The impact of screening for tuberculosis exposure in the household in children with tuberculosis disease: A difficult riddle to solve.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) infection is transmitted by sharing the same airway with people with active TB. Children are often not considered the source of TB bacilli, and index case investigation is carried out after diagnosis. Here, we describe the impact of the presence of a household index case on childhood TB disease. METHODS: The data of patients aged between 1 month and 18 years who were diagnosed with TB were collected. We compared patients according to whether they had an index case in the household or not. RESULTS: A total of 202 TB patients were enrolled, of whom 62 (30.7%) had a household index case. There was no significant difference in having a household index case between TB patients under the age of five (23.3%) and older children (33.8%) (p = .140). Pulmonary TB was present in 61.4% of the cases, and extrapulmonary TB was present in 38.6% of the cases. The rate of patients who had a household index case was significantly higher in pulmonary TB (46.8%) compared to extrapulmonary TB (5.1%) (p < .001). Pulmonary TB patients with a history of household contact were more likely to have diagnostic radiological findings (93.1%) compared to those without (75.8%) (p = .009). However, pulmonary TB patients without household contact history had a higher rate of diagnostic microbiological findings (59.1%) and constitutional symptoms (63.6%) (p = .019 and p = .013, respectively). CONCLUSION: Household contact research is an important epidemiological tool. However, considering the contact rates in the household, new and more comprehensive public health programs are required to prevent the spread of childhood tuberculosis.

Comparative Analysis of Pediatric Brucellosis Cases With and Without Bacteremia.

Introduction: Brucellosis, which is among the endemic regions of Turkey, is a common zoonotic disease. The gold standard in diagnosing brucellosis is culture. We aimed to compare demographic characteristics, risk factors, and clinical and laboratory variables between cases with culture positivity and undetected in culture. Materials and Methods: This single-center study was conducted between January 2007 and April 2022. Clinical and laboratory data of patients with brucella growth in blood culture and patients without growth were compared. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in the study. The median age was 10 (1-18 years). Of the patients, 66 (44%) were female and 84 (56%) were male. Forty (26.7%) of the patients were bacteremic and 110 (73.3%) were nonbacteremic. In the bacteremic group, white blood cell count, platelet, and hemoglobin counts were lower, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values were higher. In clinical evaluation, fever, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and abdominal pain were more common in the bacteremic group. Conclusion: The distinction between bacteremic and nonbacteremic brucellosis can be predicted using laboratory values such as white blood cells, hemoglobin counts, platelet, ALT, and AST, and clinical findings such as fever, abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly.

COVID-19 in hospitalized infants aged under 3 months: multi-center experiences across Turkey.

To investigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in infants aged 0 to 3 months because there is currently a significant gap in the literature on the subject. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the involvement of 19 medical centers across Turkey and 570 infants. The majority of the patients were male (58.2%), and the three most common symptoms were fever (78.2%), cough (44.6%), and feeding intolerance (39.9%). The results showed that a small percentage of infants had positive blood (0.9%) or urine cultures (10.2%). Most infants presented with fever (78.2%). Children without underlying conditions (UCs) had mostly a complicated respiratory course and a normal chest radiography. Significant more positive urine culture rates were observed in infants with fever. A higher incidence of respiratory support requirements and abnormal chest findings were seen in infants with chronic conditions. These infants also had a longer hospital stay than those without chronic conditions.  Conclusions: Our study discloses the clinical observations and accompanying bacterial infections found in infants aged under 3 months with COVID-19. These findings can shed light on COVID-19 in infancy for physicians because there is limited clinical evidence available. What is Known: • COVID-19 in infants and older children has been seen more mildly than in adults. • The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in infants are fever and cough, as in older children and adults. COVID-19 should be one of the differential diagnoses in infants with fever. What is New: • Although most infants under three months had fever, the clinical course was uneventful and respiratory complications were rarely observed in healthy children. • Infants with underlying conditions had more frequent respiratory support and abnormal chest radiography and stayed longer in the hospital.

