The care of critically ill adults with COVID-19 in Ontario pediatric intensive care units.

PURPOSE: To describe and review the experience of two pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Ontario, Canada, adapting and providing care to critically ill adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. CLINICAL FEATURES: At a time of extreme pressure to adult intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, two PICUs provided care to critically ill adults with COVID-19 pneumonia. Substantial yet rapid planning was required to facilitate safe delivery of critical care to adult patients while maintaining PICU services, including thoughtful development of care pathways and patient selection. To prepare clinical staff, several communication strategies, knowledge translation, skill consolidation, and system-adaptation mechanisms were developed. There was iterative adaptation of operational processes, including staffing models, specialist consultation, and the pharmacy. Care provided by the interprofessional teams was reoriented as appropriate to the needs of critically ill adults in close collaboration with adult ICU teams. Forty-one adults were admitted to the two PICUs over a 12-week period. In total, 36 patients (88%) received invasive ventilation, eight patients (20%) were supported with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and six patients (15%) received continuous renal replacement therapy. Four died in the PICU during this period. Feedback from staff included anxiety around reorienting practice to the care of critically ill adults, physical exhaustion, and psychological distress. Importantly, staff also reported a renewed sense of purpose with participation in the program. CONCLUSION: Though challenging, the experience has provided opportunity to enhance collaboration with partner institutions and improve the care of older children and adolescents in the PICU.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avions pour objectif de décrire et examiner l'expérience de deux unités de soins intensifs pédiatriques (USIP) en Ontario, au Canada, qui se sont adaptées et ont fourni des soins aux adultes gravement malades pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. CARACTéRISTIQUES CLINIQUES: À l'époque où la capacité des unités de soins intensifs (USI) pour adultes était extrêmement sollicitée, deux USIP ont prodigué des soins à des adultes gravement malades souffrant de pneumonie liée à la COVID-19. Une planification substantielle mais rapide a été nécessaire pour faciliter la prestation sécuritaire de soins intensifs à une patientèle adulte tout en maintenant les services de l'USIP, y compris l'élaboration réfléchie des trajectoires de soins et la sélection de la patientèle. Pour préparer le personnel clinique, plusieurs stratégies de communication, d'application des connaissances, de consolidation des compétences et de mécanismes d'adaptation du système ont été élaborées. Il y a eu une adaptation progressive des processus opérationnels, y compris des modèles de dotation, des consultations de spécialistes et de la pharmacie. Les soins fournis par les équipes interprofessionnelles ont été réorientés en fonction des besoins des adultes gravement malades en étroite collaboration avec les équipes adultes de soins intensifs. Quarante et une personnes adultes ont été admises dans les deux unités de soins intensifs pédiatriques sur une période de 12 semaines. Au total, 36 adultes (88 %) ont bénéficié d'une ventilation invasive, huit personnes (20 %) ont reçu une oxygénation par membrane extracorporelle veino-veineuse, et six (15 %) ont reçu un traitement substitutif de l'insuffisance rénale en continu. Quatre personnes sont décédées à l'USIP au cours de cette période. Les commentaires du personnel comprenaient de l'anxiété liée à la réorientation de leur pratique vers des soins à des adultes gravement malades, l'épuisement physique et la détresse psychologique. Fait important, le personnel a également signalé un regain de motivation lié à la participation de leur USIP à ce programme. CONCLUSION: Bien que difficile, l'expérience a permis d'améliorer la collaboration avec les établissements partenaires et d'améliorer les soins aux enfants plus âgé·es et aux adolescent·es de l'USIP.

