Detection of human metapneumovirus in hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection using real-time RT-PCR in a hospital in northern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly discovered respiratory pathogen. This prospective hospital-based study investigated the clinical role and features of hMPV in Taiwan. METHODS: Respiratory specimens collected from hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection between September 1, 2003 and April 10, 2005 were screened for metapneumovirus using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: During the study period, 930 specimens were obtained from 926 hospitalized children. After exclusion of 200 cases due to lack of clinical evidence of airway infection or diseases with known etiology, 726 were included in the analysis. Among these, 33 children had a positive result for hMPV infection. The majority of these patients were admitted during spring and early summer. Twenty-one (63.6%) were younger than 2 years of age. hMPV accounted for 13.3% of respiratory infections occurring between the ages of 18 and 24 months and was as common a respiratory pathogen as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in that age group. The 11 patients (33.3%) with underlying diseases had a similar disease course to those without underlying diseases. A co-pathogen was found in 11 patients (33.3%). Infected children between 2 and 5 years of age had significantly higher titers of hMPV in their respiratory specimens (103.88 copies/microL) than children younger than 2 years (102.26 copies/microL) (p = 0.013) and children older than 5 years (102.25 copies/microL) (p = 0.005). hMPV positive cases were significantly older than those with RSV infection (p = 0.002) and had a shorter duration of hospitalization (p = 0.001), fewer days of oxygen use (p = 0.001) and higher levels of C-reactive protein (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Metapneumovirus circulates in children in northern Taiwan during spring and early summer. hMPV was the most common respiratory pathogen in children aged between 18 and 24 months hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infection. Real-time RT-PCR is a sensitive method for investigating the epidemiology and diseases associated with hMPV.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia in pediatric patients-- a 10-year analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia is an important cause of mortality among immunocompromised children. However, there has been little information concerning S. maltophilia bacteremia in the pediatric population. METHODS: We reviewed the drug susceptibility of bloodstream isolates of S. maltophilia and medical charts of S. maltophilia bacteremia patients less than 18 years old at the Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital from January 1993 to June 2003. The risk factors associated with mortality of the patients with S. maltophilia bacteremia were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 32 episodes (31 patients) of S. maltophilia bacteremia were reviewed. The average rate of nosocomial bloodstream infection was 8.3 episodes per 100,000 patient-days, and an average of 6.4% of them were caused by S. maltophilia. Malignancy was the most common underlying disease (32%). Six episodes of S. maltophilia bacteremia had soft tissue involvement, and only 1 of them underwent surgical intervention and survived. These 32 isolates were most susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (91%), and no obvious increase in multidrug resistance was noted in the previous 10 years. The crude mortality rate was 40.6%. Malignancy, failure to remove central venous catheter, and ineffective antibiotic treatment were significant risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early and effective antimicrobial therapy and removal of central venous catheter as soon as possible are vital for the successful management of S. maltophilia bacteremia.

Clinical management and outcome of childhood lung abscess: a 16-year experience.

In order to evaluate the clinical manifestations, management and outcome of childhood lung abscess, a retrospective chart review of 27 pediatric patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-9 CM) code of 503.1 (lung abscess) from August 1987 to August 2003 was conducted. Among the 27 patients (14 males and 13 females), 30% (8/27) were primary lung abscess and 70% (19/27) had underlying chronic diseases (secondary lung abscess). The predisposing factors of the primary group (n = 8) included 6 cases of respiratory tract infection, 1 with choking during swimming, and 1 with laceration wound. The underlying diseases in the secondary group (n = 19) included 10 cases of hematologic disorder (52%), 3 of congenital heart disease, 2 of central nervous system anomalies, and 1 each of hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome, chronic lung disease, liver cirrhosis with fistula formation, and Swyer-James syndrome. Eleven patients (41%) underwent diagnostic tapping, including echo-guided aspiration (10 cases) and computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle aspiration (1 case). Positive yield rate from aspiration of lung abscess was 63.6% (7/11). Surgical intervention was performed in 8 (42%) of the secondary group and in 1 patient from the primary group. The pathogens were identified in 11 patients (41%): 5 with oral flora, 2 with Staphylococcus aureus plus other pathogens, 1 with S. aureus alone, 1 with Pseudomonas aeruginosa plus Proteus mirabilis, 1 with P. aeruginosa alone, and 1 with Aspergillus. The average duration of parenteral antibiotic use was 40 days. Five cases (18.5%) died due to poor control of the underlying diseases, and 4 of the patients (15%) had sequelae (2 with bronchiectasis and 2 with lung fibrosis). Seventy percent of lung abscess occurred in children with underlying medical conditions. Early percutaneous aspiration has an important role in identification of pathogens. Oral anaerobes and S. aureus are the core pathogens in primary lung abscess and gram-negative pathogens should also be considered in secondary lung abscess.