Utilitat de la tomografia computada davant la sospita de cel·lulitis orbitària a Urgències / Celulitis orbitaria y tomografia computarizada en urgencias / The value of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of orbital cellulitis in the emergency department

Fonament: La cel·lulitis orbitària (CO) és un diagnòstic de sospita clínica que requereix confirmació radiològica. És habitual l'ingrés amb tractament antibiòtic a l'espera de la confirmació diagnòstica. Objecti: Avaluar el possible impacte de la realització d'una tomografia computada (TC) en el maneig a Urgències del pacient amb sospita de CO. Mètode: Estudi retrospectiu, descriptiu-observacional. Es van revisar les històries clíniques dels pacients atesos a Urgències entre 2011 i 2014 amb diagnòstic de cel·lulitis periorbitària/orbitària. Es van incloure els casos amb sospita de CO. Es van excloure els pacients sense TC. Es defineix CO com la cel·lulitis que afecta més enllà del septe orbitari. Es van considerar criteris d'ingrés: edat <1 any, immunosupressió, vacunació incompleta, triangle d'avaluació pediàtrica (TAP) alterat, mala resposta antibiòtica i presència d'algun dels símptomes o signes oculars següents: dolor amb els moviments oculars, oftalmoplegia, disminució de l'agudesa visual, alteració dels reflexos pupil·lars, edema conjuntival i proptosi. Resultats: Es van incloure 85 pacients. Tots van ser immuno-competents, ben vacunats i presentaven un TAP normal. Vint (23,5%) presentaven un o més signes o símptomes oculars. Vint-i-set (31,8%) tenien un o més criteris d'ingrés. Dels 58 sense criteris d'ingrés, en 38 (65,5%) no es va confirmar CO. A 18 (31%) d'aquests pacients se'ls va fer TC a Urgències; en 13 casos es va indicar maneig ambulatori, ja que l'afectació era només preseptal. Es va confirmar CO en 34 pacients (concordança diagnòstica 40%).Conclusions: En més de la meitat dels pacients amb sospita de CO, aquesta no es confirma radiològicament. Fer una TC a Urgències, en els pacients que no tenen criteris d'ingrés, evitaria hospitalitzacions innecessàries en un nombre significatiu

Fundamento: La celulitis orbitaria (CO) es un diagnóstico de sospecha clínica que requiere confirmación radiológica. Es habitual el ingreso con tratamiento antibiótico a la espera de la confirmación diagnóstica. Objetivo: Evaluar el posible impacto de la realización de una tomografía computadorizada (TC) en el manejo en urgencias del paciente con sospecha de CO. Método: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo-observacional. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes atendidos en Urgencias entre 2011 y 2014 con el diagnóstico de celulitis periorbitaria/orbitaria. Se incluyeron aquellos con sospecha de CO. Se excluyeron los pacientes sin TC. Se define CO como la celulitis que afecta más allá del septo orbitario. Se consideraron criterios de ingreso: edad <1 año, inmunosupresión, vacunación incompleta, triángulo de evaluación pediátrica (TEP) alterado, mala respuesta antibiótica y presencia de alguno de los siguientes síntomas o signos oculares: dolor con los movimientos oculares, oftalmoplejía, disminución de la agudeza visual, alteración de los reflejos pupilares, edema conjuntival y proptosis. Resultados: Se incluyeron 85 pacientes. Todos fueron inmunocompetentes, bien vacunados y presentaron un TEP normal. Veinte (23,5%) presentaron uno o más signos o síntomas oculares. Veintisiete (31,8%) tenían uno o más de los criterios de ingreso. De los 58 sin criterios de ingreso, en 38 (65,5%) no se confirma CO. A 18 (31%) de estos pacientes se realizó TC en urgencias; en 13 casos se indicó manejo ambulatorio, dado que la afectación era sólo preseptal. Se confirmó CO en 34 pacientes (concordancia diagnóstica 40%) Conclusiones: En más de la mitad de los pacientes con sospecha de CO, ésta no se confirma radiológicamente. La realización de TC en urgencias, en los pacientes que no tienen criterios de ingreso, evitaría hospitalizaciones innecesarias en un número significativo