Comparison of Specialist and Nonspecialist Transport Teams for Emergency Neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVES: Current guidance in the United Kingdom recommends that children requiring emergency neurosurgical intervention should be transported by referring hospital (RH) teams. We aimed to compare transports performed by RH teams and by specialized pediatric critical care transport (PCCTs) teams in terms of timings and patient outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis over a 5-year period of children admitted from an external hospital to the pediatric intensive care unit at a pediatric neurosurgical center and receiving emergency neurosurgery within 24 hours of admission. Data were collected on RH characteristics, patient demographics, clinical status, transfer method (RH or PCCT team), timings (arrival at neurosurgical center, neurosurgical procedure), and clinical outcomes (length of stay and mortality). Univariate analysis was used to compare patient characteristics, times, and outcomes between RH and PCCT team transfers. Survival analysis was performed to analyze arrival time by transfer modality. RESULTS: During the study period, 75 children with acute neurosurgical emergencies were transferred. Median age was 6.7 years (interquartile range, 1.8-10.7), and 63% had nontraumatic diagnoses. The commonest mode of transfer was by RH teams after initial referral to a PCCT team (53.3%). The median distance was greatest for transfers by RH teams (14 km). Overall median arrival time was 5 hours (interquartile range, 3.6-7.4) with no significant difference between groups ( P = 0.3). Median length of pediatric intensive care unit stay and mortality did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Specialist critical care transport teams are involved in one third of transfers of children with acute neurosurgical emergencies. While the overriding priority is timely transfer, a tailored approach to the use of PCCTs may be appropriate particularly for children presenting to hospitals nearer to neurosurgical centers.

Presentation and Investigation of Pediatric Bone and Joint Infections in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the presenting features of bone and joint infections with a view to identify distinguishing trends that will be useful for pediatric emergency departments. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patient records over a 12-year period in the pediatric emergency department of a large regional pediatric teaching center serving a diverse population. RESULTS: There were 88 cases of osteoarticular infections during the study period. Pain, fever, and impaired function were commonly reported, but overall, there was inconsistency in the presenting features. Inflammatory makers were sensitive tools, particularly in combination. When C-reactive protein, total white cell count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were all abnormal, 98% of bone and joint infections were identified.Causative organisms were identified in only 38% of cases, mostly from cultures of synovial fluid and bone. Streptococcal organisms were significantly more likely to be isolated in children under 5 years than in children over 5 years (P = <0.014). Staphylococcal organisms were significantly more likely to be isolated in children over 5 years than in children under 5 years (P = <0.001). Identification of virulent organisms such as Panton-Valentine leukocidin Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus in our study should prompt review of diagnostic techniques and antibiotic choices. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, children under 5 years were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with septic arthritis than osteomyelitis (P = 0. 006). Children over 12 years were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with osteomyelitis than septic arthritis (P = 0. 019). These trends are useful to consider at presentation and in cases of diagnostic uncertainty.

Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections in Pediatric Critical Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The reported rising global rates of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection raise concern for disease related increase in critical illness and fatalities. An enhanced understanding of various presentations to health care and clinical course could improve early recognition and therapy in children with iGAS. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of iGAS infections among children admitted to critical care. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of children admitted to the PICU at The Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Canada, between March 2022 and June 2023. Eligible patients were 0 to 18 years, with a diagnosis of iGAS infection. We describe the proportion of children admitted to the PICU with iGAS over the study period, their clinical characteristics, the frequency and timing of therapies, discharge versus baseline function, and PICU mortality. RESULTS: Among the 1820 children admitted to the PICU, 29 (1.6%) patients had iGAS infection. Of these 29 patients, 80% (n = 23) survived to hospital discharge. Patients who survived generally had favorable functional outcomes. Despite the high severity of illness and mortality described in this cohort, 61% returned to their baseline functional status by hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of critically ill children with iGAS in Canada during the increased incidence reported worldwide. We describe the clinical course of iGAS infection in children admitted to PICU with access to advanced extracorporeal interventions. Though there is a high mortality rate in this cohort, those who survive have favorable outcomes.

