Hypervirulent Strains of Neisseria meningitidis and Clinical Manifestations in Children With Invasive Meningococcal Disease.

BACKGROUND: Hypervirulent clonal complex (cc) have been associated with higher incidence and case fatality rate of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations of the hypervirulent cc of meningococcus in children. METHODS: Retrospective study in patients hospitalized by IMD microbiologically confirmed at three children's tertiary health care centers in Santiago, Chile, between 2010 and 2018. Demographic, clinical information and determination of the cc and factor H binding protein (fHbp) alleles were performed. RESULTS: In total 93 cases were evaluated, sequence typing was available for 91 cases, and 87 (95.6%) had a cc assigned; 63.7% were MenW and 31.8% MenB. The median age was 9 months, 67% were male and 18.7% had any comorbidity. A 26.4% presented neurological deficit, 25.3% petechiae and 20% diarrhea. Sixty-seven percent were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and the case fatality rate was 9.9%. Regarding cc and fHbp alleles, ST11, ST41/44 and allele 22 were the most frequently identified, with 63.7%, 19.8% and 72.5%, respectively. We found statistically significant differences between the cc and presence of petechiae, diagnosis of meningococcemia plus meningitis, admission and days in PICU and advanced support. Allele 22 for fHbp was associated with the absence of petechiae, low suspicion of IMD, less diagnosis of meningitis+meningococcemia, PICU admission, advanced support and adrenal insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological and microbiological surveillance of IMD should integrate clinical and laboratory components, including molecular and genetic characterization, to enrich the dynamic understanding of the clinical evolution of IMD.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 2: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology]. / Recomendaciones para diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección del tracto urinario en pediatría. Parte 2: Grupo de trabajo asociado al Comité de Antimicrobianos, Sociedad Chilena de Infectología (SOCHINF).

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there is great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach. In the first part, the recommendations regarding diagnosis were presented, such as sampling and cut-off points, as well as microbiological considerations for susceptibility study and management of UTI in pediatrics. This second part details the management of complications, UTI in special situations, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of antimicrobials to be prescribed in UTI.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 1: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology]. / Recomendaciones para diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección del tracto urinario en pediatría. Parte 1: Grupo de trabajo asociado al Comité de Antimicrobianos, Sociedad Chilena de Infectología (SOCHINF).

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach. In the first part, the recommendations regarding diagnosis are presented, such as sampling and cut-off points, as well as microbiological considerations for susceptibility study and management of UTI in pediatrics. The second part details the management of complications, UTI in special situations, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of antimicrobials to be prescribed in UTI.

Recomendaciones para diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección del tracto urinario en pediatría. Parte 1: Grupo de trabajo asociado al Comité de Antimicrobianos, Sociedad Chilena de Infectología (SOCHINF) / Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 1: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology

Resumen La infección del tracto urinario (ITU) es una de las infecciones bacterianas más frecuentes en la infancia. Un adecuado diagnóstico es esencial para poder realizar un tratamiento racional, eficiente y eficaz; sin embargo, existe gran heterogeneidad en los métodos diagnósticos, específicamente en el estudio de la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana. El objetivo de estas recomendaciones es entregar herramientas para uniformar los criterios diagnósticos, el estudio de susceptibilidad bacteriana in vitro y el tratamiento antimicrobiano de la ITU en la población pediátrica, con un enfoque de uso racional de los antimicrobianos. En esta primera parte, se presentan las recomendaciones en cuanto a cómo obtener una adecuada muestra de orina, el diagnóstico de laboratorio incluyendo puntos de corte -unidades formadoras de colonias/mL de orina-, además de consideraciones microbiológicas para el estudio de susceptibilidad y finalmente, el manejo de la ITU en pediatría. En la segunda parte se detalla el tratamiento antimicrobiano de sus complicaciones, el manejo de ITU en situaciones especiales y consideraciones farmacocinéticas y farmacodinámicas de los antimicrobianos a indicar en ITU.

Abstract The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach. In the first part, the recommendations regarding diagnosis are presented, such as sampling and cut-off points, as well as microbiological considerations for susceptibility study and management of UTI in pediatrics. The second part details the management of complications, UTI in special situations, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of antimicrobials to be prescribed in UTI.

[Acute pancreatitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a pediatric patient]. / Pancreatitis aguda asociada a infección por SARS-CoV-2 en un paciente pediátrico.

