Remdesivir for COVID-19 in Hospitalized Children: A Phase 2/3 Study.

OBJECTIVES: Remdesivir decreases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection progressing to severe disease in adults. This study evaluated remdesivir safety and pharmacokinetics in infants and children. METHODS: This was a phase 2/3, open-label trial in children aged 28 days to 17 years hospitalized for polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants received for ≤10 days once-daily intravenous remdesivir doses defined using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling (for ≥40 kg, 200 mg day 1, then 100 mg/day; for age ≥28 days and ≥3 to <40 kg, 5 mg/kg day 1, then 2.5 mg/kg/day). Sparse pharmacokinetic samples were analyzed using population-pharmacokinetic approaches for remdesivir and metabolites GS-704277 and GS-441524. RESULTS: Among 53 participants, at enrollment the median (Q1, Q3) number of days of COVID-19 symptoms was 5 (3, 7) and hospitalization was 1 (1, 3). Underlying conditions included obesity in 19 (37%), asthma in 11 (21%), and cardiac disorders in 11 (21%). Median duration of remdesivir treatment was 5 days (range, 1-10). Remdesivir treatment had no new apparent safety trends. Two participants discontinued treatment because of adverse events including elevated transaminases; both had elevated transaminases at baseline. Three deaths occurred during treatment (and 1 after). When compared with phase 3 adult data, estimated mean pediatric parameters (area under the concentration-time curve over 1 dosing interval, AUCτ, Cmax, and Cτ) were largely overlapping but modestly increased (remdesivir, 33%-129%; GS-704277, 37%-124%; GS-441524, 0%-60%). Recovery occurred for 62% of participants on day 10 and 83% at last assessment. CONCLUSIONS: In infants and children with COVID-19, the doses of remdesivir evaluated provided drug exposure similar to adult dosing. In this study with a small sample size, no new safety concerns were observed.

Case Report: Disseminated Edwardsiella tarda infection in an immunocompromised patient.

Human infection caused by bacteria of the Edwardsiella genus is rare and most often presents with gastroenteritis that rarely requires antibiotics. Our case report describes a medically complex patient with chronic steroid use contributing to an immunocompromised state, who presented with fever and abdominal pain. The patient was later found to have Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) bacteremia and underwent paracentesis confirming E. tarda bacterial peritonitis requiring a prolonged antibiotic course. This case report aims to illustrate the presentation, diagnosis, and management of an uncommon infection that can have severe complications especially among immunocompromised patients.

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of dispersible and immediate-release abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine tablets in children with HIV (IMPAACT 2019): week 24 results of an open-label, multicentre, phase 1-2 dose-confirmation study.

