Impact of the COVID-19 era on clinical presentation, management and microbiology in paediatric peritonsillar abscess: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common soft-tissue infection of the head and neck. This potential complication of tonsillitis has demonstrated unique microbial trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. This era has resulted in a major shift in the hygiene and social habits of the general population, which has resulted in changes in the presentation, management and microbiology of several infectious diseases. To date, the impact of COVID 19 on PTA microbiology and clinical presentation in the paediatric population has yet to be investigated. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review comparing all cases of paediatric (age 0-18) PTA in an academic tertiary centre during the COVID-19 pandemic (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to two control groups: pre-COVID (03/2018-02/2020) and post-COVID (03/2022-03/2023). All patients were treated with either needle aspiration, incision and drainage or both means in addition to intravenous antibiotics. SETTING: A large Ear Nose and Throat department in a tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive children aged 18 years or under, admitted with a diagnosis of Peritonsillar abscess. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We analyzed the clinical and microbiologcal features of all cases of pediatric peritonsillar abscess during the COVID-19 era (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to a pre and post control cases. RESULTS: A total of 96 PTA cases were included (35 pre-COVID, 35 COVID and 26 post-COVID). The means of procedural treatment shifted in favour of incision and drainage versus needle aspiration during the COVID era. The length of hospitalisation increased during the COVID era (3.6 days vs. 2.1 and 3.1 pre and post-COVID respectively, p < .001). No other notable differences in the clinical and demographic features were found between the three eras. The COVID-19 era saw an increase in Fusobacterium (37.1% vs. 8.6% and 24% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .008) and Streptococcus Anginosus (31.4% vs. 5.7% and 7.7% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .007) species isolation. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to impact the clinical presentation of paediatric PTA yet resulted in a change in microbiological pathogens. The choice of I&D as a means to shorten hospital stay during the pandemic may have led to an actual increase in hospital stay, suggesting that NA may be the preferred management approach.

Acute otitis media in the first two months of life and the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Information on pneumococcal vaccination's impact on the prevention of acute otitis media (AOM) at very young ages is limited. OBJECTIVES: To define the trends in tympanocentesis-proven AOM incidence, clinical characteristics, microbiology, and antibiotic resistance in infants <2 months of age in southern Israel, before and after the sequential introduction of 7- and 13-valent PCVs. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study including children <2 months of age diagnosed with AOM at the pediatric emergency room between January 2005-Decmber 2009 (pre-vaccination group, group 1) and January 2013-July 2021 (post-PCV13 introduction, group 2). RESULTS: 160 patients were enrolled, 89 (55.6%) in group 1 and 71 (44.4%) in group 2. The mean incidence of AOM decreased from 1.2 cases/1000 live births for group 1 to 0.45 cases/1000 live births for group 2, P < 0.001.130 (81.25%) patients were hospitalized, with higher hospitalization rates in group 1 vs. group 2 (84/89, 94% vs. 46/71, 65%, P < 0.001). Hospitalization length was longer in group 1 vs. group 2 (4.07 ± 4.09 days vs. 2.70 ± 1.82 days, P = 0.021). Positive MEF cultures were reported in 94/160 (58.75%) patients, with a decrease in positivity rates between the 2 groups (71/89, 80% vs. 23/71, 32%, P < 0.001). S. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen (55/94, 58.5%); it was the most frequent pathogen isolated in group 1 (46/71, 65%), and the second most common pathogen in group 2 (9/23, 39%), P = 0.03. A significant increase was recorded in the percentages of patients with negative MEF cultures (from 21% to 68%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction and implementation of PCV13 in southern Israel was associated with a decrease in AOM in children <2 months of age and of S. pneumoniae recovery in these patients and was accompanied by less admissions and shorter hospitalizations. An increase in the proportions of negative bacterial cultures from MEF was recorded during the study period.

Cesarean section in the second stage of labor is associated with early-term and late preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine in a population-based cohort study the association between cesarean section (CS) during the second stage of labor and the risk for preterm birth and/or cervical insufficiency in the subsequent pregnancy; to identify maternal and neonatal risk factors for long-term complications following CS due to prolonged second stage of labor. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study including women who had at least one consecutive delivery following a CS at our institution from 1991 to 2018, provided that the first delivery was at term. We divided the study cohort into two groups: (1) women who delivered by CS due to failure to progress during the first stage of labor (n = 1068); and (2) those who delivered by CS due to arrest of descent at the second stage of labor (n = 603). RESULTS: Of the 120,147 women who met the inclusion criteria, 78,407 had a subsequent delivery during the study period. Women of group 1 were significantly older than those of group 2 (p = .018), and had a higher rate of assisted reproductive technology [61 (5.7%) vs. 18 (3.1%), p < .022,]. Additionally, their hospitalization period was significantly longer (p < .001). The rate of preterm birth in the subsequent delivery was higher among women who had a CS due to arrest of descent than those who had a CS due to arrest in dilatation [43 (7.3%) vs 49 (4.6%), p < .026]. This was confirmed after adjusting for confounding factors In a multivariable regression analysis (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.14-2.76, p value = .011) A Cox regression analysis implying gestational age at delivery at the time factor identifies CS due to arrest of descent as a risk factor for subsequent preterm birth (Hazard ratio 1.19 95% CI 1.07-1.31). CONCLUSION: CS due to arrest of descent is an independent risk factor for subsequent preterm birth. The exact mechanisms contributing to this association are yet to be determined. SYNOPSIS: Cesarean section during the second stage of labor is an independent risk factor for late preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy when compared to cesarean section in the first stage of labor.