Background: Orbital cellulitis (OC) is a diagnos hospitalization with intravenous antibiotic therapy until the diagnosis is confirmed. Objective: To evaluate the impact of performing a computerized tomography (CT) in the emergency department when orbital ellulitis is suspected on the initial management of the patient. Method: Descriptive observational retrospective study. Clinical records of patients who were attended in the emergency department with the diagnosis of periorbital/orbital cellulitis between 2011 and 2014 were reviewed. Patients with suspected OC were included, and those without T were excluded. OC was defined as postseptal when there was inflammatory extension posterior to the orbital septum. Criteria for hospitalization were: age < 1 year-old, immunosuppression, incomplete vaccinations, altered pediatric assessment triangle PAT), inadequate antibiotic response, and the presence of any of the following: painful ocular movements, ophthalmoplegia, decline of visual acuity, altered pupillary response, conjunctival edema, and proptosis. Results: Eighty-five patients were included. All of hem were immunocompetent, correctly vaccinated, and had normal PAT. Twenty patients (23.5%) presented > 1 ocular signs-symptoms, and 27 (31.8%) had > 1 riteria for hospitalization. In 38 of the 58 pa-tients (65.5%) without hospitalization criteria, C as not confirmed. In 18 (31%) of them, CT was performed in the Emergency Department; in 3 of them the affected area was only preseptal, and ambulatory management was indicated. he diagnosis of OC was confirmed in 34 cases (diagnostic concordance: 40%).Conclusions: in more than half of the patients with clinical suspicion of OC there is not radiological confirmation. Performing a CT in the Emergency Department in patients without hospitalization criteria would avoid unnecessary hospitalizations in a significant proportion of patients.is of clinical suspicion that requires radiologic confirmation. Performing a CT in the Emergency Department in patients without hospitalization criteria would avoid unnecessary hospitalizations in a significant proportion of patients

Evaluation of the bedside Quikread go® CRP test in the management of febrile infants at the emergency department.

Recently C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care tests have been developed. We aimed to validate a bedside CRP test (QuikRead go® CRP), to compare it with the laboratory CRP (ARCHITECT c8000 Abbott, Germany) test in children with fever without source (FWS), and to evaluate the optimal CRP cut-off value to identify those patients at a high risk for serious bacterial infection (SBI). The CRP bedside test was prospectively performed in capillary blood samples concurrently with the laboratory CRP testing for 283 well-appearing infants aged 1 to 24 months with FWS attending the emergency department (ED) between May 2013 and August 2015. The mean difference between the laboratory CRP and the QuikRead go CRP values was 0.71 mg/L (p = 0.444). Pearson's correlation coefficient between the CRPs was r = 0.929 (p < 0.001). SBI was diagnosed in 34 patients (12.0%). The area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve obtained was 0.87 (95%CI: 0.82-0.90) for an optimal CRP cut-off value of > 10 mg/L (sensitivity: 94.1%, specificity: 49.0%, positive predictive value: 20.1%, negative predictive value: 98.4%), as a predictor of SBI. Nearly 45% of the patients were at a low risk for SBI according to CRP value; thus, additional laboratory tests would have been hypothetically avoided. There was a very strong, positive correlation between the QuikRead go CRP test and laboratory CRP determination. The QuikRead go CRP test provides reliable results to rule out SBI. Its implementation at the ED would improve the management of infants with FWS.

Validation of a predictive model for identifying febrile young infants with altered urinalysis at low risk of invasive bacterial infection.

In 2015, a predictive model for invasive bacterial infection (IBI) in febrile young infants with altered urine dipstick was published. The aim of this study was to externally validate a previously published set of low risk criteria for invasive bacterial infection in febrile young infants with altered urine dipstick. Retrospective multicenter study including nine Spanish hospitals. Febrile infants ≤90 days old with altered urinalysis (presence of leukocyturia and/or nitrituria) were included. According to our predictive model, an infant is classified as low-risk for IBI when meeting all the following: appearing well at arrival to the emergency department, being >21 days old, having a procalcitonin value <0.5 ng/mL and a C-reactive protein value <20 mg/L. IBI was considered as secondary to urinary tract infection if the same pathogen was isolated in the urine culture and in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture. A total of 391 patients with altered urine dipstick were included. Thirty (7.7 %) of them developed an IBI, with 26 (86.7 %) of them secondary to UTI. Prevalence of IBI was 2/104 (1.9 %; CI 95% 0.5-6.7) among low-risk patients vs 28/287 (9.7 %; CI 95% 6.8-13.7) among high-risk patients (p < 0.05). Sensitivity of the model was 93.3 % (CI 95% 78.7-98.2) and negative predictive value was 98.1 % (93.3-99.4). Although our predictive model was shown to be less accurate in the validation cohort, it still showed a good discriminatory ability to detect IBI. Larger prospective external validation studies, taking into account fever duration as well as the role of ED observation, should be undertaken before its implementation into clinical practice.

Outcomes and infectious etiologies of febrile neutropenia in non-immunocompromised children who present in an emergency department.

