Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers : A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain if medical masks offer similar protection against COVID-19 compared with N95 respirators. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether medical masks are noninferior to N95 respirators to prevent COVID-19 in health care workers providing routine care. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04296643). SETTING: 29 health care facilities in Canada, Israel, Pakistan, and Egypt from 4 May 2020 to 29 March 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 1009 health care workers who provided direct care to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. INTERVENTION: Use of medical masks versus fit-tested N95 respirators for 10 weeks, plus universal masking, which was the policy implemented at each site. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was confirmed COVID-19 on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. RESULTS: In the intention-to-treat analysis, RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 occurred in 52 of 497 (10.46%) participants in the medical mask group versus 47 of 507 (9.27%) in the N95 respirator group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.69]). An unplanned subgroup analysis by country found that in the medical mask group versus the N95 respirator group RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 occurred in 8 of 131 (6.11%) versus 3 of 135 (2.22%) in Canada (HR, 2.83 [CI, 0.75 to 10.72]), 6 of 17 (35.29%) versus 4 of 17 (23.53%) in Israel (HR, 1.54 [CI, 0.43 to 5.49]), 3 of 92 (3.26%) versus 2 of 94 (2.13%) in Pakistan (HR, 1.50 [CI, 0.25 to 8.98]), and 35 of 257 (13.62%) versus 38 of 261 (14.56%) in Egypt (HR, 0.95 [CI, 0.60 to 1.50]). There were 47 (10.8%) adverse events related to the intervention reported in the medical mask group and 59 (13.6%) in the N95 respirator group. LIMITATION: Potential acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 through household and community exposure, heterogeneity between countries, uncertainty in the estimates of effect, differences in self-reported adherence, differences in baseline antibodies, and between-country differences in circulating variants and vaccination. CONCLUSION: Among health care workers who provided routine care to patients with COVID-19, the overall estimates rule out a doubling in hazard of RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 for medical masks when compared with HRs of RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 for N95 respirators. The subgroup results varied by country, and the overall estimates may not be applicable to individual countries because of treatment effect heterogeneity. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Canadian Institutes of Health Research, World Health Organization, and Juravinski Research Institute.

Survey of Infection Control Precautions for Patients with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency.

Severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) is caused by an array of genetic disorders resulting in a diminished adaptive immune system due to impaired T lymphocytes. In these patients, active infection at the time of hematopoietic transplantation has been shown to increase morbidity and mortality. To prevent transmission of infections in SCID patients, standardized infection control precautions should be implemented. An online survey regarding SCID-specific protocols was distributed through several immunodeficiency organizations. Seventy-three responses were obtained, with the majority (55%) of responses from the USA, 15% from Canada, and the remainder from 12 other countries. Only 50% of respondents had a SCID-specific infection control protocol at their center, and while a majority of these centers had training for physicians, a small minority had training for other healthcare workers such as nursing and housekeeping staff. Significant variability of infection control practices, such as in-patient precautions, required personal protective equipment (PPE), diet restrictions, visitor precautions and discharge criteria, was found between different treatment centers. There is a paucity of evidence-based data regarding the safest environment to prevent infection in SCID patients. Institutional protocols may have significant impact on infection risk, survival, family well-being, child development and cost of care. From these results, it is evident that further multi-center research is required to determine the safest and healthiest environment for these children, so that evidence-based infection control protocols for patients with SCID can be developed.

Trends in health care-associated infections in acute care hospitals in Canada: an analysis of repeated point-prevalence surveys.

