Enfermedad meningocócica invasora / Invasive meningococcal disease

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Concentrado de proteína C en el tratamiento de la sepsis grave en pediatría / Protein C concentrate in the treatment of severe sepsis in the pediatric setting

Los pacientes con sepsis severa desarrollan déficit adquirido de proteína C, existiendo una correlación entre el grado de deficiencia y la evolución clínica negativa. El reemplazamiento de dicha proteína puede contribuir a evitar este proceso. En el mercado existen dos tipos de proteína C, concentrada y activada. Ninguna de ellas están registradas para el tratamiento de sepsis grave en pediatría. La experiencia con proteína C en este grupo de edades es limitada. Se requiere ensayos clínicos adecuados que establezcan su eficacia y seguridad y que clarifiquen el lugar de cada tipo de proteína C en la terapéutica de esta patología en pediatría. En el presente artículo se describe la experiencia del uso de concentrado de proteína C como terapia coadyuvante a la terapia convencional en el tratamiento de tres niños con sepsis grave en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátrica. En los tres casos de nuestro estudio, los niveles altos de proteína C se correlacionan con normalización de los parámetros de coagulación y con disminución de los niveles de dímero D. Dos de los tres pacientes evolucionaron favorablemente en el curso del tratamiento, mientras que la tercera paciente murió al entrar en shock séptico y disfunción multiorgánica (AU)

[Pressure support ventilation]. / Modalidades de soporte.

Assisted mechanical ventilation is highly useful in clinical practice and allows good interaction between the patient and ventilator. The major uses of this mode are to reduce the work of breathing in patients with intact spontaneous breathing and to provide additional support during weaning from mechanical ventilation, especially when this has been prolonged.

La bacteriemia oculta, per se, no es una forma de enfermedad invasora / Ocult bacteriemia, per se, is not a form of invasive disease

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[Protein C concentrate in the treatment of severe sepsis in the pediatric setting]. / Concentrado de proteína C en el tratamiento de la sepsis grave en pediatría.

Patients with severe sepsis develop acquired protein C deficiency, and the extent of such deficiency and negative clinical outcomes correlate. Replacing this protein may help prevent such a condition. Two protein C types are commercially available - concentrated and activated proteins. None is registered for the treatment of severe sepsis in the pediatric setting. Experience with protein C in this group of conditions is limited. Appropriate clinical trials are required to establish effectiveness and safety, and to elucidate the role of either protein C type in the management of this condition in the pediatric setting. This paper discusses experience with the use of protein C concentrate as an adjuvant treatment in addition to conventional therapy in three children with severe sepsis at a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In all 3 cases of our study, high levels of protein C correlated to coagulation parameter normalization and reduced dimer D levels. Two out of three had a favorable outcome following treatment, whereas the third patient died as a result of septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction.

[Macrophage activation syndrome: a diagnostic challenge]. / Síndrome de activación del macrófago: un reto diagnóstico.

Macrophage activation syndrome, or hemophagocytic syndrome, is a rare disease with high morbidity and mortality. It is a disorder of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Two forms have been described; primary or familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and secondary or sporadic hemophagocytic syndrome. Diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome poses a real challenge for the pediatrician and in many cases is only made at autopsy. We describe two patients with hemophagocytic syndrome associated with parvovirus B19 and Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Síndrome de activación del macrófago: un reto diagnóstico / Macrophage activation syndrome: a diagnostic challenge

El síndrome de activación del macrófago (SAM) o síndrome hemofagocítico es una enfermedad rara y con una alta morbimortalidad. Se encuentra incluido dentro de las histiocitosis de la clase II y se distinguen dos formas: una familiar y otra secundaria a enfermedades subyacentes.El diagnóstico de SAM supone un verdadero reto y muchos casos no llegan a diagnosticarse ante mortem. Se presentan 2 casos de SAM asociados a infecciones por parvovirus B19 y virus de Epstein-Barr (AU)

[Pneumococcal meningitis: epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological characteristics]. / Meningitis neumocócica: características epidemiológicas, clínicas y bacteriológicas.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological and clinical features of pneumococcal meningitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 53 cases of pneumococcal meningitis that occurred in 47 pediatric patients in our hospital between 1977 and 2000. Four children had recurrent meningitis. In all patients Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid culture. The epidemiological, bacteriological and clinical characteristics were studied. RESULTS: Pneumococcal meningitis represented 6 % of bacterial meningitis in our environment with 2-3 cases registered per year. Seventy-two percent of cases occurred in winter and spring. The age of affected children was between 1 month and 13 years. Sixty-five percent of children older than 2 years had a predisposing disease. Penicillin-resistant strains were detected in 1990 and cefotaxime-resistant strains were isolated in 1994. Seven children (13 %) had severe neurological sequels and two (4 %) died. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumococcal meningitis produces higher morbidity and mortality than other types of bacterial meningitis. The disease usually affects children younger than 2 years and older children with a predisposing disease. In the last few years, the importance of pneumococcal meningitis has increased due to the lower incidence of other types of bacterial meningitis. Because of beta-lactam resistant strains, initial empirical treatment should include vancomycin. The above data suggest the advisability of the generalized use of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the pediatric population in our environment.