BACKGROUND: Child-friendly fixed-dose combination (FDC) antiretroviral therapy (ART) options are limited. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of dispersible and immediate-release FDC abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine taken once per day in children younger than 12 years with HIV. METHODS: IMPAACT 2019 was an international, phase 1-2, multisite, open-label, non-comparative dose-confirmation study of abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine in children younger than 12 years. Participants were enrolled across five weight bands: those weighing 6 kg to less than 25 kg received abacavir (60 mg), dolutegravir (5 mg), and lamivudine (30 mg) dispersible tablets (three to six tablets depending on body weight), and those weighing 25 kg to less than 40 kg received abacavir (600 mg), dolutegravir (50 mg), and lamivudine (300 mg) in an immediate-release tablet. At entry, participants were ART naive or ART experienced and virologically suppressed on stable ART for 6 months or more. Dose confirmation was based on pharmacokinetic and safety criteria in the first five to seven participants in each weight band to week 4; all participants were followed up to week 48. We present the results for the primary objectives to assess pharmacokinetics, confirm dosing, and evaluate safety through 24 weeks across all weight bands. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03760458). FINDINGS: 57 children were enrolled and initiated study drug (26 [46%] female and 31 [54%] male; 37 [65%] Black, 18 [32%] Asian, and 1 [2%] had race reported as unknown). Within each weight band, 6 kg to less than 10 kg, 10 kg to less than 14 kg, 14 kg to less than 20 kg, 20 kg to less than 25 kg, and 25 kg or higher: the geometric mean dolutegravir area under the concentration time curve over the 24 h dosing interval (AUC0-24 h) was 75·9 h·µg/mL (33·7%), 91·0 h·µg/mL (36·5%), 71·4 h·µg/mL (23·5%), 84·4 h·µg/mL (26·3%), and 71·8 h·µg/mL (13·9%); dolutegravir concentrations 24 h after dosage (C24 h) were 0·91 µg/mL (67·6%), 1·22 µg/mL (77·5%), 0·79 µg/mL (44·2%), 1·35 µg/mL (95·5%), and 0·98 µg/mL (27·9%); abacavir AUC0-24 h was 17·7 h·µg/mL (38·8%), 19·8 h·µg/mL (50·6%), 15·1 h·µg/mL (40·3%), 17·4 h·µg/mL (19·4%), and 25·7 h·µg/mL (14·6%); lamivudine AUC0-24 h was 10·7 h·µg/mL (46·0%), 14·2 h·µg/mL (23·9%), 13·0 h·µg/mL (15·6%), 14·5 h·µg/mL (16·6%), and 21·7 h·µg/mL (26·2%), respectively. Pharmacokinetic targets and safety criteria were met within each weight band, and thus dosing of abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine was confirmed at the originally selected doses. 54 (95%) of participants were treatment experienced and all who continued taking the study drug remained virologically suppressed (<200 copies per mL) through week 24. Virological suppression was achieved in two of three participants who were ART naive by week 24. There were no grade 3 or higher adverse events related to abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine and no discontinuations because of toxicity to week 24. Both formulations were well tolerated. INTERPRETATION: Dosing of abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine was confirmed in children weighing 6 kg to less than 40 kg, and both FDC formulations were safe, well tolerated, and efficacious through 24 weeks of treatment. These findings support global efforts to expand the availability of FDC abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine to children with HIV. FUNDING: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, ViiV Healthcare, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Academic Health Centers and Humanitarian Crises: One Health System's Response to Unaccompanied Children at the Border.

University of California Health (UCH) provided a system-wide, rapid response to the humanitarian crisis of unaccompanied children crossing the southern U.S. border in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. In collaboration with multiple federal, state, and local agencies, UCH mobilized a multidisciplinary team to deliver acute general and specialty pediatric care to unaccompanied children at 2 Californian emergency intake sites (EISs). The response, which did not disrupt normal UCH operations, mobilized the capacities of the system and resulted in a safe and developmentally appropriate environment that supported the physical and mental health of migrant children during this traumatic period. The capacities of UCH's 6 academic health centers ensured access to trauma-informed medical care and culturally sensitive psychological and social support. Child life professionals provided access to exercise, play, and entertainment. Overall, 260 physicians, 42 residents and fellows, 4 nurse practitioners participated as treating clinicians and were supported by hundreds of staff across the 2 EISs. Over 5 months and across both EISs, a total of 4,911 children aged 3 to 17 years were cared for. A total of 782 children had COVID-19, most infected before arrival. Most children (3,931) were reunified with family or sponsors. Continuity of care after reunification or placement in a long-term shelter was enhanced by use of an electronic health record. The effort provided an educational experience for residents and fellows with instruction in immigrant health and trauma-informed care. The effort benefitted from UCH's recent experience of providing a system-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learned are reported to encourage the alignment and integration of academic health centers' capacities with federal, state, and local plans to better prepare for and respond to the accelerating need to care for those in the wake of disasters and humanitarian crises.

Effects of Initiating Raltegravir-Based Versus Efavirenz-Based Antiretroviral Regimens During Pregnancy on Weight Changes and Perinatal Outcomes: NICHD P1081.

