The Role of COVID-19 Vaccinal Status in Admitted Children during OMICRON Variant Circulation in Rio de Janeiro, City-Preliminary Report.

Objective: To evaluate COVID-19 vaccination status in admitted children in 2020−2021 and during the OMICRON variant circulation (2022), a period when children older than 12 years of age had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Design: An observational retrospective study. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 were compared in two different periods: 2020−2021 when adolescents aged 12−18 years had not received the complete COVID-19 vaccine, and 2022 when children older than 12 years had received the complete Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine scheme. Setting: Two pediatric hospitals in Rio de Janeiro city. Patients: Children aged < 18 years with confirmed COVID-19. Intervention: None. Main outcome: Vaccination status for COVID-19 on admission. Results: In total, 300 patients were admitted with confirmed COVID-19 (240 in 2020−2021 and 60 in 2022). The distribution of patients according to the age-groups was: 0−2 years (33.3% in 2020−2021 and 53.4% in 2022), 2−5 years (21.7% in 2020−2021 and 10% in 2022), 5−11 years (29.2% in 2020−2021 and 28.3% in 2022), and 12−18 years (15.8% in 2020−2021 and 8.3% in 2022) (p = 0.076). The median length of stay was six days in 2020−2021 and six days in 2022 (p = 0.423). We verified six deaths in the first analysis period and one death in the second one (p = 0.894). Of the 60 children admitted in 2022, 58 (96.7%) did not receive the complete COVID-19 vaccine scheme available. Conclusions: We verified in a "real-world condition" the ability of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to prevent hospitalization in children over 12 years of age.

INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN EMERGENCY ATTENDANCE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN PEDIATRICS / INFLUÊNCIA DO DISTANCIAMENTO SOCIAL CAUSADO PELA PANDEMIA DA COVID-19 NOS ATENDIMENTOS DE EMERGÊNCIA E INTERNAÇÕES EM PEDIATRIA

The aim of this article is to compare number of attendances to pediatric emergencies and hospital admissions, considering a period time in which measures of social distancing and restriction or urban mobility were in course, with the same period in previous years to the pandemic. We performed a case-series study in two pediatric emergencies and hospital admission between 16th March and 16th April 2020 (first month of social distancing in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil). Data were compared with the same period, in the two previous years, using Analysis of variance (ANOVA). A p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.  The number of attendances in the Unit A and B, respectively, were 6.579 and 1.538 in 2018; 5.750 and 1.430 in 2019 and 1.762 and 375 in 2020. The number of hospital admissions in the Unit A and B, respectively, were 823 and 199 in 2018; of 721 and 188 in 2019; and 325 and 135 in 2020. In both units, there was a statistically significant reduction of attendances and hospitals admissions when 2020 year was compared with the two previous years (p>0.0001). Relative percentage of acute respiratory diseases and influenza-like illness was 36.7%, 36.5% and 29.2%, respectively in 2018, 2019 and 2020 in the Unit A; and 25.9%, 24.2% and 24.5%, respectively for the same years, in the Unit B. We concluded that there was a statistically significant reduction of attendances and hospitals admissions in the pediatric emergencies evaluated, being the results attributed to social distancing and restriction of urban mobility during the period studied.

O objetivo deste artigo foi comparar o número de atendimentos em emergências pediátricas e internações hospitalares, considerando um período de tempo no qual vigoravam medidas de distanciamento social e restrição de mobilidade urbana, com o mesmo período em anos anteriores à pandemia da COVID-19. Realizamos um estudo de uma série de casos de atendimentos em duas emergências pediátricas e internações hospitalares entre 16 de março e 16 de abril de 2020 (primeiro mês de distanciamento social no Estado do Rio de Janeiro). Os dados foram comparados com o mesmo período dos dois anos anteriores, através de análise de variância (ANOVA). Um valor de p <0.05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. O número de atendimentos nas unidades A e B, respectivamente, foi de 6.579 e 1.538 em 2018; de 5.750 e 1.430 em 2019 e 1.762 e 375 em 2020. O número de internações nas unidades A e B, respectivamente, foi de 823 e 199 em 2018; de 721 e 188 em 2019; e 325 e 135 em 2020. Houve redução estatisticamente significativa de atendimentos e internações quando o ano de 2020 foi comparado com os anos anteriores nas duas unidades (p<0.0001). O percentual relativo de atendimentos de doenças respiratórias agudas e síndromes gripais foi de 36,7%, 36,5% e 29,2%, respectivamente em 2018, 2019 e 2020 na Unidade A; e 25,9%, 24,2% e 24,5%, respectivamente aos mesmos anos na Unidade B. Concluímos que houve redução estatisticamente significativa no número de atendimentos e internações nas emergências pediátricas avaliadas, sendo o resultado atribuído ao distanciamento social e restrição de mobilidade urbana no período avaliado.

Patterns of antimicrobial consumption in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in Germany and Brazil.