There are no unified protocols governing the management of healthy children with febrile neutropenia in the emergency department (ED). Conservative management is the norm, with admission and empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics prescribed, although viral infections are considered the most frequent etiology. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes and identified etiologies of unsuspected neutropenia in febrile immunocompetent children assessed in the ED. This was a retrospective study: well-appearing healthy children <18 years old with febrile moderate [absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 500-999 neutrophils ×10(9)/l] or severe (ANC <500 neutrophils ×10(9)/l) neutropenia diagnosed in ED between 2005 and 2013 were included. Patients newly diagnosed with hematologic or oncologic disease were excluded. We included 190 patients: 158 (83.2 %) with moderate and 32(16.8 %) with severe neutropenia. One hundred and one (53.2 %) were admitted; 48(47.5 %) with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The median length of stay was 3 days (IQR 3-5) and the median duration of neutropenia was 6 days (IQR 3-12). An infectious agent was identified in 23(12.1 %); 21 (91.3 %) were viruses. Four (2.1 %) children had a serious bacterial infection (SBI): urinary tract infection and lobar pneumonia (two cases each). All blood cultures performed (144; 75.8 %) were negative. Over the 1-year follow-up, one or several blood tests were performed on 167 patients (87.9 %); two (1.2 %) were diagnosed with autoimmune chronic neutropenia. Previously healthy children with moderate or severe febrile neutropenia have a low risk of SBI and a favorable clinical outcome. Less aggressive management could be carried out in most of them. Although chronic hematological diseases are infrequently diagnosed, serial ANC are necessary to detect them.

Hemocultivos en urgencias pediátricas. Guía práctica de recomendaciones: indicaciones, técnica de extracción, procesamiento e interpretación / Blood cultures in the paediatric emergency department. Guidelines and recommendations on their indications, collection, processing and interpretation

El hemocultivo (HC) es el método diagnóstico de elección ante la sospecha de bacteriemia, siendo una de las técnicas microbiológicas más solicitadas en pediatría. Diversos cambios han acontecido en los últimos años como la introducción de nuevas vacunas, el aumento creciente de pacientes portadores de catéteres vasculares centrales, o la irrupción de los sistemas automáticos de procesamiento de los HC. Dichos cambios han propiciado la revisión y la actualización de los distintos aspectos relacionados con esta técnica con el fin de optimizar su uso. Se presenta una guía práctica sobre recomendaciones acerca de la extracción, el procesamiento y la interpretación de los HC elaborada por la Sociedad Española de Urgencias de Pediatría y la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica. Tras revisar la información científica disponible, se presentan una serie de recomendaciones para cada uno de los siguientes apartados: indicaciones en Urgencias, técnica de extracción, transporte y procesamiento de la muestra, factores a tener en cuenta en situaciones especiales (indicaciones e interpretación de resultados en el paciente inmunodeprimido y/o portador de catéter vascular central, indicaciones de HC para anaerobios), diferenciación entre bacteriemia y contaminación ante un HC con crecimiento bacteriano y actitud a tomar ante un HC positivo en el paciente con fiebre sin foco

Blood culture (BC) is the gold standard when a bacteraemia is suspected, and is one of the most requested microbiological tests in paediatrics. Some changes have occurred in recent years: the introduction of new vaccines, the increasing number of patients with central vascular catheters, as well as the introduction of continuous monitoring BC systems. These changes have led to the review and update of different factors related to this technique in order to optimise its use. A practice guideline is presented with recommendations on BC, established by the Spanish Society of Paediatric Emergency Care and the Spanish Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. After reviewing the available scientific evidence, several recommendations for each of the following aspects are presented: BC indications in the Emergency Department, how to obtain, transport and process cultures, special situations (indications and interpretation of results in immunosuppressed patients and/or central vascular catheter carriers, indications for anaerobic BC), differentiation between bacteraemia and contamination when a BC shows bacterial growth and actions to take with a positive BC in patients with fever of unknown origin

[Blood cultures in the paediatric emergency department. Guidelines and recommendations on their indications, collection, processing and interpretation]. / Hemocultivos en urgencias pediátricas. Guía práctica de recomendaciones: indicaciones, técnica de extracción, procesamiento e interpretación.

Blood culture (BC) is the gold standard when a bacteraemia is suspected, and is one of the most requested microbiological tests in paediatrics. Some changes have occurred in recent years: the introduction of new vaccines, the increasing number of patients with central vascular catheters, as well as the introduction of continuous monitoring BC systems. These changes have led to the review and update of different factors related to this technique in order to optimise its use. A practice guideline is presented with recommendations on BC, established by the Spanish Society of Paediatric Emergency Care and the Spanish Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. After reviewing the available scientific evidence, several recommendations for each of the following aspects are presented: BC indications in the Emergency Department, how to obtain, transport and process cultures, special situations (indications and interpretation of results in immunosuppressed patients and/or central vascular catheter carriers, indications for anaerobic BC), differentiation between bacteraemia and contamination when a BC shows bacterial growth and actions to take with a positive BC in patients with fever of unknown origin.