A hidden burden of disease in a specific group: Evaluation of COVID-19 seroconversion rates in pediatric patients with leukemia.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, a respiratory viral disease, is thought to have a more severe course in patients with malignancy and low immune systems. METHODS: This prospective single-center study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital from September 22 to December 31, 2021. Asymptomatic COVID-19 transmission rates were assessed using SARS-CoV-2 serology in patients with leukemia who had no history of COVID-19 infection. RESULTS: Among the 54 patients, 19 (35.2%) were females and 35 (64.8%) were males. The median age was 5.5 years (min 6 months, max 17 years). Forty-nine (90.5%) of the leukemia patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, while 5 (9.5%) had acute myeloid leukemia. Five of the 54 patients had a history of COVID-19 or contact with a positive person. SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity was detected in 18 (36.7%) of 49 patients with no history of COVID-19 infection. DISCUSSION: Leukemia patients have a high seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 without showing any symptoms supporting the asymptomatic course of COVID-19 infection in this risk group. CONCLUSION: As a result, patients with leukemia may have a high rate of COVID-19 seroconversion without showing symptoms.

The impact of the BIOFIRE® Blood Culture Identification 2 Panel on antimicrobial treatment of children with suspected systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis.

This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of implementing the BioFire® Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2) Panel (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) in the clinical practice of children with sepsis. This retrospective cross-sectional study included children from 15 days of age to 18 years old with sepsis and of whom the BCID2 Panel was studied from the positive blood culture. If the antimicrobial treatment was changed according to the results of BCID2 Panel, it was recorded and re-grouped as targeted antimicrobial therapy, de-escalation of the antimicrobial treatment and shifting to another antimicrobial drug if any antimicrobial resistance was detected. Seven-days and thirty-days mortality rate was recorded. Thirty-two patients with 36 septic episodes with positive BCID2 Panel results were included. The median age was 10 months 15 days (ranging from 15 days to 16.5 years). The mean difference between having positive results by the BCID2 Panel and conventional culture methods was 82.2 ± 45.4 h (ranging from 12.3 to 207 h). Effect of the BCID2 Panel on the antimicrobial treatment was detected in 69.4% of the episodes (n = 25). Glycopeptides were ceased at 6 patients, piperacillin/tazobactam was ceased at 6 patients, and cefotaxime was ceased at one patient and de-escalation was achieved in 13 episodes which formed the 36.1% of the initial antimicrobial treatment.   Conclusion: The BCID2 Panel had an important impact on the patients care and optimization according to the principles of antimicrobial stewardship. The BCID2 Panel may be one of the key items for rapid and accurate diagnosis in children with sepsis. Blood culture is still the mainstay for especially detection of antimicrobial drug resistance, while BCID2 tests had several advantages such as speed and diagnostic accuracy as good as blood culture. What is Known: • The BioFire® Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2) Panel (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) is a well-validated assay that allows for the simultaneous identification of 43 nucleic acid targets associated with bloodstream infections within about 1 h. What is New: • BCID2 Panel had a direct impact on the patient's treatment decision at the 69.4% of the sepsis episodes. • The clinicians received the microbiological results 82.2 h earlier with BCID2 panel compared to blood culture methods with antimicrobial resistance and de-escalation of the antimicrobial drugs was achieved at 13 episodes which formed the 36.1% of the initial treatment.

Risk of tuberculosis in children with rheumatologic diseases treated with biological agents: A cross-sectional cohort study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the risk of tuberculosis (TB) disease in children receiving biological agents for rheumatologic diseases, focusing on appropriate screening tests in a high-priority country for TB control. Patients and methods: One hundred nine children (56 females, 53 males; range, 3.4 to 16.2 years) who received any biological agent for rheumatologic diseases for more than two years between May 2012 and October 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were screened for TB infection using tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). Following the initial evaluation, patients were clinically examined for TB every three months by a comprehensive medical history and physical examination, and every 12 months using TST or IGRA. Results: At the initiation of the biological agent, the patients' mean age was 12.4±4.5 years. The average follow-up duration was 3.6±1.3 years (range, 2.6 to 10.2 years) for patients treated with biological agents. Each patient had a documented Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination. Before the initiating of therapy, TST was performed alone in 45 (41.3%) patients and in combination with IGRA in 64 (58.7%) patients. In the 64 patients who underwent both TST and IGRA, IGRA revealed nine (14.1%) positive results. Six (66.7%) of these nine patients, however, had negative baseline TST. Four (7.3%) of the 55 individuals whose initial IGRA results were negative also had positive TST results. Overall, no TB disease was observed after a follow-up period. Conclusion: This study reveals that biological agents were not associated with an increased risk of TB disease in closely monitored children. Additionally, the concomitant use of TST and IGRA for screening of TB is reasonable in patients receiving biological agents.