BACKGROUND: Integrase inhibitors have been associated with excess gestational weight gain that may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). This post hoc analysis of NICHD P1081 compared antepartum changes in weight and body mass index (BMI) in pregnant women initiating raltegravir- or efavirenz-based combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and examined associations between rates of weight gain and APOs. SETTING: NICHD P1081 enrolled antiretroviral-naive pregnant women living with HIV in the second and third trimester in Brazil, Tanzania, South Africa, Thailand, Argentina, and the United States. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-one women enrolled between 20 and 31 gestational weeks were randomized to raltegravir- or efavirenz-based cART and followed for ≥4 weeks. A low rate of weight gain was defined as <0.18 kg/wk and high as >0.59 kg/wk. We compared weight gain and BMI increase between treatment arms using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between weight gain and APOs. RESULTS: Raltegravir-based cART was associated with significantly higher antepartum weight gain (median 0.36 kg/wk versus 0.29 kg/wk, P = 0.01) and BMI increase (median 0.14 kg/m 2 /wk versus 0.11 kg/m 2 /wk, P = 0.01) compared with efavirenz-based treatment. Women on raltegravir had less low weight gain (18% versus 36%) and more high weight gain (21% versus 12%) ( P = 0.001). Women with low weight gain were more likely than those with normal weight gain to have small for gestational age infants or a composite of APOs. CONCLUSIONS: A raltegravir-based antiretroviral regimen was associated with significantly higher antepartum rate of weight gain and BMI increase compared with efavirenz-based treatment in antiretroviral-naive pregnant women.

Forty-Eight Week Outcomes of a Site-Randomized Trial of Combined Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Medication Management Algorithm for Treatment of Depression Among Youth With HIV in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that manualized, measurement-guided, depression treatment is more efficacious than usual care but impact can wane. Our study among youth with HIV (YWH), aged 12-24 years at US clinical research sites in the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network, found a significant reduction in depressive symptoms among YWH who received a manualized, measurement-guided treatment. This paper reports outcomes up to 24 weeks after the intervention. METHODS: Eligibility included diagnosis of ongoing nonpsychotic depression. Using restricted randomization, sites were assigned to either combination cognitive behavioral therapy and medication management algorithm tailored for YWH or to enhanced standard of care, which provided psychotherapy and medication management. Site-level mean Quick Inventory for Depression Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) scores and proportion of youth with treatment response (>50% decrease from baseline) and remission (QIDS-SR ≤ 5) were compared across arms using t tests. RESULTS: Thirteen sites enrolled 156 YWH, with baseline demographic factors, depression severity, and HIV disease status comparable across arms. At week 36, the site-level mean proportions of youth with a treatment response and remission were greater at combination cognitive behavioral therapy and medication management algorithm sites (52.0% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.02; 37.9% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.05), and the mean QIDS-SR was lower (7.45 vs. 9.75, P = 0.05). At week 48, the site-level mean proportion with a treatment response remained significantly greater (58.7% vs. 33.4%, P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The impact of manualized, measurement-guided cognitive behavioral therapy and medication management algorithm tailored for YWH that was efficacious at week 24 continued to be evident at weeks 36 and 48.

Evaluation of Recombinant Live-Attenuated Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccines RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L and RSV/276 in RSV-Seronegative Children.

BACKGROUND: This United States-based study compared 2 candidate vaccines: RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L, attenuated by NS2 gene-deletion and temperature-sensitivity mutation in the polymerase gene; and RSV/276, attenuated by M2-2 deletion. METHODS: RSV-seronegative children aged 6-24 months received RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L (106 plaque-forming units [PFU]), RSV/276 (105 PFU), or placebo intranasally. Participants were monitored for vaccine shedding, reactogenicity, and RSV serum antibodies, and followed over the subsequent RSV season. RESULTS: Enrollment occurred September 2017 to October 2019. During 28 days postinoculation, upper respiratory illness and/or fever occurred in 64% of RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L, 84% of RSV/276, and 58% of placebo recipients. Symptoms were generally mild. Cough was more common in RSV/276 recipients than RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L (48% vs 12%; P = .012) or placebo recipients (17%; P = .084). There were no lower respiratory illness or serious adverse events. Eighty-eight and 96% of RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L and RSV/276 recipients were infected with vaccine (shed vaccine and/or had ≥4-fold rises in RSV antibodies). Serum RSV-neutralizing titers and anti-RSV F IgG titers increased ≥4-fold in 60% and 92% of RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L and RSV/276 vaccinees, respectively. Exposure to community RSV during the subsequent winter was associated with strong anamnestic RSV-antibody responses. CONCLUSIONS: Both vaccines had excellent infectivity and were well tolerated. RSV/276 induced an excess of mild cough. Both vaccines were immunogenic and primed for strong anamnestic responses. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03227029 and NCT03422237.

Reinfection or relapse? A case study of whole genome sequencing guided genomic characterization of Mycobacterium abscessus chronic infection in a cystic fibrosis patient.

