Severe adenovirus infection outbreak in Colombia: Experience from a tertiary pediatric hospital in 2022. / Brote de adenovirus grave en Colombia: experiencia de un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel en 2022

Introduction. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many countries experienced decreased respiratory virus circulation, followed by an out-of-season outbreak. In a pediatric hospital in Colombia, we observed a surge in severe adenovirus infections, leading to concerns about the impact of eased public health restrictions and immune debt in children under five years old. Objective. To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with severe adenovirus infection in a pediatric hospital in Colombia. Materials and methods. We reviewed the data of 227 patients with severe adenovirus infection at the Fundación Hospital Pediátrico La Misericordia. Results. A total of 196 patients were included in this study. The median age was two years, and 62% were male. Adenoviruses were isolated from all patients' samples. Ninetyseven percent were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, 94% required respiratory support, and the in-hospital lethality rate was 11%. Conclusion. In 2022, there was an outbreak of severe adenovirus infections, affecting mainly children under five years of age, with higher-than-usual mortality.

Introducción. Durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2, muchos países evidenciaron una disminución en la circulación de virus respiratorios, seguida por un brote fuera de la temporada esperada. En un hospital de Colombia, se observó un aumento en los casos de infección grave por adenovirus, lo cual generó preocupación sobre el impacto que tuvo la disminución de los cuidados establecidos durante pandemia y la posible deuda inmunológica en niños menores de cinco años. Objetivo. Describir las características clínicas de los pacientes con infección grave por adenovirus en un hospital pediátrico de Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se revisaron 227 pacientes con infección grave por adenovirus en la Fundación Hospital Pediátrico La Misericordia, desde el 1° de enero hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2022. Resultados. El estudio incluyó 196 casos. La edad media de los pacientes fue de dos años y el 62 % eran de sexo masculino. Los adenovirus se aislaron a partir de las muestras de todos los pacientes. El 97 % de los pacientes ingresó a la unidad de cuidados intensivos, el 94 % requirió soporte ventilatorio y la tasa de mortalidad fue del 11 %. Conclusiones. En el 2022 hubo un brote de adenovirus que afectó principalmente a los niños menores de cinco años, con una mortalidad mayor a lo reportado con anterioridad en Colombia.

Epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of S. aureus pediatric infections in Colombia 2018-2021, a national multicenter study (Staphylored Colombia).

Background: Staphylococcus aureus infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric populations worldwide. The Staphylo Research Network conducted an extensive study on pediatric patients across Colombia from 2018 to 2021. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of S. aureus in this patient group. Methods: We analyzed S. aureus isolates from WHONET-reporting centers. An "event" was a positive culture isolation in a previously negative individual after 2 weeks. We studied center characteristics, age distribution, infection type, and antibiotic susceptibilities, comparing methicillin sensitive (MSSA) and resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. Results: Isolates from 20 centers across 7 Colombian cities were included. Most centers (80%) served both adults and children, with 55% offering oncology services and 85% having a PICU. We registered 8,157 S. aureus culture isolations from 5,384 events (3,345 MSSA and 1,961 MRSA) in 4,821 patients, with a median age of 5 years. Blood (26.2%) and skin/soft tissue (18.6%) were the most common infection sources. Most isolates per event remained susceptible to oxacillin (63.2%), clindamycin (94.3%), and TMP-SMX (98.3%). MRSA prevalence varied by city (<0.001), with slightly higher rates observed in exclusively pediatric hospitals. In contrast, the MRSA rate was somewhat lower in centers with Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP). MRSA was predominantly isolated from osteoarticular infections and multiple foci, while MSSA was more frequently associated with recurrent infections compared to MRSA. Conclusions: This is the largest study of pediatric S. aureus infections in Colombia. We found MSSA predominance, but resistance have important regional variations. S. aureus remains susceptible to other commonly used antibiotics such as TMP-SMX and clindamycin. Ongoing monitoring of S. aureus infections is vital for understanding their behavior in children. Prospective studies within the Staphylored LATAM are underway for a more comprehensive clinical and genetic characterization.

Raoultella ornithinolytica urinary tract infection in a pediatric patient with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Currently, Raoultella ornithinolytica is considered an emerging pathogen of community- and hospital-acquired infection, particularly in patients with immunodeficiencies, malignancies, anatomical abnormalities, or after invasive procedures. Pediatric infections with R. ornithinolytica are exceedingly rare, with only six previously reported cases, of which only two were reported as a urinary tract infection. CASE REPORT: Here, we describe a polymicrobial urinary tract infection (R. ornithinolytica and Enterococcus faecalis) in a pediatric patient with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which was successfully treated with ampicillin-sulbactam. CONCLUSIONS: To the extent of our knowledge, we report the seventh case in a pediatric patient and only the third case of a urinary tract infection in this age group caused by R. ornithinolytica.