Antibiotic consumption (AC) is a key component of antimicrobial stewardship programs to recognize local patterns of antibiotic use. Our aim was to measure AC in neonatal units, including neonatal (NICU)/paediatric (PICU) intensive care units in different countries. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study in three NICUs, one neonatal ward, and three PICUs with a total of 84 beds. Global and individual AC in days of therapy (DOT) and DOT per 1000 patient-days were assessed. During the study period, 2567 patients were admitted, corresponding to 4961 patient-days in neonatal units and 9243 patient-days in PICUs. Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were more frequent in Brazil than in Germany. Average AC was 386.5 and 1335.5 DOT/1000PD in German and Brazilian neonatal units, respectively. Aminopenicillins plus 3rd generation cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in German neonatal units, while aminopenicillins plus aminoglycosides were the class most commonly used in Brazilian NICU. Average AC was 888.1 and 1440.7 DOT/1000PD in German and Brazilian PICUs, respectively. Antipseudomonal penicillins were most commonly used in the German PICU, and glycopeptides were the most frequently prescribed in Brazilian PICUs. Carbapenems represented 2.3-14% of total DOTs in German neonatal units and 4% in the Brazilian NICU and 13.0% in the German PICU and 6-12.2% in Brazilian PICUs. We concluded that different patterns of most commonly prescribed antibiotics were observed in neonatal units and PICUs in these two countries, probably related to different local patterns of antibiotic resistance, with a higher antibiotic consumption in Brazilian study units.

Healthcare associated infections caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci in a neonatal intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate infections related to health care caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci in a neonatal intensive care unit by assessing antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and potentially effective antibiotic regimens. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study performed on a case series of healthcare-associated infections, and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were evaluated. Newborns from other hospitals who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Rio de Janeiro between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2012, were studied. RESULTS: In total, 765 patients were admitted, totaling 3,051 patient-days, and the incidence density of general infection was 18.9 per 1,000 patient-days. The rate of central venous catheter use was 71.6%, and the positive culture rate for all sites and all infections related to health care were 68.4%. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were identified in 11 (19.2%) of 57 health care-related infections, and infections with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida sp. constituted 5 cases each. Of the 11 cases of coagulase-negative Staphylococci, 10 (90.9%) were primary bloodstream infections. The sensitivity of the coagulase-negative Staphylococci isolates to vancomycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, oxacillin and gentamycin was 100%, 81.8%, 72.7%, 27.2% and 22.2%, respectively. There were no deaths directly attributed to coagulase-negative Staphylococci infection. CONCLUSION: Coagulase-negative Staphylococci was the main agent identified in healthcare-associated infections, with low rates of infections related to central venous catheter. In hospitals with a high oxacillin resistance profile, similar to those included in this study, vancomycin may be used as an initial therapy, although clindamycin represents a viable alternative.

Infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde por Staphylococcus coagulase negativa em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal / Healthcare associated infections caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci in a neonatal intensive care unit

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde, em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal, causadas pelo Staphylococcus coagulase negativa, verificando o perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana e possíveis esquemas antibióticos eficazes. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo retrospectivo de uma série de casos de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde tardias de origem hospitalar atribuída ao Staphylococcus coagulase negativa, avaliando o perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana. Foram estudados os recém-nascidos internados entre 1º de janeiro de 2010 a 30 de junho de 2012 em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, sendo todos os pacientes oriundos de outras unidades. RESULTADOS: Foram admitidos 765 pacientes, totalizando 3.051 pacientes-dia e uma densidade de incidência de infecção geral de 18,9 por 1.000 pacientes-dia. A taxa de utilização de cateteres venosos centrais foi de 71,6% e a positividade das culturas de todos os sítios para todas as infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde foi de 68,4%. O Staphylococcus coagulase negativa foi implicado em 11 (19,2%) das 57 infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde e Klebsiela pneumoniae produtor de betalactamase de espectro estendido e Candida sp em 5 ocasiões cada. Das 11 infecções, 10 (90,9%) foram atribuídas a infecções primárias de corrente sanguínea. A sensibilidade dos isolados de Staphylococcus coagulase negativa em relação à vancomicina, clindamicina, ciprofloxacin, oxacilina e gentamicina foi de 100%, 81,8%, 72,7%, 27,2%, 22,2%, respectivamente. Não houve óbito atribuído diretamente à infecção por Staphylococcus coagulase negativa. CONCLUSÃO: O Staphylococcus ...

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate infections related to health care caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci in a neonatal intensive care unit by assessing antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and potentially effective antibiotic regimens. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study performed on a case series of healthcare-associated infections, and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were evaluated. Newborns from other hospitals who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Rio de Janeiro between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2012, were studied. RESULTS: In total, 765 patients were admitted, totaling 3,051 patient-days, and the incidence density of general infection was 18.9 per 1,000 patient-days. The rate of central venous catheter use was 71.6%, and the positive culture rate for all sites and all infections related to health care were 68.4%. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were identified in 11 (19.2%) of 57 health care-related infections, and infections with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida sp. constituted 5 cases each. Of the 11 cases of coagulase-negative Staphylococci, 10 (90.9%) were primary bloodstream infections. The sensitivity of the coagulase-negative Staphylococci isolates to vancomycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, oxacillin and gentamycin was 100%, 81.8%, 72.7%, 27.2% and 22.2%, respectively. There were no deaths directly attributed to coagulase-negative Staphylococci infection. CONCLUSION: Coagulase-negative Staphylococci was the main agent identified in healthcare-associated infections, with low rates of infections related to central venous catheter. In hospitals with a high oxacillin resistance profile, similar to those included in this study, vancomycin may be used as an initial therapy, although clindamycin represents a viable alternative. .