BACKGROUND: Health care-associated infections are a common cause of patient morbidity and mortality. We sought to describe the trends in these infections in acute care hospitals, using data from 3 national point-prevalence surveys. METHODS: The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) conducted descriptive point-prevalence surveys to assess the burden of health care-associated infections on a single day in February of 2002, 2009 and 2017. Surveyed infections included urinary tract infection, pneumonia, Clostridioides difficile infection, infection at surgical sites and bloodstream infections. We compared the prevalence of infection across the survey years and considered the contribution of antimicrobial-resistant organisms as a cause of these infections. RESULTS: We surveyed 28 of 33 (response rate 84.8%) CNISP hospitals (6747 patients) in 2002, 39 of 55 (response rate 71.0%) hospitals (8902 patients) in 2009 and 47 of 66 (response rate 71.2%) hospitals (9929 patients) in 2017. The prevalence of patients with at least 1 health care-associated infection increased from 9.9% in 2002 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.4%-11.5%) to 11.3% in 2009 (95% CI 9.4%-13.5%), and then declined to 7.9% in 2017 (95% CI 6.8%-9.0%). In 2017, device-associated infections accounted for 35.6% of all health care-associated infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 3.9% of all organisms identified from 2002 to 2017; other antibiotic-resistant organisms were uncommon causes of infection for all survey years. INTERPRETATION: In CNISP hospitals, there was a decline in the prevalence of health care-associated infection in 2017 compared with previous surveys. However, strategies to prevent infections associated with medical devices should be developed. Apart from MRSA, few infections were caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Sickness presenteeism: The prevalence of coming to work while ill among paediatric resident physicians in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Sickness presenteeism is defined as the act of attending one's job despite ill-health. Recently, physicians and other health care workers have become the focus of sickness presenteeism research, because presenteeism in this population can put patients at risk of infection. There are currently no data on this topic among physicians in Canada. The aim of this study was to investigate sickness presenteeism in paediatric resident physicians in Canada. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey study in which all paediatric residents in Canada were eligible. Outcomes of interest included prevalences of sickness presenteeism, sickness during the study period and voluntary self-appointed personal protective equipment use when engaging in sickness presenteeism. RESULTS: Response rate was 56.5% (N=323). During the previous 2 months, 61% (95% confidence interval [CI] 55.7 to 66.3) of respondents reported having experienced an illness and 59% (95% CI 53.7 to 64.5) of respondents had come to work sick. Of those who reported becoming ill during the study period, 97.0% (95% CI 94.6 to 99.4) reported coming to work while sick. There was no difference in prevalence when comparing across post-graduate year training levels. Extra personal protective equipment was used by 86% (95% CI 82.1 to 91.7) when engaging in sickness presenteeism. CONCLUSION: Sickness presenteeism is a common phenomenon among paediatric resident physicians. Our results should influence residents and supervising staff physicians to encourage appropriate self-care at home, rather than presenteeism.

Antimicrobial use over a four-year period using days of therapy measurement at a Canadian pediatric acute care hospital.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a concern that is challenging the ability to treat common infections. Surveillance of antimicrobial use in pediatric acute care institutions is complicated because the common metric unit, the defined daily dose, is problematic for this population. OBJECTIVE: During a four-year period in which no specific antimicrobial stewardship initiatives were conducted, pediatric antimicrobial use was quantified using days of therapy (DOT) per 100 patient days (PD) (DOT/100 PD) at the Alberta Children's Hospital (Calgary, Alberta) for benchmarking purposes. METHODS: Drug use data for systemic antimicrobials administered on wards at the Alberta Children's Hospital were collected from electronic medication administration records. DOT were calculated and rates were determined using 100 PD as the denominator. Changes over the surveillance period and subgroup proportions were represented graphically and assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: Total antimicrobial use decreased from 93.6 DOT/100 PD to 75.7 DOT/100 PD (19.1%) over the 2010/2011 through to the 2013/2014 fiscal years. During this period, a 20.0% increase in PD and an essentially stable absolute count of DOT (2.9% decrease) were observed. Overall, antimicrobial use was highest in the pediatric intensive care and oncology units. DISCUSSION: The exact changes in prescribing patterns that led to the observed reduction in DOT/100 PD with associated increased PD are unclear, but may be a topic for future investigations. CONCLUSION: Antimicrobial use data from a Canadian acute care pediatric hospital reported in DOT/100 PD were compiled for a four-year time period. These data may be useful for benchmarking purposes.

