Incidence and risk factors of bacterial sepsis and invasive fungal infection in neonates and infants requiring major surgery: an Italian multicentre prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are currently available on the incidence rates and risk factors for bacterial sepsis and invasive fungal infections (IFIs) among neonates and infants undergoing major surgery. AIM: To assess the incidence of bacterial sepsis and IFI, fungal colonization, risk factors for sepsis, and mortality in neonates and infants aged <3 months undergoing major surgery. METHODS: A multicentre prospective study was conducted involving 13 level-3 neonatal intensive care units in Italy, enrolling all infants aged ≤3 months undergoing major surgery. FINDINGS: From 2018 to 2021, 541 patients were enrolled. During hospitalization, 248 patients had a bacterial infection, and 23 patients had a fungal infection. Eighty-four patients were colonized by fungal strains. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 2.8%, but this was higher in infected than in uninfected infants (P = 0.034). In multivariate analysis, antibiotic exposure before surgery, ultrasound-guided or surgical placement of vascular catheters, vascular catheterization duration, and gestational age ≤28 weeks were all associated with bacterial sepsis. The risk of IFI was markedly higher in colonized infants (odds ratio (OR): 8.20; P < 0.001) and was linearly associated with the duration of vascular catheterization. Fungal colonization in infants with abdominal surgery increased the probability of IFI 11-fold (OR: 11.1; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preventive strategies such as early removal of vascular catheters and the fluconazole prophylaxis should be considered to prevent bacterial and fungal sepsis in infants undergoing abdominal surgery, and even more so in those with fungal colonization.

Cannula tip intravascular migration in an infant.

In infants, the tip of a cannula is sometimes used as introducer during peripherally inserted central catheters placement. We report a rare complication of this procedure, characterized by intravascular migration of the cannula tip during peripheral insertion of a central venous catheter. We review this unlikely complication and treatment options.

Short antibiotic prophylaxis for bacterial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial.

We compared the effectiveness of a single dose and a three-day course of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing bacterial infections in high-risk neonates. The study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial conducted in a 20-bed tertiary referral neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A series of 130 neonates admitted consecutively to the NICU, fulfilling risk factors for infection, were assigned at random to receive intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis with ampicillin and netilmicin either in two daily doses for 72 h (three-day-administration group, 67 infants) or in a single bolus injection on admission (bolus group, 63 infants). Hospital-acquired infection, the main outcome measure, was defined as infection that developed at least 48 h after admission, and vertical infection (maternally transmitted) was considered to be present when clinical symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings became evident within 48 h of birth. Infections were considered as suspected when clinical and laboratory findings of infection were present, without positive cultures, and as confirmed when positive cultures were also present. No significant differences were found between the two groups of neonates studied in mean birth weight, gestational age or postnatal age on admission. The incidence of vertical infection was similar in the two groups (16/67, 23.9% vs. 14/63, 22.2%). Of the 130 newborns studied, 29 (22.3%) acquired at least one nosocomial infection during their NICU stay; total hospital-acquired infections, calculated as the incidence density of infection (the number of infective episodes divided by the number of days in the NICU), were less frequent among newborns who received the three-day course than the bolus (relative risk 0.69). This difference, although not statistically significant, depended on the different incidence density of confirmed nosocomial infections rather than on suspected infections (relative risk 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.09; P=0.1). There were no significant differences between the two groups in overall mortality. A single bolus administration on admission is therefore likely to be as effective as a three-day course of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing bacterial infection in high-risk infants admitted to an NICU.

Mediterranean clone of penicillin-susceptible, multidrug-resistant serotype 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae in Greece, Italy and Israel.

In 1996, 19 isolates of serotype 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae with a unique resistance pattern were found in carriers attending daycare centres in Patras, Southwestern Greece. These isolates were penicillin susceptible but resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. Subsequently, isolates with the same characteristics were found in 23 additional carriers in central and southern Greece in 1997-98 as well as in 19 carriers in central Italy in 1997, and in seven carriers in southern Israel in 1998. Carriers were all children under 6 years of age, attending daycare centres or outpatient hospital visits. The relatedness of the isolates was determined on representative isolates from the three countries by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of SmaI digests of chromosomal DNA. Most Greek isolates were identical to each other, while isolates from Italy and Israel showed one to three band differences, with all isolates being closely related to each other as well as to the isolates from Greece. We have therefore documented the presence of this unique clone of S. pneumoniae in these three countries and have named this the 'Mediterranean' clone. While isolates appear to have a common origin, their source and direction of spread are unknown. However, isolates from Italy showed the most diversity, suggesting that this clone had been present in that country for a longer period than it had been in Greece.

Prevalence of mefE, erm and tet(M) genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from Central Italy.

One hundred and seventy-three Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from surveillance studies conducted in daycare centres were studied. The mefE, erm and tet(M) genes were detected in 16.2, 45.1 and 47.4% of isolates respectively. Agreement between PCR results and antibiotic susceptibility patterns was 100%. Macrolide resistance was due to the presence of erm in 73.6% of strains and to the presence of mefE in the remaining 26.4%. All tetracycline resistant strains carried the tet(M) gene. erm was associated with tet(M) in 98.7% of strains, whereas no isolate carrying mefE carried tet(M). A significant association was found between mefE and serogroup 6 (P < 0.0005) and between erm and tet(M) and serogroup 19 (P < 0.00001).