A 7-year-old cystic fibrosis patient with increased cough, new pulmonary infiltrate, and declining pulmonary function was diagnosed with clarithromycin resistant Mycobacterium abscessus infection. Treatment was initiated with clofazimine, linezolid and cefoxitin; she responded well to therapy and achieved microbiological clearance after completion of 12-month treatment. One year later, she had re-emergence of worsening symptoms and her sputum culture again grew clarithromycin resistant M. abscessus. Using a laboratory developed whole genome sequencing (WGS) test, the bacterium was determined to be the same strain with the same resistance mechanisms, indicating a relapse. This was deemed a critical element of clinical information, as the isolation of a genetically distinct organism would have indicated a new infection and would have served as evidence that a 12-month regimen was likely sufficient to achieve eradication. The confirmation of a relapse prompted the prolongation of the therapy plan to a goal of 24 months. Reinfection and relapse are great challenges in patients with cystic fibrosis who may acquire new strain of M. abscessus from the environment, may harbor multiple subpopulations of bacteria, or may have persistent infections but intermittent bacteria shedding that could not be eradicated. WGS has emerged as a powerful molecular tool to accurately differentiate re-infection from relapse thus solving this conundrum.

Pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity of dolutegravir dispersible tablets in infants and children with HIV-1 (IMPAACT P1093): results of an open-label, phase 1-2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Safe and potent antiretroviral medications in child-friendly formulations are needed to treat young children living with HIV-1. We aimed to select dosing for a dispersible tablet formulation of dolutegravir that achieved pharmacokinetic exposures similar to those in adults, and was safe and well tolerated in young children. METHODS: International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trial (IMPAACT) P1093 is a phase 1-2 ongoing multicentre, open-label, non-comparative study of dolutegravir. A 5 mg dispersible tablet formulation of dolutegravir was studied in children aged 4 weeks to less than 6 years old, weighing at least 3 kg, with HIV RNA of greater than 1000 copies per mL and no previous treatment with integrase strand transfer inhibitor recruited from IMPAACT clinical research sites in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Doses were selected on the basis of intensive pharmacokinetic evaluation on days 5-10, with safety and tolerability assessed up to 48 weeks. The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir in combination with optimised background therapy and to establish the dose of dolutegravir that achieves the targeted 24-h trough concentration and 24-h area under the curve for infants, children, and adolescents with HIV-1, to establish the safety and tolerability of dolutegravir at 24 and 48 weeks, and to select a dose that achieves similar exposure to the dolutegravir 50 mg once daily dose in adults. This analysis included participants treated with the proposed dose of dolutegravir dispersible tablets in two stages for each of three age cohorts. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01302847) and is ongoing. FINDINGS: We recruited 181 participants from April 20, 2011, to Feb 19, 2020; of these, 96 received dolutegravir dispersible tablets. This analysis included 73 (35, 48% female) participants who received the final proposed dose with median (range) age of 1 year (0·1 to 6·0), weight (minimum-maximum) of 8·5 kg (3·7 to 18·5), plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration of 4·2 log10 copies per mL (2·1 to 7·0), and CD4% of 24·0% (0·3 to 49·0); 64 (87·7%) were treatment-experienced. The selected dose within each age cohort (≥2 years to <6 years, ≥6 months to <2 years of age and ≥4 weeks to <6 months) achieved geometric mean trough (ng/mL) of 688, 1179, and 1446, and 24 h area-under-the-curve (h·mg/L) of 53, 74, and 65, respectively. No grade 3 or worse adverse events were attributed to dolutegravir. INTERPRETATION: In this study, the proposed once daily dosing of dolutegravir dispersible tablets provided drug exposures similar to those for adults, and was safe and well tolerated. These data support the use of dolutegravir dispersible tablets as first-line or second-line treatment for infants and children aged less than 6 years living with HIV-1. FUNDING: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, and ViiV Healthcare-GlaxoSmithKline.