Readmission reasons of pediatric patients diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome after discharge.

Objectives: There is no clear information in the literature about causes of reactivation of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or indications for readmissions for MIS-C after discharge; as a result, the conditions that may develop after infection in children with MIS-C were discussed, and the reasons for hospitalization were screened. Patients and methods: This single-center retrospective study was conducted with 95 patients (65 males, 30 females; mean age: 92.8±55.5 months; range, 5 to 17 months) between November 11, 2020, and December 30, 2021. Children who were rehospitalized in the study center after their discharge with the diagnosis of MIS-C were included in the study, and the indications for readmissions were evaluated. Results: During the study period, six (6.3%) patients (4 males, 2 females; median age: 114.5 months [interquartile range: 122 months]) had to be rehospitalized. Four of these patients had an underlying disease, while the other two were previously healthy children. Fever was the most common reason for readmissions in half of the patients, while the remaining patients were readmitted with the indications of myocarditis, pneumonia, and posttraumatic pain syndrome. Conclusion: Although no evidence for the reactivation of MIS-C was detected in patients in the literature, it should also be emphasized that close follow-up of these patients is a must, considering possible cardiac complications.

Perianal abscess in children: an evaluation of microbiological etiology and the effectiveness of antibiotics.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics of children with perianal abscess, distribution of microbiological etiology, antibiotic susceptibility, and identify the effectiveness and coverage of antibiotics due to culture results. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to evaluate pediatric patients with perianal abscesses between January 2013 and December 2022. RESULTS: A total of 197 episodes in 135 patients were evaluated. The median age of the patients was 10 months (22 days-17 years). The isolated microorganisms were Gram-positive bacteria in 56 (28.4%) patients and Gram-negative bacteria in 141 (71.6%) patients. The most common isolated species was Escherichia coli (n = 70, 35.5%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (n = 48, 24.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 37, 18.9%), and Enterobacter spp. (n = 9, 4.5%). Forthy-two percent (n = 58) of isolates were positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, 8% (n = 11) were carbapenem-resistant in Gram-negative bacteria, and 37.5% (n = 21) were methicillin-resistant, 7.1% (n = 4) were vancomycin-resistant in Gram-positive bacteria. According to bacterial culture results, ertapenem plus glycopeptide had the highest antimicrobial coverage rate (92.3%), followed by ertapenem plus clindamycin (89.8%), ertapenem (81.7%), third-generation cephalosporin plus glycopeptide (82.2%), third-generation cephalosporin plus clindamycin (69.5%). CONCLUSION: Ertapenem can be a good choice in the empirical treatment of perianal abscesses in children due to its high coverage rate.

Follow-Up of Cases with the Telemedicine Method During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Alternative Strategy for Reduction of Hospital Workload and Hospital-Related Transmissions.

Background: This study evaluated the effect of telemedicine use in children with COVID-19 to reduce the workload of health care facilities. Methods: This study was conducted at Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital between October and December 2020. The complaints of the children who were called because of positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2-PCR were questioned and also the duration of talk was recorded. Children were classified according to their symptoms. Cases with severe symptoms were invited to the hospital and were hospitalized according to their clinical findings. Results: The median age of 506 patients reached was 10.8 ± 5.5. Phone calls lasted <3 min in 498 (98.6%) cases. Only 33 (6.5%) patients with severe symptoms were invited to the hospital, and 6 (18.2%) of these cases were hospitalized. Conclusion: During the pandemic, interviews with patients through telephone may help to reduce the patient burden and to prevent the contact of healthy individuals.

Which Findings Make multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Different from the Pre-Pandemic Kawasaki Disease?

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children associated with COVID-19 infection attracted attention because some features overlapped with Kawasaki disease. And due to these overlapping features with Kawasaki disease, it has become difficult to diagnose both disorders. Therefore, this study focused on the differences between the patients diagnosed with MIS-C after COVID-19 and Kawasaki patients analyzed, particularly during the pre-pandemic period. In this way, it is aimed to reduce the dilemmas experienced in Diagnosis. In this descriptive study, 98 patients diagnosed with MIS-C throughout the pandemic were compared to 37 patients diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease during the pre-pandemic period.The patients in the MIS-C group were older children and clinically suffered from more headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and chest pain than Kawasaki patients. Signs of shock such as hypotension and tachycardia were more remarkable. Also, myocarditis and mitral regurgitation were detected at a higher rate in the MIS-C group. Besides, in the laboratory, lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and creatinine elevation were more apparent.In conclusion, our present study findings support that although the MIS-C and Kawasaki share common features, they present with different clinical and laboratory features. And these differences are thought to be supportive in treatment and patient management.