Risk factors for nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive-care unit.

The clinical records a years cohort of 280 newborn infants consecutively hospitalized for 48 h or more in our neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) were reviewed. Information on the infants' conditions during the first 12h of life, and on the procedures used in the NICU, were collected. Statistical significance was tested by univariate analysis with the chi(2) test and by multivariate logistic regression analysis with the software program SPSS (Version 10). Over the one-year period reviewed, 90 hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) were contracted; 55 (19.6%) of infants had at least one infection during their stay. The overall in-hospital mortality was 7.1%, and mortality was higher in infants in whom at least one infection developed than in non-infected infants (12.7 vs. 5.8% P=0.13). Very low birthweight infants (VLBW<1,501 g) who had more severe clinical conditions on admission [clinical risk index for babies (CRIB) score >/=5] had an almost two-fold higher risk of contracting a HAI. In the multivariate regression analysis, the onset of a HAI was strongly associated with a low gestational age and the presence of an intravascular catheter. HAIs frequently complicate hospitalization in NICUs and are associated with increased mortality. Our findings also suggest that CRIB could be predictive for the risk of infection in VLBW infants.

Genetic and environmental factors in the changing incidence of allergy.

Several studies have indicated that the incidence and prevalence of allergic diseases are increasing. Such data should not be regarded as mere statistical curiosities, but should be analysed to provide information on the factors contributing to allergy and its changing epidemiology. Extensive evidence has been accumulated that allergic diseases are polyfactorial. Data reported in the literature and particularly twin studies have also suggested polyfactorial control of individual allergy variables, such as total serum levels IgE and IgG4, specificity of antibody response, mediator release from inflammatory cells and target organ response. Markers of genetic susceptibility may identify individuals at risk for allergy, while identification of the environmental factors influencing the phenotypic expression of allergy can be useful in evaluating the cost-benefit ratio of taking preventive measures in such individuals.

Resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children in central Italy.

Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children aged 3-5 years in central Italy who were attending day-care centres or hospital outpatient clinics. One hundred and twenty-one strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated were tested for susceptibility to penicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole. A high prevalence of penicillin-resistant (14%), erythromycin-resistant (60%) and multiply resistant strains (53%) were found. An unusual finding was that 49 of the 64 (76.6%) multiply resistant strains were penicillin-susceptible, 28 serogroup 6 strains also being resistant to the other antibiotics tested. Such strains have not previously been reported from Italy but have the same features as strains recently found in child carriers in the eastern Mediterranean area.

Hemophilus influenzae type b meningitis: pediatric overview.

The authors valued the incidence and clinical therapeutic aspects of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis in children. They report a retrospective study, in children, with diagnosis of acute purulent meningitis, from January 1982 to December 1994, aged between 1 month and 14 years. Particular attention was direct to Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis (20 cases). The incidence rate of Hib meningitis in the overall cases (89) was 22.47% (20), while among children younger than 5 years Hib was the most frequently pathogen isolated (20/58-34.47%). In 1/4 of cases, particularly in children younger than 1 years, exordium was aspecific and unclear. At admission culture and examination of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CFS) have been done. CFS was cultured on blood agar and chocolate plates. A latex agglutination test was used for rapid detection of the bacterial antigens. In some cases we looked for bacterial antigens in urine. 20% of children had complications and 10% had sequelae (1 years of follow-up). We didn't have any dead. Antibiotic treatment was principally with Ampicillin, Cephalosporin and Chloramphenicol. The results of this study confirm the Hib gravity and suggest that the administration of conjugate vaccine against Hib to all living in Italy is justified.

Incidence of bacterial colonization in the throat and in urines at paediatric age with evaluation of sensitivity to common antibiotics.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of bacterial colonization in the throat and in urines of children admitted to a paediatric ward in the year 1994. To test the sensitivity of isolates on the most common antibiotics used in therapy. METHODS: The investigation was carried out on a group of 270 children (125 male and 145 female), aged between 3 months and 12 years, hospitalized with feverish infectious pathology in the department of infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University "La Sapienza" of Rome. The cultures of the throat swabs and on urines were performed on the admission of the children before the beginning of the therapy. RESULTS: The throat-swab cultures showed pathogenous microrganisms in 232 samples (85.9%) with a slight prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria (122) with respect to Gram-positive (110) and saprophytic microbial flora (38). The urine cultures proved to be positive in 81 cases (30%) with a prevalence of Gram-negative (56) above Gram-positive isolates (25). CONCLUSIONS: The two/thirds of paediatric patients hospitalized in an Infectious Diseases Department appeared to be colonized in the upper respiratory tract, whereas in about 10% of them a marked bacteriuria was clearly evident, often in the absence of specific symptoms. A few isolates either from the throat or from urines, showed resistance to the common antibacterial agents.