Factores predictores de contaminación ante un hemocultivo con crecimiento bacteriano en Urgencias / Predictive factors of contamination in a blood culture with bacterial growth in an Emergency Department

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio es identificar factores predictores de contaminación ante un hemocultivo (HC) con crecimiento bacteriano realizado en un servicio de Urgencias. Pacientes y métodos Estudio prospectivo, observacional-analítico. Se incluyen los pacientes de uno a 36 meses, febriles, sin factores de riesgo para bacteriemia, con un HC realizado en el Servicio de Urgencias entre noviembre de 2011 y octubre de 2013 en el que se observa crecimiento bacteriano. Se analizan como posibles factores predictores de contaminación: temperatura máxima, tiempo de positividad, resultado inicial de la tinción de Gram, leucocitos totales, neutrófilos totales, neutrófilos inmaduros y proteína C reactiva (PCR). Resultados: Se incluyen 169 casos. El crecimiento bacteriano del HC se considera significativo (positivo) en 30 (17,8%), y contaminado en 139 (82,2%). Todos los factores predictores analizados, a excepción de la temperatura, presentan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los 2 grupos. Los 3 mejores predictores de contaminación son la PCR, el tiempo de positividad y el resultado inicial de la tinción de Gram. El valor predictivo positivo de una PCR≤30mg/L, un tiempo de positividad≥16h y una tinción de Gram con morfología bacteriana considerada como probable contaminación es del 95,1, 96,9 y 97,5%, respectivamente; el valor predictivo positivo es del 100% para la combinación de los 3 factores. Se reevalúan el 8,3% de los pacientes con un HC contaminado dados de alta inicialmente a domicilio. Conclusiones: La mayoría de HC con crecimiento bacteriano son finalmente considerados contaminados. El resultado inicial de la tinción de Gram, el tiempo de positividad y el valor de la PCR permiten identificarlos precozmente. Su pronta detección permitirá reducir las repercusiones negativas derivadas de los mismos (AU)

Introduction: The aim of this study is to identify predictive factors of bacterial contamination in positive blood cultures (BC) collected in an emergency department. Patients and methods: A prospective, observational and analytical study was conducted on febrile children aged on to 36 months, who had no risk factors of bacterial infection, and had a BC collected in the Emergency Department between November 2011 and October 2013 in which bacterial growth was detected. The potential BC contamination predicting factors analysed were: maximum temperature, time to positivity, initial Gram stain result, white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, band count, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: Bacteria grew in 169 BC. Thirty (17.8%) were finally considered true positives and 139 (82.2%) false positives. All potential BC contamination predicting factors analysed, except maximum temperature, showed significant differences between true positives and false positives. CRP value, time to positivity, and initial Gram stain result are the best predictors of false positives in BC. The positive predictive values of a CRP value≤30mg/L, BC time to positivity≥16h, and initial Gram stain suggestive of a contaminant in predicting a FP, are 95.1, 96.9 and 97.5%, respectively. When all 3 conditions are applied, their positive predictive value is 100%. Four (8.3%) patients with a false positive BC and discharged to home were revaluated in the Emergency Department. Conclusions: The majority of BC obtained in the Emergency Department that showed positive were finally considered false positives. Initial Gram stain, time to positivity, and CRP results are valuable diagnostic tests in distinguishing between true positives and false positives in BC. The early detection of false positives will allow minimising their negative consequences (AU)

[Predictive factors of contamination in a blood culture with bacterial growth in an Emergency Department]. / Factores predictores de contaminación ante un hemocultivo con crecimiento bacteriano en Urgencias.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to identify predictive factors of bacterial contamination in positive blood cultures (BC) collected in an emergency department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational and analytical study was conducted on febrile children aged on to 36 months, who had no risk factors of bacterial infection, and had a BC collected in the Emergency Department between November 2011 and October 2013 in which bacterial growth was detected. The potential BC contamination predicting factors analysed were: maximum temperature, time to positivity, initial Gram stain result, white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, band count, and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Bacteria grew in 169 BC. Thirty (17.8%) were finally considered true positives and 139 (82.2%) false positives. All potential BC contamination predicting factors analysed, except maximum temperature, showed significant differences between true positives and false positives. CRP value, time to positivity, and initial Gram stain result are the best predictors of false positives in BC. The positive predictive values of a CRP value≤30mg/L, BC time to positivity≥16h, and initial Gram stain suggestive of a contaminant in predicting a FP, are 95.1, 96.9 and 97.5%, respectively. When all 3 conditions are applied, their positive predictive value is 100%. Four (8.3%) patients with a false positive BC and discharged to home were revaluated in the Emergency Department. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of BC obtained in the Emergency Department that showed positive were finally considered false positives. Initial Gram stain, time to positivity, and CRP results are valuable diagnostic tests in distinguishing between true positives and false positives in BC. The early detection of false positives will allow minimising their negative consequences.