Pharmacokinetics of Tenofovir Alafenamide With Boosted Protease Inhibitors in Pregnant and Postpartum Women Living With HIV: Results From IMPAACT P1026s.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a key component of HIV treatment, but pharmacokinetic data supporting the use of TAF during pregnancy are limited. In this study, we report pharmacokinetic, safety, and birth outcomes for TAF 25 mg with a boosted protease inhibitor in pregnant women living with HIV. METHODS: IMPAACT P1026s was a multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label, phase IV prospective study. Pregnant women living with HIV receiving TAF 25 mg with a boosted protease inhibitor were eligible. Intensive pharmacokinetic assessments were performed during the second and third trimesters and 6-12 weeks postpartum. Maternal and cord blood samples were collected at delivery. Infant washout samples were collected through 5-9 days postbirth. Comparisons of paired pharmacokinetic data between pregnancy and postpartum were made using geometric mean ratios (GMR) [90% confidence intervals (CIs)] and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with P < 0.10 considered significant. RESULTS: Twenty-nine women were enrolled from the United States (median age 31 years and weight 84.5 kg during the third trimester; 48% Black, 45% Hispanic/Latina). TAF AUCtau did not significantly differ in the second [GMR 0.62 (90% CI: 0.29 to 1.34); P = 0.46] or third trimester [GMR 0.94 (90% CI: 0.63 to 1.39); P = 0.50] vs. postpartum and were comparable with historical data in nonpregnant adults. TAF was only quantifiable in 2/25 maternal delivery samples and below the limit of quantification in all cord blood and infant washout samples, likely because of the short half-life of TAF. CONCLUSION: TAF AUCtau did not significantly differ between pregnancy and postpartum. These findings provide reassurance as TAF use during pregnancy continues to expand.

White matter of perinatally HIV infected older youths shows low frequency fluctuations that may reflect glial cycling.

In perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children, neurodevelopment occurs in the presence of HIV-infection, and even with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) the brain can be a reservoir for latent HIV. Consequently, patients often demonstrate long-term cognitive deficits and developmental delay, which may be reflected in altered functional brain activity. Our objective was to examine brain function in PHIV on cART by quantifying the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo). Further, we studied ALFF and ReHo changes with neuropsychological performance and measures of immune health including CD4 count and viral loads in the HIV-infected youths. We found higher ALFF and ReHo in cerebral white matter in the medial orbital lobe for PHIV (N = 11, age mean ± sd = 22.5 ± 2.9 years) compared to controls (N = 16, age = 22.5 ± 3.0 years), with age and gender as co-variates. Bilateral cerebral white matter showed increased spontaneous regional activity in PHIV compared to healthy controls. No brain regions showed lower ALFF or ReHo in PHIV compared to controls. Higher log10 viral load was associated with higher ALFF and ReHo in PHIV in bilateral cerebral white matter and right cerebral white matter respectively after masking the outcomes intrinsic to the brain regions that showed significantly higher ALFF and ReHo in the PHIV compared to the control. Reductions in social cognition and abstract thinking in PHIV were correlated with higher ALFF at the left cerebral white matter in the left medial orbital gyrus and higher ReHo at the right cerebral white matter in the PHIV patients. Although neuroinflammation and associated neuro repair were not directly measured, the findings support their potential role in PHIV impacting neurodevelopment and cognition.

Pharmacokinetics of tenofovir alafenamide with and without cobicistat in pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) 10 mg with cobicistat and 25 mg without boosting in pregnant and postpartum women with HIV and to characterize TAF placental transfer and infant washout pharmacokinetics. DESIGN: Open-label, multicenter phase IV prospective study of TAF pharmacokinetics during pregnancy, postpartum, delivery, and infant washout. METHODS: Pregnant women receiving TAF 10 mg with cobicistat or TAF 25 mg without boosting as part of clinical care had intensive pharmacokinetic assessments performed during the second and third trimesters, and 6-12 weeks postpartum. Maternal and cord blood samples were collected at delivery, and washout pharmacokinetic samples were collected in infants. TAF concentrations were quantified using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Comparisons between pregnancy and postpartum were made using geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: Thirty-one pregnant women receiving TAF 10 mg with cobicistat-boosting and 27 women receiving TAF 25 mg without boosting were enrolled. TAF exposures did not significantly differ between pregnancy and postpartum when administered as 10 mg with cobicistat. Antepartum TAF exposures with the 25 mg dose were 33-43% lower in comparison with postpartum, but comparable with those measured in nonpregnant adults. TAF was below the lower limit of quantitation in 43 of 44 cord blood, 41 of 45 maternal blood at delivery, and all infant washout samples. CONCLUSION: TAF exposures were comparable or higher than those measured in nonpregnant adults during pregnancy and postpartum. These findings provide reassurance on adequate TAF exposures during pregnancy, and support efforts to expand the use of TAF in pregnant women with HIV.