HISTORIQUE: La résistance aux antimicrobiens nuit à la capacité de traiter les infections courantes. Il est difficile de surveiller l'utilisation d'antimicrobiens dans les établissements de soins aigus en pédiatrie, parce qu'il est difficile d'établir l'unité métrique habituelle, qui est la dose quotidienne définie, au sein de cette population. OBJECTIF: Après quatre ans sans initiative de gérance des antimicrobiens précise, les chercheurs ont quantifié l'utilisation des antimicrobiens pédiatriques au moyen des jours de traitement (JdT) par 100 jours-patients (JP) (JdT/100 JP) à l'Alberta Children's Hospital de Calgary en vue d'une analyse comparative. MÉTHODOLOGIE: À partir des dossiers électroniques sur l'administration des médicaments, les chercheurs ont colligé les données sur l'utilisation des antimicrobiens systémiques administrés dans les services de l'Alberta Children's Hospital. Ils ont calculé les JdT et déterminé les taux à l'aide du dénominateur 100 JP. Ils ont représenté graphiquement les changements pendant la période de surveillance et les proportions des sous-groupes et les ont évalués à l'aide de la régression linéaire. RÉSULTATS: L'utilisation totale d'antimicrobiens a reculé de 93,6 JdT/100 JP à 75,7 JdT/100 JP (19,1 %) entre les exercices 2010­2011 et 2013­2014. Pendant cette période, les chercheurs ont observé une augmentation de 20,0 % des JP et une numération absolue de JdT pratiquement stable (diminution de 2,9 %). Dans l'ensemble, l'utilisation d'antimicrobiens était plus élevée dans les unités pédiatriques de soins intensifs et d'oncologie. EXPOSÉ: On ne sait pas exactement quels changements aux profils de prescription ont donné lieu à la réduction observée de JdT/100 JP et à l'augmentation connexe de JP, mais cette question pourrait faire l'objet de prochaines recherches. CONCLUSION: Pendant quatre ans, les chercheurs ont compilé les données sur l'utilisation d'antimicrobiens en JdT/100 JP dans un hôpital pédiatrique canadien de soins aigus. Ces données peuvent être utiles dans une analyse comparative.

A mixed-methods needs assessment for an antimicrobial stewardship curriculum in pediatrics.

Objective: Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) education initiatives for multidisciplinary teams are most successful when addressing psychosocial factors driving antimicrobial prescribing (AP) and when they address the needs of the team to allow for a tailored approach to their education. Design: We conducted a mixed-methods embedded study as a needs assessment, involving quantitative analysis of AS concerns observed by pharmacists through an audit while attending clinical team rounds, as well as qualitative semi-structured interviews based on the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF) to identify psychosocial barriers and facilitators for antimicrobial prescribing for an inpatient general pediatric service. We analyzed the data using deductive and inductive methods by mapping the TDF to a model for social determinants of antimicrobial prescribing (SDAP) in pediatric inpatient health care teams. Setting: The Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), at a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Canada. Participants: Interviews (n = 23) with staff and resident physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists. Results: Psychosocial facilitators and barriers for AS practice in the PICU and CTU which were identified included: collaboration, shared decision-making, locally accessible guidelines, and an overarching goal of doing right by the patient and feeling empowered as a prescriber. Some of the barriers identified included the norm of noninterference, professional comparisons, limited resources, feeling inadequately trained in AS, emotional prescribing, and a pejorative monitoring system. Conclusions: Our findings identified barriers and facilitators to AS decisions on pediatric inpatient teams as well as actionable needs in psychosocial-based AS education.

Analysis of invasive group A streptococcal puerperal sepsis in Calgary, Alberta: clinical consequences and policy implications.

We analyzed invasive group A streptococcal puerperal sepsis cases in a large health zone in Alberta, Canada between 2013 and 2022. Of the 21 cases, 85.7% were adjudicated as hospital/delivery-acquired, with 2 clusters having identical isolates found through whole genome sequencing. We implemented policy interventions across Alberta aimed at preventing future infections.

Leishmania in HLH: a rare finding with significant treatment implications.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a very rare phenomenon. We report the first known North American case in a 21 month old boy. He was initially diagnosed with Epstein Barr virus (EBV) triggered HLH and treated with the international treatment protocol, HLH-2004. Stem cell transplant was planned due to repeated reactivations of disease, but his pretransplant bone marrow revealed an unexpected protozoan-Leishmania donovani. Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B led to resolution of all manifestations of HLH. We discuss how the clinical and laboratory features of both entities can closely mimic each other and are extremely difficult to differentiate. This case also raises the question of whether to screen all children with suspected HLH for Leishmania in a non endemic area.