The Evaluation of Troponin I Levels and Myocarditis in Children with COVID-19: A Pediatric Single-Center Experience.

Children with COVID-19 usually show milder symptoms than adults; however, a minority of them may have cardiac involvement. We aimed to identify the role of troponin I levels that may predict early cardiac involvement in children with COVID-19. A single-center retrospective study was conducted to evaluate hospitalized children diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 11, 2020, and December 31, 2021. Patients with available troponin I levels and with no known cardiac disease were included. During the study period, 412 children with COVID-19 who had troponin I levels on admission were identified. Troponin levels were elevated in 7 (1.7%) patients and were normal in 395 (98.3%) patients. The median age of patients with elevated troponin levels was 4 (min. 2-max. 144) months, which was statistically lower than the age of patients with normal troponin levels (P = 0.035). All the patients with elevated troponin levels had tachycardia. Out of 7 patients with high troponin levels, 3 (42.9%) of them were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), 2 (28.6%) required oxygen support, and 1 (14.3%) required a mechanical ventilator. Patients with elevated troponin levels had a statistically longer hospital stay (P < 0.001). Neutropenia, tachycardia, PICU admission, oxygen support, and mechanical ventilation were statistically more common in patients with elevated troponin levels (P values were 0.033, 0.020, < 0.001, 0.050, and < 0.001, respectively). Electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO) were performed on all patients with elevated troponin levels, and 6 (85.8%) patients were diagnosed with myocarditis. The ECG and ECHO have been performed in 58 (14.3%) out of 405 patients with normal troponin levels. Two (3.5%) patients had negative T waves on ECG, and all ECHOs were normal. Our results suggest that elevated troponin I levels in children with COVID-19 can be used to evaluate cardiac involvement and decide the need for further pediatric cardiologist evaluation.

Multiple thrombi in a child diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 treated with cardiac surgery.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized predominantly by respiratory symptoms but may affect all systems, and it has been associated with thrombosis in adults. Case series investigating the COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children have reported high fibrinogen and D-dimer levels; however, it is not known whether this causes thrombophilia. Herein, we report a previously healthy 13-year-old male patient who had multiple thromboses associated with COVID-19, which occurred during long-term follow-up and was successfully treated with cardiac surgery. We want to emphasize that the long-term effects of COVID-19 are not yet known and that the follow-up of these cases should be continued.

Evaluation of childhood hospitalization rates and degree of severity of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.315/P.1 (Beta/Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is reappearing with an increasing number of variants every day; this study aimed to determine the effect of B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants on hospitalization rates. This single-center study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital from March 11 to August 27, 2021. Variant analyses of symptomatic patients admitted to the hospital who were found to be positive for COVID 19 PCR was performed. Out of 680 cases, 329 (48.4%) were B.1.1.7 variant, 17 (2.5%) were B.1.351/P.1 variant, and 165 (24.2%) were B.1.617.2 variant. One hundred and sixty-nine (24.9%) case variant analysis results were negative. The hospitalization rate of patients with the B.1.617.2 variant was 19.4%, the B.1.351/P.1 variant was 18%, the B.1.1.7 variant was 9.4%, and the negative variant was 10.1%. The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, which has become widespread all over the world recently, increases the rate of hospitalization in children.

