, in most cases, are the safest way to dispense fluids intravenously. The aim of this study was to determine the prescription of maintenance intravenous fluids and to study possible associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-centre study was performed. A questionnaire was sent nationwide to several healthcare providers via an on-line survey, sent by email through different Medical Scientific Societies, and the Official Spanish Medical Association, between December 2016 and December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 487 questionnaires were received, of which 456 were submitted by paediatricians. More than one quarter (28.95%) (95% CI; 24.77-33.13) of the paediatricians usually dispense hypotonic fluids and 81.14% (95% CI; 77.54-84.74) prescribe infusion rates based on the Holliday and Segar protocol. The general profile of paediatricians who prescribe hypotonic fluids intravenously in Spain are medical residents, paediatricians working in paediatric non-intensive care units, in private hospitals, and those who recognise that no consensus exists among their direct work colleagues regarding this subject. CONCLUSIONS: More than twenty-five per cent of all paediatricians in our country continue to use hypotonic fluids as maintenance intravenous fluid therapy. There might be several potential factors associated to this. These kind of studies provide evidence of the great difficulties in transferring scientific knowledge to clinical practice.

Implementación multimodal de una guía de práctica clínica en bronquiolitis: acabando con el uso excesivo de recursos diagnósticos / Multimodal implementation of clinical practice guidelines on bronchiolitis: ending the overuse of diagnostic resources

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las Guías de Práctica Clínica han demostrado ser herramientas valiosas para orientar las decisiones de los médicos. Su mera publicación no ha reducido la variabilidad en el manejo de la bronquiolitis aguda, y se siguen utilizando de forma excesiva determinados recursos para su atención. MÉTODO: Mediante una investigación con un diseño antes-después, se estudió la efectividad de un método de difusión de recomendaciones diagnósticas para el manejo de lactantes hospitalizados por bronquiolitis. Pacientes con comorbilidades, exprematuros y los que fueron trasladados a otros centros sanitarios fueron excluidos. Los recursos diagnósticos estudiados fueron: radiografía de tórax, hemograma, proteína C reactiva, hemocultivo, gasometría venosa y determinación de virus respiratorio sincitial. Se analizaron un total de 11 temporadas epidémicas. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 259 pacientes, 98 en el periodo preintervención (2006-10) y 131 en el posintervención (2011-17). La intervención se llevó a cabo en octubre de 2010 y 2011. Comparando los dos periodos, disminuyó el uso de radiografía de tórax, 73,5 a 16% (p < 0,01); hemograma 51 a 21,4% (p < 0,01), PCR 48 a 22,1% (p < 0,01) y hemocultivo 23,5 a 7,6% (p < 0,01). La duración de la hospitalización disminuyó 0,6 (DE = 1) días y no hubo diferencias en los reingresos. CONCLUSIONES: La difusión organizada y sistematizada, mediante un método multimodal, de las recomendaciones diagnósticas contenidas en una guía de práctica clínica sobre bronquiolitis, es capaz de transformar la práctica médica, reduciendo el uso de recursos diagnósticos, sin incrementarse los reingresos

INTRODUCTION: Clinical Practice Guidelines have been shown to be valuable tools for guiding medical decisions. However, their mere publication has not reduced the variability of practice in terms of the way acute bronchiolitis is managed. METHOD: A before-and-after study design was used to analyse the effectiveness of a method of disseminating diagnostic recommendations among physicians regarding the management of infants, hospitalised due to bronchiolitis. Patients with comorbidities, ex-premature patients, and patients transferred to other hospitals were excluded. The diagnostic resources studied were: chest X-ray, full blood count, C-reactive protein, blood culture, venous blood gas, and determination of the respiratory syncytial virus. Eleven epidemic periods were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 259 patients were studied including 98 in the pre-intervention group (2006-2010), and 131 in the post-intervention group (2011-2017). The intervention took place in October of 2010 and 2011. A comparison of the two periods showed that the use of chest X-rays dropped from 73.5% to 16% (p<.01), full blood counts from 51% to 21.4% (p<.01), C-reactive protein from 48% to 22.1% (p<.01), and blood cultures from 23.5% to 7.6% (p<.01). Length of stay dropped by 0.6 (SD: 1) days and there were no differences in re-admission rates. CONCLUSIONS: The organised and systematised dissemination, using a multimodal method, of the diagnostic recommendations contained in the clinical practice guidelines on bronchiolitis, is capable of transforming the clinical practice by reducing the use of diagnostic resources, without an increase in the re-admission rate

[Multimodal implementation of clinical practice guidelines on bronchiolitis: ending the overuse of diagnostic resources]. / Implementación multimodal de una guía de práctica clínica en bronquiolitis: acabando con el uso excesivo de recursos diagnósticos.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical Practice Guidelines have been shown to be valuable tools for guiding medical decisions. However, their mere publication has not reduced the variability of practice in terms of the way acute bronchiolitis is managed. METHOD: A before-and-after study design was used to analyse the effectiveness of a method of disseminating diagnostic recommendations among physicians regarding the management of infants, hospitalised due to bronchiolitis. Patients with comorbidities, ex-premature patients, and patients transferred to other hospitals were excluded. The diagnostic resources studied were: chest X-ray, full blood count, C-reactive protein, blood culture, venous blood gas, and determination of the respiratory syncytial virus. Eleven epidemic periods were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 259 patients were studied including 98 in the pre-intervention group (2006-2010), and 131 in the post-intervention group (2011-2017). The intervention took place in October of 2010 and 2011. A comparison of the two periods showed that the use of chest X-rays dropped from 73.5% to 16% (p<.01), full blood counts from 51% to 21.4% (p<.01), C-reactive protein from 48% to 22.1% (p<.01), and blood cultures from 23.5% to 7.6% (p<.01). Length of stay dropped by 0.6 (SD: 1) days and there were no differences in re-admission rates. CONCLUSIONS: The organised and systematised dissemination, using a multimodal method, of the diagnostic recommendations contained in the clinical practice guidelines on bronchiolitis, is capable of transforming the clinical practice by reducing the use of diagnostic resources, without an increase in the re-admission rate.