Clinical Outcome in Children With Cancer With Two or More Microorganisms Isolated From Blood Cultures During Episodes of Fever and Neutropenia.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial bloodstream infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer and episodes of fever and neutropenia (FN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome in children with cancer with 2 or more microorganisms isolated from blood cultures during their episodes of FN. METHODS: Between 2016 and 2021, children presenting with high-risk FN, admitted to any of the 6 participating hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were included in this study if they have positive blood cultures. We compared the clinical outcome of children with 2 or more microorganisms versus those with single agent isolation. RESULTS: A total of 1074 episodes of high-risk FN were enrolled in the study period, of which 27% (298) had positive blood cultures and 3% (32) had 2 or more microorganisms isolated from blood cultures. The most frequent identified agents were Viridans group streptococci and Escherichia coli in 20%, followed by Coagulase negative staphylococci in 14%. Children with 2 or more microorganisms presented more days of fever (7 vs. 4 days, P = 0.02), needed longer courses of antimicrobial therapy (16 vs. 14 days, P = 0.04) and had higher mortality at day 30 (13% vs. 1%, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Children with cancer and FN with 2 or more microorganisms isolated from blood cultures had a worse clinical outcome than children with single agent isolation.

[Molecular detection of gastrointestinal pathogens among children under 5 years old with diarrhea in a hospital center for rotavirus sentinel surveillance in Chile]. / Detección molecular de patógenos entéricos en niños con diarrea en un hospital centinela de vigilancia de rotavirus en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diarrhea is still a major problem in public health, especially in children under 5 years of age. The identification of the etiologic agent is important for the clinical management of the diarrhea episode and, from the epidemiological point of view, to implement control measures. AIM: To determine the presence of gastrointestinal pathogens in children under five years of age with diarrhea in a Chilean rotavirus surveillance center. METHODS: Observational study in children under five years of age who were hospitalized for diarrhea at the Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital from December 2015 to December 2019. Molecular detection was performed using the FilmArray gastrointestinal (FilmArray GI®) panel. RESULTS: We analyzed 493 diarrheal stool samples of children, 427 samples (87%) were positive and 66 samples (13%) were negative. Of positive samples, 174 samples (41%) and 253 samples (59%) were positive for one or more pathogen, respectively. In children under one year and the group between one and four years there was a predominance of infections caused by enteric virus. Rotavirus and norovirus were the most common virus in both age groups. The most frequent bacteria were EPEC (27%), C. difficile (17%), EAEC (14%) and Campylobacter (9%). In parasites, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium were identified, in 3% and 1% of the total samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular detection system used allowed an increase in the detection of enteropathogens in children under five years of age. The information generated by this type of surveillance could help to characterize the episodes of diarrhea in the population and might be a tool to technically advise the authorities in the decision-making process for the implementation of control measures.

Detección molecular de patógenos entéricos en niños con diarrea en un hospital centinela de vigilancia de rotavirus en Chile / Molecular detection of gastrointestinal pathogens among children under 5 years old with diarrhea in a hospital center for rotavirus sentinel surveillance in Chile

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las diarreas de causa infecciosa son un problema de salud pública, especialmente en niños bajo los cinco años. La identificación de los agentes etiológicos puede ser relevante para el manejo del cuadro clínico y, desde el punto de vista epidemiológico, para la implementación de medidas de control. OBJETIVO: Determinar la presencia de patógenos entéricos en niños bajo los cinco años que se hospitalizaron por diarrea aguda en uno de los centros centinelas de la red de vigilancia de rotavirus en Chile. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional en niños menores de cinco años que se internaron por cuadros de diarrea en el Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, durante diciembre del 2015 a diciembre del 2019, el que forma parte de la red de vigilancia de rotavirus del Ministerio de Salud de Chile. Las muestras fecales se analizaron mediante un test molecular, FilmArray GI® panel, que permite la detección de 22 patógenos entéricos virales, bacterianos y parasitarios. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 493 muestras fecales de niños con episodios de diarrea infecciosa, detectando al menos un patógeno en 427 muestras (87%). De estas muestras positivas, se detectó solo un patógeno en 174 muestras (41%) y dos o más patógenos en 253 muestras (59%). En el grupo de niños bajo un año y el grupo entre uno y cuatro años hubo un predominio de infecciones causadas por virus gastroentéricos, siendo rotavirus y norovirus los virus más detectados en ambos grupos de edad. Las bacterias más frecuentes fueron EPEC (27%), C. difficile (17%), EAEC (14%) y Campylobacter (9%). Respecto a los parásitos, se identificó Giardia lamblia y Cryptosporidium, en el 3 y 1% del total de las muestras, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: La detección molecular utilizada permitió detectar un alto número de enteropatógenos en niños bajo los cinco años. La información generada por este tipo de vigilancia, podría ayudar a caracterizar en la población los episodios de diarrea causados por los principales patógenos entéricos y podría ser una herramienta para asesorar técnicamente a las autoridades en la toma de decisión para la implementación de medidas de control contra estos patógenos.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diarrhea is still a major problem in public health, especially in children under 5 years of age. The identification of the etiologic agent is important for the clinical management of the diarrhea episode and, from the epidemiological point of view, to implement control measures. AIM: To determine the presence of gastrointestinal pathogens in children under five years of age with diarrhea in a Chilean rotavirus surveillance center. METHODS: Observational study in children under five years of age who were hospitalized for diarrhea at the Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital from December 2015 to December 2019. Molecular detection was performed using the FilmArray gastrointestinal (FilmArray GI®) panel. RESULTS: We analyzed 493 diarrheal stool samples of children, 427 samples (87%) were positive and 66 samples (13%) were negative. Of positive samples, 174 samples (41%) and 253 samples (59%) were positive for one or more pathogen, respectively. In children under one year and the group between one and four years there was a predominance of infections caused by enteric virus. Rotavirus and norovirus were the most common virus in both age groups. The most frequent bacteria were EPEC (27%), C. difficile (17%), EAEC (14%) and Campylobacter (9%). In parasites, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium were identified, in 3% and 1% of the total samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular detection system used allowed an increase in the detection of enteropathogens in children under five years of age. The information generated by this type of surveillance could help to characterize the episodes of diarrhea in the population and might be a tool to technically advise the authorities in the decision-making process for the implementation of control measures.