Hospital-acquired Pneumonia and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Children: A Prospective Natural History and Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials for antibiotics designed to treat hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonias (HABP/VABP) are hampered by making these diagnoses in a way that is acceptable to the United States Food and Drug Administration and consistent with standards of care. We examined laboratory and clinical features that might improve pediatric HABP/VABP trial efficiency by identifying risk factors predisposing children to HABP/VABP and describing the epidemiology of pediatric HABP/VABP. METHODS: We prospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients <18 years of age admitted to intensive and intermediate care units (ICUs) if they received qualifying respiratory support or were started on antibiotics for a lower respiratory tract infection or undifferentiated sepsis. Subjects were followed until HABP/VABP was diagnosed or they were discharged from the ICU. Clinical, laboratory and imaging data were abstracted using structured chart review. We calculated HABP/VABP incidence and used a stepwise backward selection multivariable model to identify risk factors associated with development of HABP/VABP. RESULTS: A total of 862 neonates, infants and children were evaluated for development of HABP/VABP; 10% (82/800) of those receiving respiratory support and 12% (103/862) overall developed HABP/VABP. Increasing age, shorter height/length, longer ICU length of stay, aspiration risk, blood product transfusion in the prior 7 days and frequent suctioning were associated with increased odds of HABP/VABP. The use of noninvasive ventilation and gastric acid suppression were both associated with decreased odds of HABP/VABP. CONCLUSIONS: Food and Drug Administration-defined HABP/VABP occurred in 10%-12% of pediatric patients admitted to ICUs. Risk factors vary by age group.

Live-Attenuated Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine With M2-2 Deletion and With Small Hydrophobic Noncoding Region Is Highly Immunogenic in Children.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading viral cause of severe pediatric respiratory illness, and vaccines are needed. Live RSV vaccine D46/NS2/N/ΔM2-2-HindIII, attenuated by deletion of the RSV RNA regulatory protein M2-2, is based on previous candidate LID/ΔM2-2 but incorporates prominent differences from MEDI/ΔM2-2, which was more restricted in replication in phase 1. METHODS: RSV-seronegative children aged 6-24 months received 1 intranasal dose (105 plaque-forming units [PFUs] of D46/NS2/N/ΔM2-2-HindIII [n = 21] or placebo [n = 11]) and were monitored for vaccine shedding, reactogenicity, RSV-antibody responses and RSV-associated medically attended acute respiratory illness (RSV-MAARI) and antibody responses during the following RSV season. RESULTS: All 21 vaccinees were infected with vaccine; 20 (95%) shed vaccine (median peak titer, 3.5 log10 PFUs/mL with immunoplaque assay and 6.1 log10 copies/mL with polymerase chain reaction). Serum RSV-neutralizing antibodies and anti-RSV fusion immunoglobulin G increased ≥4-fold in 95% and 100% of vaccines, respectively. Mild upper respiratory tract symptoms and/or fever occurred in vaccinees (76%) and placebo recipients (18%). Over the RSV season, RSV-MAARI occurred in 2 vaccinees and 4 placebo recipients. Three vaccinees had ≥4-fold increases in serum RSV-neutralizing antibody titers after the RSV season without RSV-MAARI. CONCLUSIONS: D46/NS2/N/ΔM2-2-HindIII had excellent infectivity and immunogenicity and primed vaccine recipients for anamnestic responses, encouraging further evaluation of this attenuation strategy. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03102034 and NCT03099291.

Live-Attenuated Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine With Deletion of RNA Synthesis Regulatory Protein M2-2 and Cold Passage Mutations Is Overattenuated.

