Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Children and Adolescents With Cancer Infected With SARS-CoV-2 at a Tertiary Care Medical Center in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Our knowledge about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is still evolving; its effects on children with cancer need to be studied more. The aim of this study is to present our experience with SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population and to highlight specific complications and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective and prospective observational study, which involved 21 cancer patients below the age of 18 years in north Jordan. Data regarding their age, sex, cancer type and progression, phase of treatment, and others were collected and reviewed. Patients were classified into confirmed, probable, and suspect according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2021 classification. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients with malignancy were included. Ten patients were males (48%). Mean age of 8.8 years (3 mo to 18 y). Two patients (9.5%) had died; one (4.7%) death was coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related and the other one (4.7%) was due to cancer progression. Two patients (9.5%) had multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Both disease progression and new malignancies were documented in 11 (52%) of our patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of COVID-19 should not distract physicians from investigating new malignancy or relapse as they may come together or may be related to COVID-19 infection. More studies are needed to identify the contribution of SARS-CoV-2 in the pathogenesis of cancer.

Umbilical catheter rupture: A serious complication in neonatal intensive care units.

Umbilical catheterization is commonly used as a route to provide medications and fluids to the neonates as well as for blood sampling and continuous monitoring. Although the rupture of umbilical catheters is considered as a rare, preventable complication, it has been reported several times in the literature. Healthcare providers need to be cautious with catheter placement, maintenance, and removal to prevent such a complication. Hereby, we review the literature about this complication after presenting two incidents of umbilical venous catheter rupture in two separate patients in our neonatal ICU. One was removed easily through the umbilical stump, whereas the other required surgical exploration.