Raoultella ornithinolytica urinary tract infection in a pediatric patient with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia / Infección de vías urinarias por Raoultella ornithinolytica en un paciente pediátrico con leucemia linfoblástica aguda de células T

Abstract Background: Currently, Raoultella ornithinolytica is considered an emerging pathogen of community- and hospital-acquired infection, particularly in patients with immunodeficiencies, malignancies, anatomical abnormalities, or after invasive procedures. Pediatric infections with R. ornithinolytica are exceedingly rare, with only six previously reported cases, of which only two were reported as a urinary tract infection. Case report: Here, we describe a polymicrobial urinary tract infection (R. ornithinolytica and Enterococcus faecalis) in a pediatric patient with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which was successfully treated with ampicillin-sulbactam. Conclusions: To the extent of our knowledge, we report the seventh case in a pediatric patient and only the third case of a urinary tract infection in this age group caused by R. ornithinolytica.

Resumen Introducción: Actualmente Raoultella ornithinolytica es considerado un patógeno emergente involucrado en infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad y en el hospital, en particular en pacientes con algún tipo de inmunodeficiencia, malignidad, alteraciones anatómicas o sometidos a procedimientos invasivos. Las infecciones pediátricas causadas por R. ornithinolytica son sumamente raras, con solo seis casos publicados, de los cuales nada más dos se presentaron como infección de vías urinarias. Caso clínico: Se describe una infección de vías urinarias polimicrobiana (R. ornithinolytica y Enterococcus faecalis) en un paciente pediátrico con leucemia linfoblástica aguda de células T, que fue tratado satisfactoriamente con ampicilina-sulbactam. Conclusiones: Con base en lo que se sabe hasta el momento, se reporta el séptimo caso en un paciente pediátrico y el tercer caso de infección de vías urinarias causada por R. ornithinolytica en este grupo de edad.

Brote de 4 casos leptospirosis de un grupo familiar en zona rural tropical de Colombia: un reporte de caso / Outbreak of 4 leptospirosis cases in a family group in tropical rural zone of Colombia: a case report

La leptospirosis es una zoonosis con manifestaciones clínicas causadas por espiroquetas patógenas del género Leptospira spp. Su curso puede ser desde enfermedad leve hasta un síndrome ictero-hemorrágico severo denominado enfermedad de Weil. Se estudió un brote epidemiológico constituido por una serie de cuatro casos de leptospirosis de severidad moderada a severa, ocurridos en una zona rural de clima tropical en los llanos orientales de Colombia, a 450 metros sobre el nivel del mar en una familia visitante en Puerto Lleras, Meta, Colombia. Probablemente secundario al consumo de aguas contaminadas por orina de roedores. Las pacientes fueron ingresadas bajo la sospecha de un síndrome ictérico de origen infeccioso con un falso positivo para antígeno de superficie de hepatitis B. Dos pacientes desarrollaron síndrome de Weil asociado a microangiopatía trombótica por lo que requirieron manejo en unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) sin embargo, una de ellas fallece y las otras dos pacientes desarrollan signos y síntomas moderados evidenciando un curso variable de la enfermedad. En nuestro país existe una sobre notificación de síndromes febriles, ictéricos e icterohemorragicos de diferentes etiologías y difícil diagnóstico por lo que la leptospirosis tiende a ser confundida o ignorada como diferencial en muchos casos.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with clinical manifestations caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira spp. Its course can range from mild illness to a severe jaundice-hemorrhagic syndrome called Weil's disease. An epidemiological outbreak consisting of a series of four cases of leptospirosis of moderate to severe severity, which occurred in a rural area with a tropical climate in the eastern plains of Colombia, at 450 meters above sea level, was studied in a visiting family in Puerto Lleras, Meta, Colombia. Probably secondary to the consumption of water contaminated by rodent urine. The patients were admitted on suspicion of an infectious jaundice syndrome with a false positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Two patients developed Weil's syndrome associated with thrombotic microangiopathy, requiring ICU management, however, one of them died and the other two patients develop moderate signs and symptoms showing a variable course of the disease. In our country there is an overreporting of febrile, jaundice and jaundice syndromes of different etiologies and difficult diagnosis, so that leptospirosis tends to be confused or ignored as differential in many cases.