Post-operative clinical course in children undergoing mastoidectomy due to complicated acute mastoiditis.

PURPOSE: To determine the immediate post-operative course and outcome of pediatric patients with complicated acute mastoiditis (CAM) following surgical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children diagnosed with CAM who underwent mastoid surgery during 2012-2019 in a tertiary care university hospital. 33 patients, divided into 2 groups: 17 patients with sub-periosteal abscess (SPA) alone-single complication group (SCG) and 16 patients with SPA and additional complications: sigmoid sinus thrombosis (SST), peri-sinus fluid/abscess, epidural/subdural abscess, and acute meningitis-multiple complications group (MCG). RESULTS: 33 patients belong to the SCG 17(51%) and 16(49%) belonged to the MCG, respectively. 6/17(35.3%) SCG patients experienced POF vs. 12/16(75%) in the MCG (P = 0.012). At post-operative day 2 (POD2), 10/13(77%) febrile patients belonged to MCG and 3/13(23%) to SCG (P = 0.013). POF was recorded until POD6 in both groups. Seven patients, all from MCG with POF, underwent second imaging with no new findings; a total of 18 positive cultures were reported. Fusobacterium necrophorum counted for 8/18(44.5%) of all positive cultures, 7/9(77.8%) in the MCG vs. 1/9(11.1%) in the SCG, P = 0.004. Streptococcus pneumoniae was reported only in SCG (5/9, 55.5%, vs. 0/9, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Post-mastoidectomy fever due to CAM is not unusual and seems to be a benign condition for the first 5-6 days, following surgery. MCG patients are more prone to develop POF. F. necrophorum is more likely to be associated with MCG, and S. pneumoniae is common in SCG patients.

Impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on acute mastoiditis in children in southern Israel: A 12-year retrospective comparative study (2005-2016).

OBJECTIVES: To define the trends in acute mastoiditis (AM) incidence, microbiology, complications and management in children, before and after the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PVC13) introduction. METHODS: Medical records of all AM patients <15 years of age diagnosed during 2005-2016 were reviewed. The study years were divided into three periods: pre-vaccination (2005-2008), interim (2009-2011) and post-PCV13 vaccination (2012-2016). RESULTS: 238 patients (53.4% males) were enrolled, 81, 56 and 101 in the 3 time periods, respectively. Overall, 177/238 (75.2%) of children were <5 years of age. Mean AM incidence in the whole population was 10.32/100,000, with no changes during the study years. Ninety-three (45.6%) of 204 evaluable patients had positive middle ear fluid/mastoid cultures; S. pneumoniae (SP) was isolated in 47/93 (50.5%) cases. Mean incidence of SP-AM during the study years was 2.49 cases/100,000. A trend for decrease in mean incidence of SP-AM was recorded between the pre and the post-vaccination periods (3.05/100,000 vs. 1.82/100,000, P = 0.069). Among patients <5 years, SP-AM rates decreased from pre to post-vaccination period (19/50, 38% vs. 15/73, 20.6%, P = 0.034). No changes were reported in percentages of culture negative-AM and of AM complications in the post-PCV13 period compared with the pre-vaccine period. A significant decrease in distribution of PCV13 serotypes was recorded (17/19, 89.5% vs. 8/12, 66.6% and vs. 7/16, 43.75% during the 3 study periods, P = 0.015) accompanied by a complementary increase in non-vaccine serotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of PCV13 was accompanied by a significant decrease in SP-AM cases among children <5 years of age. PCV13 serotypes decreased significantly as etiologic agents of SP-AM while non-vaccine serotypes and culture negative-AM became more common in the postvaccination period.

Novel MTMR2 mutation causing severe Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4B1 disease: a case report.

Mutations in myotubularin-related protein 2 (MTMR2) were shown to underlie Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4B1 (CMT4B1) disease, a rare autosomal recessive demyelinating neuropathy, characterized by severe early-onset motor and sensory neuropathy. We describe three siblings of consanguineous kindred presenting with hypotonia, reduced muscle tone, action tremor, dysmetria, areflexia, and skeletal deformities, consistent with a diagnosis of CMT. Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel homozygous c.336_337 insertion mutation in MTMR2, resulting in a frameshift and putative truncated protein. In this concise report, we discuss the clinical presentation of this rare disease and support the limited number of observations regarding the pathogenesis of MTMR2-related neuropathies.