Bacteremia in previously healthy children in emergency departments: clinical and microbiological characteristics and outcome.

A blood culture (BC) is frequently requested in both patients with a suspected occult bacteremia/invasive infection as well as those with certain focal infections. Few data are available on the characteristics of patients in whom a bacteremia is identified in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). A prospective multicenter registry was established by the Spanish Pediatric Emergency Society. Epidemiological data, complementary test results, clinical management, and final outcome were recorded. Data from the first three years of the registry were analyzed. A true bacterial pathogen grew in 932 of 65,169 BCs collected [1.43 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.34-1.51 %], with 711 of them collected in patients without previously known bacteremia risk factors. Among them, 335 (47.1 %) were younger than 1 year old and 467 (65.7 %) had a normal Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) on admission. Overall, the most frequently isolated bacterial species was Streptococcus pneumoniae (27.3 %; 47.6 % among patients with an altered PAT). The main pathogens were Escherichia coli (40.3 %) and S. agalactiae (35.7 %) among patients younger than 3 months, S. pneumoniae among patients 3-60 months old (40.0 %), and S. aureus (31.9 %) among patients over 60 months of age. Neisseria meningitidis was the leading cause of sepsis in patients older than 3 months. Eight patients died; none of them had a pneumococcal bacteremia and all had abnormal PAT findings on admission. S. pneumoniae is the main cause of bacteremia in patients without bacteremia risk factors who attended Spanish PEDs. Age and general appearance influence the frequency of each bacterial species. General appearance also influences the associated mortality.

Utilidad de la procalcitonina para la prescripción antibiótica y la sospecha de bacteriemia en urgencias. Respuesta de los autores / Usefulness of procalcitonin for prescribing of antibiotics and suspicion of bacteremia in theemergency department. Author’s reply

No disponible

Prescripción antibiótica en los pacientes hospitalizados desde Urgencias. Estudio multicéntrico / Prescribing of antibiotics in patients admitted from Emergency Departments: a multicenter study

Introducción: La patología infecciosa constituye el principal motivo de consulta en Urgencias y es causa frecuente de ingreso hospitalario con antibióticos. Nuestros objetivos son: 1) conocer la prevalencia y las patologías atendidas en Urgencias que son motivo de ingreso con antibiótico; 2) conocer los métodos microbiológicos empleados, y 3) analizar las características del tratamiento antibiótico indicado. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico realizado en 22 hospitales españoles. Se incluyeron los pacientes menores de 18 años atendidos en Urgencias el día 14 de cada mes entre junio de 2009 y mayo de 2010 a los que se indicó ingreso hospitalario con antibiótico sistémico. Se excluyeron los pacientes que ingresaron en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Resultados: Consultaron en Urgencias 30.632 pacientes, 1.446 (4,7%) ingresaron, 395 (27,3%) de ellos con antibiótico. Habían recibido antibiótico previo al ingreso 95 (24,1%) pacientes. A 320 (81%) niños se les realizó algún examen microbiológico, siendo el hemocultivo (69,9%) y el urocultivo (30,9%) los más solicitados. Los principales diagnósticos fueron neumonía (29,4%), infección de orina (15,4%) y síndrome febril sin foco (12,1%). Se pautaron 25 antibióticos distintos, siendo los más prescritos cefotaxima (27,8%) y amoxicilina-ácido clavulánico (23,4%). El 80,8% de los niños recibieron un único antimicrobiano y la vía parenteral fue la más empleada (93,7%). Conclusiones: Se prescribió antibiótico a uno de cada 4 pacientes que precisó ingreso hospitalario. La neumonía fue la etiología más frecuente. El hemocultivo fue el examen microbiológico más solicitado. La mayoría de las prescripciones correspondieron a un número reducido de antibióticos betalactámicos (AU)

Introduction: The infectious disease is the main source of care demand in Pediatric Emergency Departments (PED) and is a frequent cause of hospital admission with antibiotics. Our objectives are: 1) to determine the diseases that are seen in PED that required admission with antibiotics; 2) to determine the microbiological methods used and, 3) to analyze the characteristics of the indicated treatment. Material and methods: A prospective multicenter study was conducted in 22 Spanish hospitals. We included patients younger than 18 years seen in PED on day 14 of each month between June 2009 and May 2010 who required hospitalization with systemic antibiotics. Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit were excluded. Results: There were 30,632 consultations in the PED during the study period. A total of 1,446 (4.7%) patients were hospitalized, 395 (27.3%) of them with antibiotics. Ninety-five patients (24.1%) had received antibiotics before admission. Three hundred twenty (81%) children underwent at least one microbiological test, with blood culture (69.9%) and urine culture (30.9%) being the most requested ones. The main diagnoses at admission were pneumonia (29.4%), urinary tract infection (15.4%), and fever without source (12.1%). Twenty five different antibiotics were prescribed, with cefotaxime (27.8%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (23.4%) being the most prescribed ones. A single antibiotic was prescribed to 80.8% of patients, and parenteral administration was the most indicated (93.7%). Conclusions: Antibiotic therapy was prescribed in one in every 4 patients who required admission to hospital. Pneumonia was the most common source. Blood culture was the most frequent microbiological test requested in the PED. A limited number of beta-lactam antibiotics represented the majority of antibiotic prescriptions (AU)

[Prescribing of antibiotics in patients admitted from Emergency Departments: a multicenter study]. / Prescripción antibiótica en los pacientes hospitalizados desde Urgencias. Estudio multicéntrico.