INTRODUCTION: The recent discovery of SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19 which affects different organs and systems, mainly the respiratory one, representing a new challenge for physicians. Pancreatic affection is barely described, with only a few cases reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: to communicate a case of acute pancreatitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, to contribute to the knowledge of this new virus and its possible forms of presentation. CLINICAL CASE: An eleven-year-old male adolescent, with no history of contact with people confirmed or suspected of COVID-19, was admitted to the hospital with a 3-day history of periumbilical and epigastric abdominal pain, vomiting, and absence of stools, with no other symptoms. The laboratory tests showed increased pancreatic enzymes. Com puted tomography was compatible with acute edematous pancreatitis, without signs of biliary patho logy, diagnosing acute pancreatitis, at the same time that SARS-CoV-2 was isolated in the respiratory tract. Other possible differential diagnoses and history of epidemiological contact were ruled out. The patient was managed in the Critical Patient Unit with support measures. He evolved favorably, without respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection can be associated with atypical presentations, including acute pancreatitis. The physiopathological mechanism of pancreatic damage is not yet clear. Physicians should be aware of the COVID-19 involvement of other systems, beyond the respiratory one.

Caracterización clínica y microbiológica de episodios de bacteriemia por Streptococcus grupo viridans en niños con cáncer y neutropenia febril de alto riesgo / Clinical characteristics and microbiological profile of viridans group streptococci bacteremia in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia

Resumen Introducción: Streptococcus grupo viridans (SGV) ha adquirido relevancia como microorganismo causante de neutropenia febril, asociándose a morbilidad significativa. Objetivo: Caracterizar episodios de bacteriemia causados por SGV en niños con cáncer que desarrollaron neutropenia febril de alto riesgo (NFAR) desde abril de 2004 a junio de 2018 en seis hospitales pediátricos de Santiago, Chile. Pacientes y Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de bases de datos de cuatro proyectos FONDECYT sucesivos, prospectivos y multicéntricos, registrando características clínicas y de laboratorio de los pacientes, además de patrón de resistencia antimicrobiana de las cepas aisladas. Resultados: Se registraron 95 episodios de bacteriemia asociada a SGV en 91 niños con NFAR. Destacan: leucemia mieloide aguda como enfermedad de base, neutropenia profunda, hospitalización prolongada (15 días), uso extendido de antimicrobianos (14 días), uso de citarabina en esquemas de quimioterapia (86% episodios). Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes fueron respiratoria y gastrointestinal, asociándose en 26% a síndrome de shock por Streptococcus grupo viridans. Hubo elevada resistencia a β lactámicos, sin cepas no susceptibles a vancomicina. Discusión: SGV es un patógeno relevante en niños con cáncer, fiebre y neutropenia en nuestro medio, asociado a casos de sepsis. La resistencia a β lactámicos es un aspecto que requiere vigilancia epidemiológica estricta en esta población.

Abstract Background: Viridans group streptococci (VGS) has acquired relevance as a microorganism causing febrile neutropenia, associated with significant morbidity. Aim: To characterize episodes of bacteremia caused by VGS in children with cancer who developed high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN) during the period from April 2004 to June 2018 in six pediatric hospitals of Santiago, Chile. Method: Database analysis of 4 successive, prospective and multicentric studies recording clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated strains. Results: 95 episodes of VGS bacteremia in 91 children with HRFN were analyzed. It emphasizes acute myeloid leukemia as cancer type, deep neutropenia, prolonged hospitalization (15 days), with extended use of antimicrobials (14 days) and use of cytarabine in chemotherapy schemes (86% episodes). The most frequent clinical manifestations were respiratory and gastrointestinal, associating up to 26% viridans group shock syndrome. There was high resistance to β lactams. As expected, there were not non-susceptible strains to vancomycin. Discussion: VGS is a relevant microorganism in children with cancer, fever and neutropenia, with a high percentage of sepsis. Resistance to β lactams is an issue that requires strict epidemiological surveillance in this population.

[Clinical characteristics and microbiological profile of viridans group streptococci bacteremia in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia]. / Caracterización clínica y microbiológica de episodios de bacteriemia por Streptococcus grupo viridans en niños con cáncer y neutropenia febril de alto riesgo.

BACKGROUND: Viridans group streptococci (VGS) has acquired relevance as a microorganism causing febrile neutropenia, associated with significant morbidity. AIM: To characterize episodes of bacteremia caused by VGS in children with cancer who developed high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN) during the period from April 2004 to June 2018 in six pediatric hospitals of Santiago, Chile. METHOD: Database analysis of 4 successive, prospective and multicentric studies recording clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated strains. RESULTS: 95 episodes of VGS bacteremia in 91 children with HRFN were analyzed. It emphasizes acute myeloid leukemia as cancer type, deep neutropenia, prolonged hospitalization (15 days), with extended use of antimicrobials (14 days) and use of cytarabine in chemotherapy schemes (86% episodes). The most frequent clinical manifestations were respiratory and gastrointestinal, associating up to 26% viridans group shock syndrome. There was high resistance to ß lactams. As expected, there were not non-susceptible strains to vancomycin. DISCUSSION: VGS is a relevant microorganism in children with cancer, fever and neutropenia, with a high percentage of sepsis. Resistance to ß lactams is an issue that requires strict epidemiological surveillance in this population.