Congenital SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Two Neonates with Confirmation by Viral Culture of the Placenta in One Case.

Congenital infections with SARS-CoV-2 are uncommon. We describe two confirmed congenital SARS-CoV-2 infections using descriptive, epidemiologic and standard laboratory methods and in one case, viral culture. Clinical data were obtained from health records. Nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens, cord blood and placentas when available were tested by reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Electron microscopy and histopathological examination with immunostaining for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted on the placentas. For Case 1, placenta, umbilical cord, and cord blood were cultured for SARS-CoV-2 on Vero cells. This neonate was born at 30 weeks, 2 days gestation by vaginal delivery. RT-PCR tests were positive for SARS-CoV-2 from NP swabs and cord blood; NP swab from the mother and placental tissue were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Placental tissue yielded viral plaques with typical morphology for SARS-CoV-2 at 2.8 × 102 pfu/mL confirmed by anti-spike protein immunostaining. Placental examination revealed chronic histiocytic intervillositis with trophoblast necrosis and perivillous fibrin deposition in a subchorionic distribution. Case 2 was born at 36 weeks, 4 days gestation. RT-PCR tests from the mother and infant were all positive for SARS-CoV-2, but placental pathology was normal. Case 1 may be the first described congenital case with SARS-CoV-2 cultivated directly from placental tissue.

Risk of transmission of respiratory viruses during aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs) revisited in the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: In many jurisdictions healthcare workers (HCWs) are using respirators for aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs) performed on adult and pediatric populations with all suspect/confirmed viral respiratory infections (VRIs). This systematic review assessed the risk of VRIs to HCWs in the presence of AGMPs, the role respirators versus medical/surgical masks have on reducing that risk, and if the risk to HCWs during AGMPs differed when caring for adult or pediatric patient populations. MAIN TEXT: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Cochrane SR, CINAHL, COVID-19 specific resources, and MedRxiv for English and French articles from database inception to September 9, 2021. Independent reviewers screened abstracts using pre-defined criteria, reviewed full-text articles, selected relevant studies, abstracted data, and conducted quality assessments of all studies using the ROBINS-I risk of bias tool. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. Thirty-eight studies were included; 23 studies on COVID-19, 10 on SARS, and 5 on MERS/ influenza/other respiratory viruses. Two of the 16 studies which assessed associations found that HCWs were 1.7 to 2.5 times more likely to contract COVID-19 after exposure to AGMPs vs. not exposed to AGMPs. Eight studies reported statistically significant associations for nine specific AGMPs and transmission of SARS to HCWS. Intubation was consistently associated with an increased risk of SARS. HCWs were more likely (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.2-3.4) to contract human coronaviruses when exposed to an AGMP in one study. There were no reported associations between AGMP exposure and transmission of influenza or in a single study on MERS. There was limited evidence supporting the use of a respirator over a medical/surgical mask during an AGMP to reduce the risk of viral transmission. One study described outcomes of HCWs exposed to a pediatric patient during intubation. CONCLUSION: Exposure to an AGMP may increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19, SARS, and human coronaviruses to HCWs, however the evidence base is heterogenous and prone to confounding, particularly related to COVID-19. There continues to be a significant research gap in the epidemiology of the risk of VRIs among HCWs during AGMPs, particularly for pediatric patients. Further evidence is needed regarding what constitutes an AGMP.

Supplementation with a probiotic mixture accelerates gut microbiome maturation and reduces intestinal inflammation in extremely preterm infants.