Evaluation for Metastatic Candida Focus and Mortality at Candida-associated Catheter-related Bloodstream Infections at the Pediatric Hematology-oncology Patients.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia and Candida-associated catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are the significant cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with malignancy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis including all pediatric hematologic/oncologic malignancies patients with CRBSIs treated in Dr. Behçet Uz Children Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital between the period of 2009 and 2020. RESULTS: During the study period, 53 children with CRBSIs associated with Candida species were included. The most common malignancy was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (45.3%) and acute myeloid leukemia (15.1%). A total of 56 Candida isolates were present including non-albicans Candida species (80.4%) and Candida albicans (19.6%). The most common isolated Candida species was Candida parapsilosis (42.9%) and followed by C. albicans (19.6%). The ratio of azole prophylaxis was significantly higher in patients with the non-albicans Candida group (P=0.031). Candida-related endocarditis (vegetation) was present in 2 (3.8%) patients, and the overall rate of hepatosplenic candidiasis was 3.8%. Seven days Candida attributable mortality was 7.5% (4 patients) and 30 days Candida attributable mortality was 11.3% (6 patients). The Candida species responsible for the Candida-related deaths were as following: Candida tropicalis (n=3), C. parapsilosis (n=2), and C. lusitanae (n=1). CONCLUSION: In pediatric cancer patients with Candida-associated CRBSIs, evaluation of the patient for organ involvement including liver and spleen ultrasonography and cardiac involvement with echocardiography are essential regardless of the patients' clinical picture.

Bloodstream infections due to Trichosporon species in paediatric patients: Results from the first national study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Invasive Trichosporon infections are rarely seen opportunistic fungal infections in children and mainly affect immunocompromised patients. This multicenter retrospective study has rewieved the characteristics, risk factors, treatment modalities and outcomes of bloodstream infections caused by Trichosporon species in children diagnosed over the past ten years in Turkey. METHODS: The study was performed with the participation of 12 of 55 hospitals invited from Turkey. In each center, the patients with bloodstream infections caused by Trichosporon spp. between January 2010 and December 2020 were retrospectively ascertained and the results were reported to the study coordinator by means of a simple case report. Data were collected on patient demographics, underlying condition(s), treatment of.infections caused by Trichosporon spp, and 7 and 30- day mortality rates. RESULTS: A total of 28 cases with fungemia caused by Trichosporon spp. were included in the study. The most common underlying disease was paediatric cancers (39.3%). T. asahii infections were detected in 78.5 % (n=22) of patients. A various spectrum of antifungal treatment regimens were used including intravenous amphotericin B monotherapy in 35.7%, intravenous amphotericin B and voriconazole combination in 32.1% and intravenous voriconazole monotherapy in 28.6% of the patients. The overall mortality rate was 28.5 %. The mortality rates were 12.5% in the voricanozole, 30% in the amphotericin B and 33.3% in combined voriconazole -amphotericin B arms CONCLUSIONS: Invasive Trichosporon infections with an important impact of patients quality of life are almost related to underlying diseases with an overall mortality rate of 28.5%. Voriconazole was found to be associated with lower mortality rates when compared with other treatment regimens.

Mucocutaneous Findings of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A Single-Center Experience.

This descriptive study aimed to evaluate the frequency and the types of mucocutaneous manifestations associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). A cohort of 49 patients was reviewed. There were 6 patients (12.2%) whose mucocutaneous findings were observed by the clinicians on admission, whereas 26 (53%) patients had at least one of the histories of rash or desquamation associated with fever before the admission. Exanthems in our experience demonstrated a variety of morphologies, including morbilliform, urticarial, petechial, and maculopapular forms. Mucosal involvement (conjunctivitis and strawberry tongue) was observed only in 2/6 (34%) patients. In the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era, while evaluating the criteria for MIS-C, the history of previous cutaneous findings given by parents/caregivers is also important. There was no pathognomonic rash for MIS-C and a variety of cutaneous findings with a short lifespan can be associated with MIS-C.

Can laboratory findings predict pulmonary involvement in children with COVID-19 infection?

BACKGROUND: Studies investigating clinical and imaging findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and predictors for lung injury mostly focus on adults. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of laboratory findings in predicting lung involvement in children with COVID-19. METHODS: Children with COVID-19 confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction or COVID-19 IgM and who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed retrospectively. Admission absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), ANC/ALC ratio, platelet count, D-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase levels were compared in patients with normal and abnormal CT scans. RESULTS: A total of 101 children were included. Among the patients, 68 (67.3%) had normal CT scans, and 33 (32.7%) had pulmonary involvement. The median CRP, ferritin, and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in children with abnormal CT findings. The model of binary logistic regression based on the presence of cough, shortness of breath, fibrinogen, ferritin, and CRP levels showed that the possibility of having abnormal CT was 1.021 times more likely for every one unit increase in fibrinogen levels. CONCLUSION: Fibrinogen might be useful to predict pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 in children. Restricting radiological imaging to patients with significant symptoms and high fibrinogen levels might be helpful in children with COVID-19 infections.