Primer aislamiento de Candida auris en Chile / First isolation de Candida auris in Chile

Resumen Candida auris es una levadura multi-resistente emergente con rápida diseminación mundial. Desde el primer reporte el 2009, varios aislados a través de los cinco continentes han sido identificados como agentes de infecciones asociadas a la atención en salud. Brotes independientes y simultáneos por C. auris se han vuelto prioridad para la comunidad hospitalaria y científica. Además, los errores en identificación y los perfiles de multi-resistencia, raramente observados para otras especies de Candida, resultan en una difícil erradicación y fallas terapéuticas frecuentes en infecciones por C. auris. Presentamos el primer aislamiento de una cepa de C. auris en un hospital en Santiago, en un paciente proveniente de la India, que fue admitido para tratamiento de su pie diabético. La cepa fue recuperada de un cultivo de tejido e identificada por VITEK® 2 Compact. La identificación de C. auris fue confirmada por MALDI-TOF MS y secuenciación. El aislado fue resistente a fluconazol y susceptible a anfotericina y caspofungina, según puntos de corte recomendados por el CDC. La emergencia de C. auris es alarmante debido a que el modo de transmisión dentro del ambiente hospitalario no es claro y probablemente es multifactorial.

Candida auris is an emerging multi-drug-resistant fungus that is rapidly spreading worldwide. Since the first reports in 2009, many isolates across five continents have been identified as agents of hospital-associated infections. Independent and simultaneous outbreaks of C. auris are becoming a major concern for healthcare and scientific community. Moreover, laboratory misidentification and multi-drug-resistant profiles, rarely observed for other non-albicans Candida species, result in difficult eradication and frequent therapeutic failures of C. auris infections. In this article we present the first case of isolation of a strain of C. auris at a hospital in Santiago, in a patient coming from India, who was admitted for treatment of diabetic foot complications. The strain was recovered from a tissue culture and identified by VITEK® 2 Compact. The accurate identification of C. auris was confirmed by means of MALDI-TOF MS and DNA sequence analysis. The isolate was resistant to fluconazole, retaining only susceptibility to amphotericin and caspofungin with MIC breakpoints recommended by CDC. The emergence of C. auris is alarming because the mode of transmission within the healthcare environment is not clear and is likely to be multifactorial.

[First isolation de Candida auris in Chile]. / Primer aislamiento de Candida auris en Chile.

Candida auris is an emerging multi-drug-resistant fungus that is rapidly spreading worldwide. Since the first reports in 2009, many isolates across five continents have been identified as agents of hospital-associated infections. Independent and simultaneous outbreaks of C. auris are becoming a major concern for healthcare and scientific community. Moreover, laboratory misidentification and multi-drug-resistant profiles, rarely observed for other non-albicans Candida species, result in difficult eradication and frequent therapeutic failures of C. auris infections. In this article we present the first case of isolation of a strain of C. auris at a hospital in Santiago, in a patient coming from India, who was admitted for treatment of diabetic foot complications. The strain was recovered from a tissue culture and identified by VITEK® 2 Compact. The accurate identification of C. auris was confirmed by means of MALDI-TOF MS and DNA sequence analysis. The isolate was resistant to fluconazole, retaining only susceptibility to amphotericin and caspofungin with MIC breakpoints recommended by CDC. The emergence of C. auris is alarming because the mode of transmission within the healthcare environment is not clear and is likely to be multifactorial.