INTRODUCTION: The infectious disease is the main source of care demand in Pediatric Emergency Departments (PED) and is a frequent cause of hospital admission with antibiotics. Our objectives are: 1) to determine the diseases that are seen in PED that required admission with antibiotics; 2) to determine the microbiological methods used and, 3) to analyze the characteristics of the indicated treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was conducted in 22 Spanish hospitals. We included patients younger than 18 years seen in PED on day 14 of each month between June 2009 and May 2010 who required hospitalization with systemic antibiotics. Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit were excluded. RESULTS: There were 30,632 consultations in the PED during the study period. A total of 1,446 (4.7%) patients were hospitalized, 395 (27.3%) of them with antibiotics. Ninety-five patients (24.1%) had received antibiotics before admission. Three hundred twenty (81%) children underwent at least one microbiological test, with blood culture (69.9%) and urine culture (30.9%) being the most requested ones. The main diagnoses at admission were pneumonia (29.4%), urinary tract infection (15.4%), and fever without source (12.1%). Twenty five different antibiotics were prescribed, with cefotaxime (27.8%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (23.4%) being the most prescribed ones. A single antibiotic was prescribed to 80.8% of patients, and parenteral administration was the most indicated (93.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic therapy was prescribed in one in every 4 patients who required admission to hospital. Pneumonia was the most common source. Blood culture was the most frequent microbiological test requested in the PED. A limited number of beta-lactam antibiotics represented the majority of antibiotic prescriptions.

Calidad de la prescripción antibiótica en un servicio de urgencias pediátrico hospitalario / Antibiotic prescribing in a paediatric emergency department

Introducción: Una política antibiótica correcta en los servicios de urgencias pediátricos es esencial dado el alto número de consultas por patología infecciosa. El objetivo es conocer la adecuación del tratamiento antibiótico prescrito a los niños atendidos en un servicio de urgencias pediátrico. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de los informes de alta de niños atendidos en el servicio de urgencias pediátrico por otitis media aguda, faringoamigdalitis aguda o neumonía adquirida en la comunidad durante el 2008. Se seleccionó una muestra aleatoria de 100 casos para cada patología. La adecuación del antibiótico se valoró para los siguientes aspectos: enfermedad subsidiaria de tratamiento antibiótico, elección de antibiótico adecuado, dosis, intervalo y duración del mismo. Una actitud errónea en cualquier parámetro se consideró prescripción inadecuada. La valoración de la adecuación se realizó acorde a los protocolos existentes en urgencias. Resultados: Se prescribió antibiótico a 219 pacientes (73%). La prescripción antibiótica fue inadecuada en 67 niños (22,3%). Se pautó antibiótico innecesariamente a 15 (6,8%) y en 4 (2%) la selección del mismo fue incorrecta. A un niño (1,2%) no se pautó antibiótico cuando estaba indicado. La duración del tratamiento fue incorrecta en 22 casos (11,5%), todos por una menor duración, el intervalo en 20 (10,1%), y la dosis en 13 (6,5%). Conclusiones: En las patologías estudiadas existió un uso adecuado de antibiótico, con unas tasas de adecuación altas para la decisión de tratar y la elección del antibiótico. La duración incorrecta del tratamiento fue el principal motivo de prescripción inadecuada. Es necesario adoptar medidas para la corrección de los aspectos más deficitarios detectados (AU)

Introduction: Adequate antibiotic prescribing in Paediatric Emergency Departments (PEDs) is a necessity due to the high number of patients consulting for infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic prescription quality in a PED. Material and methods: Retrospective study of patients attending a PED and diagnosed with acute otitis media, pharyngotonsillitis or community-acquired pneumonia during 2008. A random sample of 100 cases for each disease was selected. The parameters employed for assessing the prescribing quality were: illness subject to being treated with antibiotics, adequate antibiotic, dosage, interval of administration and length of treatment. An error in any of these parameters was considered an inappropriate prescription. The appropriateness of the antibiotic prescriptions was assessed based on the recommendations described on our hospital protocols. Results: Antibiotics were prescribed to 219 patients (73%). Therapy was considered to be inappropriate in 67 children (22.3%). Unnecessary treatment was indicated in 15 cases (6.8%) and in 4 patients (2%) the antibiotic selected was incorrect. Antibiotic was not prescribed to one patient subject to being treated (1.2%). The treatment length was wrong in 22 cases (11.5%), inappropriately short in all of them, the interval of administration in 20 (10.1%) and dosage in 13 (6.5%). Conclusions: The use of antibiotics was appropriate for the diseases analysed, particularly as regards to the indication and antibiotic selection. The length of the treatment was the aspect found to be most deficient. Some important measures should be undertaken in order to improve antibiotic prescription quality (AU)