BACKGROUND: The live respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) candidate vaccine LIDcpΔM2-2 is attenuated through deletion of M2-2 and 5 cold-passage mutations. METHODS: RSV-seronegative children aged 6-24 months received a single intranasal dose of 105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of LIDcpΔM2-2 or placebo. RSV serum antibodies, vaccine infectivity, and reactogenicity were assessed. RESULTS: Four of 11 (36%) vaccinees shed vaccine virus with median peak titers of 1.6 log10 PFU/mL by quantitative culture and 4.5 log10 copies/mL by polymerase chain reaction; 45% had ≥4-fold rise in serum-neutralizing antibodies. Respiratory symptoms or fever were common in vaccinees (64%) and placebo recipients (6/6, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: RSV LIDcpΔM2-2 is overattenuated. Clinical Trial Numbers. NCT02890381, NCT02948127.

White matter microstructure among perinatally HIV-infected youth: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

We evaluated white matter microstructure integrity in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) youths receiving cART compared to age- and gender-matched healthy youths through DTI metrics using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We investigated 14 perinatally HIV-infected patients (age 17.9 ± 2.5 years) on cART and 17 healthy youths (HC) (age 18.0 ± 3.0 years) using a 3T MRI scanner. Four DTI-derived metrics were fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD). Statistical analysis was done with voxel-based analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with age and gender as covariates. Region-of-interest secondary analyses in statistically significant regions were also performed. Regional increases in FA in the PHIV youths were found in left middle frontal gyrus, right precuneus, right lingual gyrus, and left supramarginal gyrus. Increased MD was found in the right precentral gyrus while decreased MD was found in the white matter of the right superior parietal lobule and right inferior temporal gyrus/fusiform gyrus. Regions of increased/decreased RD overlapped with regions of increased/decreased MD. Both increased and decreased AD were found in three to four regions respectively. The regional FA, MD, RD, and AD values were consistent with the voxel-based analysis findings. The findings are mostly consistent with previous literature, but increased FA has not been previously reported for perinatally HIV-infected youths. Potentially early and prolonged therapy in our population may have contributed to this new finding. Both toxicity of antiretroviral therapy and indolent infection must be considered as causative factors in the DTI metric changes that we have observed.

Hepcidin Protects against Lethal Escherichia coli Sepsis in Mice Inoculated with Isolates from Septic Patients.

Iron is an essential micronutrient for most microbes and their hosts. Mammalian hosts respond to infection by inducing the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin, which causes iron sequestration and a rapid decrease in the plasma and extracellular iron concentration (hypoferremia). Previous studies showed that hepcidin regulation of iron is essential for protection from infection-associated mortality with the siderophilic pathogens Yersinia enterocolitica and Vibrio vulnificus However, the evolutionary conservation of the hypoferremic response to infection suggests that not only rare siderophilic bacteria but also common pathogens may be targeted by this mechanism. We tested 10 clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from children with sepsis and found that both genetic iron overload (by hepcidin-1 knockout [HKO]) and iatrogenic iron overload (by intravenous iron) potentiated infection with 8 out of the 10 studied isolates: after peritoneal injection of E. coli, iron-loaded mice developed sepsis with 60% to 100% mortality within 24 h, while control wild-type mice suffered 0% mortality. Using one strain for more detailed study, we show that iron overload allows rapid bacterial multiplication and dissemination. We further found that the presence of non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) in the circulation is more important than total plasma or tissue iron in rendering mice susceptible to infection and mortality. Postinfection treatment of HKO mice with just two doses of the hepcidin agonist PR73 abolished NTBI and completely prevented sepsis-associated mortality. We demonstrate that the siderophilic phenotype extends to clinically common pathogens. The use of hepcidin agonists promises to be an effective early intervention in patients with infections and dysregulated iron metabolism.

Child, Caregiver, and Health Care Provider Perspectives and Experiences Regarding Disclosure of HIV Status to Perinatally Infected Children in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Despite recommendations for disclosure of HIV status to children living with HIV (CLHIV), fewer than half of CLHIV at the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño (INSN) in Lima, Peru, have had disclosure. How and when the disclosure process for CLHIV should take place in Peru has not been studied. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study at INSN to explore perceptions and experiences of 6 health care providers (HCPs), 14 disclosed and nondisclosed CLHIV (8-17 years), and their 14 caregivers regarding knowledge of illness, disclosure of HIV status, and appropriate disclosure approaches. RESULTS: Disclosed children wanted to be told their diagnosis earlier. Nondisclosed children expressed frustration taking medications. Caregivers and HCPs discussed motivations to disclose, including educating, honesty, improving medication adherence, and preventing secondary transmission. CONCLUSION: Culturally appropriate guidelines and training for HCPs and caregivers are needed to support disclosure of children's HIV status and ongoing support for CLHIV.