Vascular Complications in Children Following Button Battery Ingestions: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Children presenting to health care facilities with button battery (BB) impaction. OBJECTIVES: To describe characteristics of children with vascular complications after BB impaction, as well as associated outcomes. DATA SOURCES: National Capital Poison Center registry and PubMed database from inception to December 2021. STUDY SELECTION: All reports describing children aged <18 years with vascular, esophageal, or airway complications after BB ingestion. DATA EXTRACTION: We extracted characteristics including date of publication, age and sex of child, battery type and size, duration and location of impaction, complications, subsequent interventions, and interval between battery removal and death. RESULTS: A total of 361 cases involved severe complications or death after BB ingestion (321 cases from the National Capital Poison Center registry database, 40 additional cases from PubMed). Nineteen percent (69 of 361) were fatal and 14% (51 of 361) involved vascular injuries. Three-quarters (75%) of vascular complications were aorto-esophageal fistulae and 82% of vascular injuries were not survivable. Fatal vascular cases had significantly longer median impaction time (96 hours versus 144 hours, P <.05) and a wider range of presenting features than survivors. LIMITATIONS: The total number of cases with vascular complications was small, data reported varied between cases, and no data were available on overall exposure. Long-term morbidity data were not available for the survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged BB impaction is a risk factor for vascular complications and death. A high index of suspicion is required for children representing with hematemesis after BB impaction, with prompt transfer to a tertiary center because vascular surgical intervention may offer a chance of survival.

Up to the Challenge: Adapting Pediatric Intensive Care During a Global Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health systems world wide. In our region, surging numbers of critically ill adult patients demanded urgent system-wide responses. During the peak of the pandemic, our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) team redesigned the existing educational resources and processes of care to ensure for adult patients for the first time in the hospital's history. Aim: Describe the experiences and impacts of the rapidly initiated Adult COVID-19 Program on health care providers (HCP) and family members. Havelock's Theory of Change framed the examination of Adult COVID-19 Program participant experiences and surfaced lessons learned. Materials and Methods: A quality improvement review was employed to collect feedback about the program experience from the health care team and patient's family members. HCP completed a questionnaire 10 months following the implementation of the program and feedback from family members was provided during the program was obtained. Havelock's Theory of Change was used to explore trends and frame participants' experiences. Results: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit bedside team members and clinical leaders (n = 17), adult hospital partners (n = 3), and family members (n = 8) participated. HCP describe; motivation and readiness; concern for personal safety and uncertainty experienced in the early program phases; the importance of supports and resources; use of relationships and collaboration to facilitate change; the emotional impacts of this unique experience; and opportunities for individual and team growth. An overarching theme of 'doing our part to help' emerged. Family members described the positive impacts of family-centered interventions offered, individualized care, and shock at their family member's illness. Conclusion: The PICU team rapidly adapted to provide care for adults at the peak of the pandemic. Family members expressed feeling grateful for the care their loved ones received in the pediatric setting. The experience of caring for adult patients with COVID-19 was a source of tension, personal growth, and meaning for the pediatric intensive care team.

Healthcare-associated bacterial infections in the paediatric ICU.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 3.2 million patients annually develop healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in Europe alone amid the major challenge of increasing antimicrobial resistance. Critically ill children warrant specific evaluation because of differences in epidemiology, causative organisms and infection sites. OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of three types of HCAI in critically ill children and determine the effect on their disease course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort review of critically ill children admitted to a general paediatric ICU (PICU) at a regional academic tertiary referral centre over a 3 year period. RESULTS: There were 1930 admissions with a median age of 38 months. Children with HCAIs had a higher incidence of comorbidities (74% versus 24%) and a longer median length of stay (8 days versus 3 days). We identified 26 positive isolates (blood, lower respiratory and urine) taken 48 h or more after admission. The combined incidence was 1.34%. Hospital-acquired pneumonia accounted for 58% of HCAIs, urinary tract infections for 31% and bloodstream infections for 11%. The majority (61.5%) of HCAIs were caused by Gram-negative organisms. Seven isolates were resistant to antimicrobials used to treat HCAI. All of these were Gram-negative organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli). CONCLUSIONS: These data revealed a low incidence of HCAIs, 27% of which were resistant Gram-negative organisms. Critically ill children with HCAIs were more likely to have comorbidities and an increased length of stay. These factors may increasingly impact on PICU bed availability, an already limited resource.