[Antibiotic prescribing in a paediatric emergency department]. / Calidad de la prescripción antibiótica en un servicio de urgencias pediátrico hospitalario.

INTRODUCTION: Adequate antibiotic prescribing in Paediatric Emergency Departments (PEDs) is a necessity due to the high number of patients consulting for infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic prescription quality in a PED. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients attending a PED and diagnosed with acute otitis media, pharyngotonsillitis or community-acquired pneumonia during 2008. A random sample of 100 cases for each disease was selected. The parameters employed for assessing the prescribing quality were: illness subject to being treated with antibiotics, adequate antibiotic, dosage, interval of administration and length of treatment. An error in any of these parameters was considered an inappropriate prescription. The appropriateness of the antibiotic prescriptions was assessed based on the recommendations described on our hospital protocols. RESULTS: Antibiotics were prescribed to 219 patients (73%). Therapy was considered to be inappropriate in 67 children (22.3%). Unnecessary treatment was indicated in 15 cases (6.8%) and in 4 patients (2%) the antibiotic selected was incorrect. Antibiotic was not prescribed to one patient subject to being treated (1.2%). The treatment length was wrong in 22 cases (11.5%), inappropriately short in all of them, the interval of administration in 20 (10.1%) and dosage in 13 (6.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of antibiotics was appropriate for the diseases analysed, particularly as regards to the indication and antibiotic selection. The length of the treatment was the aspect found to be most deficient. Some important measures should be undertaken in order to improve antibiotic prescription quality.

[Congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle: a review of nine cases]. / Seudoartrosis congénita de clavícula.

BACKGROUND: Congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle (CPC) is a rare malformation of the scapular waist of unknown etiology. About 200 cases have been reported. The lesion is usually right-sided and unilateral. Physical examination reveals swelling over the midportion of the clavicle, usually asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is confirmed by plain radiology. The differential diagnosis includes posttraumatic pseudarthrosis, cleidocranial dysostosis and neurofibromatosis. Surgical treatment is indicated in symptomatic patients or those with major deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 9 patients with CPC managed in our hospital. RESULTS: We studied 5 girls and 4 boys with unilateral right CPC. None of them had a familial history of CPC. Four complained of local pain, without functional impairment, and clavicular asymmetry on x-ray ranging from 0.5 to 1 cm, without accompanying pathologic findings. Surgical treatment was performed in 5 patients, with resection of fibrous pseudarthrosis, internal fixation, and iliac bone graft. In 4 patients callus response was achieved at 2 months. The remaining patient required withdrawal of orthopaedic material 2 months after surgery because of its protrusion through the skin, without the need for further surgical treatment to date. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, CPC should be included in the differential diagnosis of clavicle abnormalities in children. Good results are achieved with current surgical techniques in patients with clear indication.

Seudoartrosis congénita de clavícula / Congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle: a review of nine cases

Antecedentes: La seudoartrosis congénita de clavícula (SCC) es una malformación rara de la cintura escapular de etiología incierta de la que se han descrito unos 200 casos. Suele ser unilateral, con afectación mayoritaria del lado derecho. Se presenta en forma de tumoración en el tercio medio clavicular, generalmente asintomática. La radiología simple confirma el diagnóstico. El diagnóstico diferencial incluye principalmente la seudoartrosis postraumática, la disostosis cleidocraneal y la neurofibromatosis. El tratamiento quirúrgico debe indicarse en aquellos casos sintomáticos o con gran defecto estético. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas de los 9 pacientes afectados de SCC controlados en nuestro centro. Resultados: Son 5 niñas y 4 niños, con afectación unilateral del lado derecho. Ninguno presenta historia familiar de SCC. Refieren dolor cuatro, sin limitación funcional. Radiológicamente la asimetría clavicular oscila entre 0,5 y 1,5 cm, sin otros hallazgos asociados. Un total de cinco han sido intervenidos quirúrgicamente, con resección de los extremos seudoartrósicos, osteosíntesis e injerto de hueso ilíaco autólogo. Los resultados son satisfactorios con consolidación de la lesión a los 2 meses en 4 niños; la paciente restante precisó la retirada del material debido a su protrusión sobre la piel a los 2 meses, sin precisar por el momento una nueva reintervención. Conclusiones: La SCC, pese a ser una entidad de rara presentación, debe formar parte del diagnóstico diferencial de las afecciones claviculares en los niños. Las técnicas quirúrgicas actuales ofrecen buenos resultados para aquellos casos en que esté indicado