Morbidity and Mortality of a Cohort of Peruvian HIV-infected Children 2003-2012.

BACKGROUND: Data on pediatric HIV in Peru are limited. The National Institute of Child Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño: INSN) cares for the most HIV-infected children under the age of 18 years in the country. We describe the outcomes of children seen at INSN's HIV clinic over the 10 years when antiretroviral therapy and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) interventions became available in 2004. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of INSN HIV clinic patients between 2003 and 2012. Deidentified data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 280 children were included: 50.0% (140/280) were male; 80.0% (224/280) lived in metropolitan Lima. Perinatal transmission was the mode of HIV infection in 91.4% (256/280) of children. Only 17% (32/191) of mothers were known to be HIV-infected at delivery; of these mothers, 41% (13/32) were receiving antiretroviral therapy at delivery, 72% (23/32) delivered by Cesarean section and 47% (15/32) of their infants received antiretroviral prophylaxis. Median age at HIV diagnosis for all children was 35.7 months (interquartile range 14.5-76.8 months), and 67% (143/213) had advanced disease (clinical stage C). After HIV diagnosis, the most frequent hospitalization discharge diagnoses were bacterial pneumonia, chronic malnutrition, diarrhea, anemia and tuberculosis. Twenty-four patients (8.6%) died at a median age of 77.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of pediatric HIV were acquired via perinatal transmission; few mothers were diagnosed before delivery; and among mothers with known HIV status, PMTCT was suboptimal even after national PMTCT policy was implemented. Most children were diagnosed with advanced disease. These findings underscore the need for improving early pediatric HIV diagnosis and treatment, as well as PMTCT strategies.

Immune plasma for the treatment of severe influenza: an open-label, multicentre, phase 2 randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality despite available treatments. Anecdotal reports suggest that plasma with high antibody titres to influenza might be of benefit in the treatment of severe influenza. METHODS: In this randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 2 trial, 29 academic medical centres in the USA assessed the safety and efficacy of anti-influenza plasma with haemagglutination inhibition antibody titres of 1:80 or more to the infecting strain. Hospitalised children and adults (including pregnant women) with severe influenza A or B (defined as the presence of hypoxia or tachypnoea) were randomly assigned to receive either two units (or paediatric equivalent) of anti-influenza plasma plus standard care, versus standard care alone, and were followed up for 28 days. The primary endpoint was time to normalisation of patients' respiratory status (respiratory rate of ≤20 breaths per min for adults or age-defined thresholds of 20-38 breaths per min for children) and a room air oxygen saturation of 93% or more. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01052480. FINDINGS: Between Jan 13, 2011, and March 2, 2015, 113 participants were screened for eligibility and 98 were randomly assigned from 20 out of 29 participating sites. Of the participants with confirmed influenza (by PCR), 28 (67%) of 42 in the plasma plus standard care group normalised their respiratory status by day 28 compared with 24 (53%) of 45 participants on standard care alone (p=0·069). The hazard ratio (HR) comparing plasma plus standard care with standard care alone was 1·71 (95% CI 0·96-3·06). Six participants died, one (2%) from the plasma plus standard care group and five (10%) from the standard care group (HR 0·19 [95% CI 0·02-1·65], p=0·093). Participants in the plasma plus standard care group had non-significant reductions in days in hospital (median 6 days [IQR 4-16] vs 11 days [5-25], p=0·13) and days on mechanical ventilation (median 0 days [IQR 0-6] vs 3 days [0-14], p=0·14). Fewer plasma plus standard care participants had serious adverse events compared with standard care alone recipients (nine [20%] of 46 vs 20 [38%] of 52, p=0·041), the most frequent of which were acute respiratory distress syndrome (one [2%] vs two [4%] patients) and stroke (one [2%] vs two [4%] patients). INTERPRETATION: Although there was no significant effect of plasma treatment on the primary endpoint, the treatment seemed safe and well tolerated. A phase 3 randomised trial is now underway to further assess this intervention. FUNDING: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, US National Institutes of Health.