Risk factors for nosocomial candidaemia: a case-control study in children.

Candida spp. are increasingly important nosocomial pathogens in critically ill children. Data on risk factors of acquisition in children with candidaemia are limited. To determine the incidence, prognosis and risk factors for acquisition of nosocomial candidaemia in children, a prospective case-control study was performed between July 1998 and January 2000. Candidaemia was defined as the presence of at least one positive blood culture containing Candida spp. For each case, two controls were selected and matched for time and site of hospital admission. Logistic regression was used to obtain estimates of risk after simultaneous control for other variables. Candidaemia was diagnosed in 24 children (1.09/1000 admissions). The species most frequently isolated were Candida albicans (50%) and Candida parapsilosis (17%). Mean age was 58.2+/-58 months between cases and 41.8+/-52.2 months in controls (P not significant). The strongest risk factors for acquisition found in the univariate analysis were underlying disease, previous antibiotic treatment, the number of antibiotics administered, presence of a long-duration catheter and total parenteral nutrition (P<0.05). Sex, the site of hospital admission, artificial ventilatory assistance, transitory venous catheters, arterial and peripherally venous accesses, bladder catheter and transfusions were not statistically significant. The risk factors identified by multiple logistic regression analysis were: permanent catheter (OR 31.5; 3.19-310) and total parenteral nutrition (OR 10.5; 2.76-40.0). Nine (37%) children with nosocomial candidaemia and seven (15%) controls died (P=0.05). These findings should facilitate development of rational approaches to preventing infection and assist clinicians in identifying those patients in whom this life-threatening complication is likely to occur.

Oral ciprofloxacin in the management of children with cancer with lower risk febrile neutropenia.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports and a previous randomized trial conducted at the authors' institution suggested that a lower risk subset of children with febrile neutropenia under chemotherapy might benefit of an oral antibiotic outpatient approach. METHODS: The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of oral ciprofloxacin in the treatment of lower risk febrile neutropenia (LRFN) in children treated for malignant diseases. From November 1998 to December 1999, 93 episodes of LRFN in 87 children (median age, 5.5 years; range, 0.9-15.8 years) were included in a prospective randomized controlled single institution trial. Inclusion criteria included fever (> 38 degrees C), severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count, < 500/mm(3)), and lower risk features (e.g., absence of severe comorbidity factors, good clinical condition, negative blood cultures, control of local infection, prediction of a period of neutropenia less than 10 days after admission, and compliant parents). After 24 hours of a single intravenous ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg) plus amikacin (15 mg/kg) and completed risk assessment workup, patients were discharged and randomly allocated to two groups. Group A (48 episodes) received ciprofloxacin 20 mg/kg/day orally (p.o.) every 12 hours for 6 days. Group B (45 episodes) received intravenous ceftriaxone plus amikacin for 2 days more followed by cefixime (8 mg/kg/day p.o.) every 24 hours for 4 additional days. Failure was defined as the need of a second hospitalization during the same episode. RESULTS: Most of the patients (59% in Group A and 52% in Group B) were treated for malignant solid tumors. Fifteen (31%) children in Group A and 15 (33%) in Group B presented with fever of unknown origin (P value was not significant). No significant differences were found in sites of initial infection between both groups. Overall results in this study were excellent. Only one patient with respiratory failure was detected in Group B, who did well with secondary treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In febrile neutropenic children after anticancer therapy and lower risk features, oral ciprofloxacin for 6 days after 24 hours of intravenous ceftraxione plus amikacin appears to be as efficacious as intravenous ceftriaxone plus amikacin for 2 days more followed by cefixime for 4 additional days. These results contribute to strengthen the concept of LRFN.

[Criteria of low risk of mortality in children with neutropenia and fever during cancer chemotherapy]. / Criterios de bajo riesgo de mortalidad en niños con neutropenia y fiebre durante la quimioterapia por cáncer.

To validate the use of a lower-risk mortality profile in pediatric febrile neutropenia during anticancer therapy and to evaluate the efficacy of a sequential parenteral-oral antibiotic treatment for these children, a prospective study was conducted between May 1997 and December 1999. During this period 247 episodes in 215 patients were included in the present study. Children with neutropenia (ANC < 500/mm3) and fever (> 38 degrees C) due to anticancer therapy were eligible for the study if they presented the following lower-risk conditions: absence of severe co-morbidity factors, good clinical condition, no risk clinical foci, no bacteremia, and responsible parents. They were initially treated with inpatient parenteral short course of ceftriaxone and amikacin followed by ambulatory oral cefixime or ciprofloxacin to complete 7 days. Mean age was 64 (range: 8-200) months. The most common underlying malignant disease was acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 48% (118) of cases and 57% (141) of patients had an indwelling central venous catheter. Clinical evidence of infection was found in 47% (122) of children and the most common site was the upper respiratory tract (81%). Mean period of fever was 1.1 days (r: 1-8) and the duration of neutropenia was 3.9 days (r: 1-9). Sixty-one% (150) of children was discharged with neutropenia. Mean time of hospitalization was 1.5 days. Four clinical failures were detected (1.6%). They all were satisfactorily treated with a secondary treatment and none underwent any major complications or died. The lower-risk profile used was safe and the sequential antibiotic therapy was adequate to manage febrile neutropenia in this subset of children.

Criterios de bajo riesgo de mortalidad en niños con neutropenia y fiebre durante la quimioterapia por cáncer. / [Criteria of low risk of mortality in children with neutropenia and fever during cancer chemotherapy]

To validate the use of a lower-risk mortality profile in pediatric febrile neutropenia during anticancer therapy and to evaluate the efficacy of a sequential parenteral-oral antibiotic treatment for these children, a prospective study was conducted between May 1997 and December 1999. During this period 247 episodes in 215 patients were included in the present study. Children with neutropenia (ANC < 500/mm3) and fever (> 38 degrees C) due to anticancer therapy were eligible for the study if they presented the following lower-risk conditions: absence of severe co-morbidity factors, good clinical condition, no risk clinical foci, no bacteremia, and responsible parents. They were initially treated with inpatient parenteral short course of ceftriaxone and amikacin followed by ambulatory oral cefixime or ciprofloxacin to complete 7 days. Mean age was 64 (range: 8-200) months. The most common underlying malignant disease was acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 48

(118) of cases and 57

(141) of patients had an indwelling central venous catheter. Clinical evidence of infection was found in 47

(122) of children and the most common site was the upper respiratory tract (81

). Mean period of fever was 1.1 days (r: 1-8) and the duration of neutropenia was 3.9 days (r: 1-9). Sixty-one

(150) of children was discharged with neutropenia. Mean time of hospitalization was 1.5 days. Four clinical failures were detected (1.6

). They all were satisfactorily treated with a secondary treatment and none underwent any major complications or died. The lower-risk profile used was safe and the sequential antibiotic therapy was adequate to manage febrile neutropenia in this subset of children.