[Meningococcal disease. new prevention strategies]. / Enfermedad meningocócica: nuevas estrategias de prevención.

Because conjugate C meningococcal vaccines represent a significant advance in the prevention of meningococcal disease, currently accepted recommendations on vaccination should be revised. The health authorities are responsible for carrying out national surveillance programs and for evaluating the need for vaccination programs. These programs should target all groups at risk for this disease and should confer adequate and lasting protection in vaccinated children.

Enfermedad meningocócica: nuevas estrategias de prevención / Meningococcal disease. New prevention strategies

La vacuna conjugada frente a meningococo C supone un extraordinario avance en las medidas de prevención de esta enfermedad y justifica que se revisen las recomendaciones de vacunación actualmente aceptadas. Las autoridades sanitarias son las responsables de realizar una estrecha vigilancia epidemiológica y valorar la necesidad de establecer campañas de vacunación de la población. Esta actuación sanitaria debe incluir a todos los grupos de población en riesgo de presentar la enfermedad y asegurar la correcta y duradera protección de los niños vacunados (AU)

[Fibrinolytic treatment with tissue plasminogen activator in a thrombosed modified Blalock-Taussig shunt]. / Tratamiento fibrinolítico con activador tisular de plasminógeno de una fístula modificada de Blalock-Taussig trombosada.

Thrombolytic therapy of a systemic pulmonary fistula is a rare method of treatment in newborns with thrombosed systemic-pulmonary shunt. We report the case of a newborn girl with a complex congenital heart defect. On the ninth day of life a modified right Blalock-Taussig shunt was performed. The ductus arteriosus was not ligated. Six days later the baby developed severe hypoxemia. The results of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization showed a total thrombosis of the fistula and complete absence of flow throughout the shunt. After insertion of an arterial catheter into the proximal end of the shunt we started fibrinolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-TPA) in continuous infusion. After 14 hours of treatment we confirmed by angiography complete clot dissolution. The baby left the hospital in good condition when she was 23 days old. In the follow-up (4th month of life) the shunt is still permeable. Thrombolytic therapy with r-TPA locally applied in case of acute thrombosis of a systemic-pulmonary shunt appears to be a good therapeutic option avoiding the risks of a new surgical procedure.

Manejo actual de las taquiarritmias supraventriculares en la infancia / Current management of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in children

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[Acute respiratory infections in pediatric intensive care units. A multicenter prospective study]. / Infecciones respiratorias agudas en unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to know the etiology, clinical background, treatment an evolution of severe infectious diseases in children admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter prospective study was carried out. Children with respiratory infections admitted to 10 PICUs throughout Spain between May 1994 and April 1995 were included in a long term survey. The nosocomial infections were not included. Student's t and Wilcoxon tests were used for quantitative variables and Chi square with Yates correction and Fisher's test for the qualitative variables. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two patients with acute respiratory infections were studied. The mean value on Downes score at admittance was 5.2 +/- 2.3. Diagnosis were allocated as follows: 47 bronchopneumonia (38.5%), 40 bronchiolitis (33%), 15 epiglotitis (12%), 14 laryngitis (11.5%) and "others" 6 (5%). Etiologic agents were identified in 69 cases (56.5%), with respiratory syncytial virus being the most frequently isolated agent (35 cases, 51%), followed by Hemophilus influenzae in 13 cases (19%). The mean PICU stay was 5.8 +/- 7.9 days (1-67 days). Of these cases, 112 (92%) recovered completely and 9 (7%) died (8 with bronchopneumonia and 1 with epiglotitis). A significant association could be seen between the increase in mortality and the variables Downes' score and diagnosis of bronchopneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent respiratory infections in the PICU were pneumonia and bronchopneumonia. Viral etiology, with a frequency of 54%, was the main cause of respiratory infection. Bacterial etiology represented 46% of the total cases, with Hemophilus influenzae as the most frequent etiologic agent.