Background: Congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle (CPC) is a rare malformation of the scapular waist of unknown etiology. About 200 cases have been reported. The lesion is usually right-sided and unilateral. Physical examination reveals swelling over the midportion of the clavicle, usually asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is confirmed by plain radiology. The differential diagnosis includes posttraumatic pseudarthrosis, cleidocranial dysostosis and neurofibromatosis. Surgical treatment is indicated in symptomatic patients or those with major deformity. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 9 patients with CPC managed in our hospital. Results: We studied 5 girls and 4 boys with unilateral right CPC. None of them had a familial history of CPC. Four complained of local pain, without functional impairment, and clavicular asymmetry on x-ray ranging from 0.5 to 1 cm, without accompanying pathologic findings. Surgical treatment was performed in 5 patients, with resection of fibrous pseudarthrosis, internal fixation, and iliac bone graft. In 4 patients callus response was achieved at 2 months. The remaining patient required withdrawal of orthopaedic material 2 months after surgery because of its protrusion through the skin, without the need for further surgical treatment to date. Conclusions: Although rare, CPC should be included in the differential diagnosis of clavicle abnormalities in children. Good results are achieved with current surgical techniques in patients with clear indication

Uso de risperidona en el síndrome de Tourette / Risperidone in the treatment of Tourette syndrome

Introducción: El uso de neurolépticos clásicos en el síndrome de Tourette (ST) se ve limitado por sus efectos secundarios, especialmente la discinesia tardía. Estudios recientes muestran la risperidona como un fármaco eficaz con un perfil benigno de efectos adversos. Objetivos: Analizar en nuestro ámbito el empleo de risperidona en el ST y evaluar su eficacia y tolerabilidad. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de siete pacientes con ST tratados con risperidona, controlados en el Servicio de Neurología del Hospital «Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic» de Barcelona. Resultados: La edad media de comienzo del síndrome es de 5,7 años. Cuatro asocian otros trastornos neuropsiquiátricos, principalmente, el trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH). Cinco habían recibido tratamiento neuroléptico previo (tres con haloperidol). Existe mejoría de los tics en cuatro casos y de la comorbilidad en dos. Cuatro refieren efectos adversos, siendo el aumento de peso el más prevalente. Hasta día de hoy, ninguno ha presentado discinesia tardía. Conclusiones: La risperidona se muestra como fármaco eficaz en el tratamiento del ST. Sus efectos adversos suelen ser bien tolerados, con baja incidencia de síntomas extrapiramidales (EPS), por lo que parece una alternativa válida en el tratamiento de los niños con ST

Introduction: The use of typical neuroleptic agents in Tourette syndrome (TS) is limited by their troublesome side effects such as tardive dyskinesia. Recent studies have suggested that risperidone may be an efficacious and safe drug in the treatment of this syndrome. Objectives: To analyze the use of risperidone in TS in our hospital and to evaluate its efficacy and tolerability. Material and methods: We carried out a retrospective review of the seven TS patients treated with risperidone in our Neurology Department. Results: The mean age at onset was 5.7 years. Four patients presented comorbid neuropsychiatric conditions, most frequently attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Five children had received neuroleptics previously (haloperidol in three cases). Tics improved in four patients and the comorbid disorders in two. Four children developed side effects, weight gain being the most prevalent. No patient has developed tardive dyskenesia. Conclusions: Risperidone shows efficacy in the treatment of TS. Its side effects are generally well tolerated. Extrapyramidal symptoms are infrequent. Consequently, risperidone may be a useful alternative in the treatment of children with TS

PFAPA syndrome: with regard to a case.

BACKGROUND: PFAPA syndrome (Periodic Fever, Aphtas, Pharyngitis and cervical Adenopathies) is one of the causes of periodic fever in pediatrics and it is characterised by high fever, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis and aphtous stomatitis. Its etiopathogeny is unknown. The diagnosis is clinical and the findings of laboratory are unspecified. One or two doses (1 mg/kg) of oral prednisone are enough for a fast resolution of the clinic. It is a benign syndrome and no sequels have been noticed after its disappearance, usually in four years from its beginning. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 10-year-old patient who has been diagnosed of PFAPA syndrome after 3 years and a half of characteristic clinical bouts, with the fulfilment of diagnostic criteria and after having excluded other entities of similar presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Periodic episodes of high fever, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis with a bad response to the conventional treatment should alert us to the PFAPA syndrome. The recognition of this entity will help us to improve the diagnostic and therapeutical focusing, lowering also the anxiety that these cases produce.