Probiotics are increasingly administered to premature infants to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis and neonatal sepsis. However, their effects on gut microbiome assembly and immunity are poorly understood. Using a randomized intervention trial in extremely premature infants, we tested the effects of a probiotic product containing four strains of Bifidobacterium species autochthonous to the infant gut and one Lacticaseibacillus strain on the compositional and functional trajectory of microbiome. Daily administration of the mixture accelerated the transition into a mature, term-like microbiome with higher stability and species interconnectivity. Besides infant age, Bifidobacterium strains and stool metabolites were the best predictors of microbiome maturation, and structural equation modeling confirmed probiotics as a major determinant for the trajectory of microbiome assembly. Bifidobacterium-driven microbiome maturation was also linked to an anti-inflammatory intestinal immune milieu. This demonstrates that Bifidobacterium strains are ecosystem engineers that lead to an acceleration of microbiome maturation and immunological consequences in extremely premature infants.

Antimicrobial use in Canadian acute-care hospitals: Findings from three national point-prevalence surveys between 2002 and 2017.

OBJECTIVES: The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program conducted point-prevalence surveys in acute-care hospitals in 2002, 2009, and 2017 to identify trends in antimicrobial use. METHODS: Eligible inpatients were identified from a 24-hour period in February of each survey year. Patients were eligible (1) if they were admitted for ≥48 hours or (2) if they had been admitted to the hospital within a month. Chart reviews were conducted. We calculated the prevalence of antimicrobial use as follows: patients receiving ≥1 antimicrobial during survey period per number of patients surveyed × 100%. RESULTS: In each survey, 28-47 hospitals participated. In 2002, 2,460 (36.5%; 95% CI, 35.3%-37.6%) of 6,747 surveyed patients received ≥1 antimicrobial. In 2009, 3,566 (40.1%, 95% CI, 39.0%-41.1%) of 8,902 patients received ≥1 antimicrobial. In 2017, 3,936 (39.6%, 95% CI, 38.7%-40.6%) of 9,929 patients received ≥1 antimicrobial. Among patients who received ≥1 antimicrobial, penicillin use increased 36.8% between 2002 and 2017, and third-generation cephalosporin use increased from 13.9% to 18.1% (P < .0001). Between 2002 and 2017, fluoroquinolone use decreased from 25.7% to 16.3% (P < .0001) and clindamycin use decreased from 25.7% to 16.3% (P < .0001) among patients who received ≥1 antimicrobial. Aminoglycoside use decreased from 8.8% to 2.4% (P < .0001) and metronidazole use decreased from 18.1% to 9.4% (P < .0001). Carbapenem use increased from 3.9% in 2002 to 6.1% in 2009 (P < .0001) and increased by 4.8% between 2009 and 2017 (P = .60). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of antimicrobial use increased between 2002 and 2009 and then stabilized between 2009 and 2017. These data provide important information for antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Asymmetric eye size in an infant.

Toxoplasmosis is an uncommon congenital infection in Canada, but one with potentially severe clinical manifestations, including fetal death. Neurologic and ocular manifestations are frequent in untreated disease; however, small eye size (microphthalmia) is a rare finding. This finding may be a marker of severe ocular disease. As universal screening does not occur in Canada, clinicians' early recognition is imperative, particularly given the lack of risk factors in many patients and the benefit that treatment may have even in initially asymptomatic disease. Here, we report a case of congenital toxoplasmosis and review the diagnostics and treatment of the infection.

La toxoplasmose est une infection congénitale rare au Canada, mais au potentiel de manifestations cliniques graves, y compris la mort fœtale. Les manifestations neurologiques et oculaires sont fréquentes lorsque la maladie n'est pas traitée, et dans de rares cas, on remarque des globes oculaires de petite dimension (microphtalmie). Cette observation peut être un marqueur de maladie oculaire grave. Il n'y a pas de dépistage universel au Canada, mais il est impératif que les cliniciens reconnaissent rapidement la maladie, notamment en raison de l'absence de facteurs de risque chez de nombreux patients et des avantages potentiels des traitements lorsque la maladie est d'abord asymptomatique. Les auteurs déclarent un cas de toxoplasmose congénitale et analysent les diagnostics et le traitement de l'infection.

Development of a competency-based medical education curriculum for antimicrobial stewardship.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs are becoming a critical part of infectious diseases (ID) and medical microbiology training programs. As post-graduate medical education shifts toward competency-based medical education (CBME), the curriculum for AS training requires a similar transition. Our objective was to develop an educational curriculum combining principles of AS and CBME and apply a prospective audit and feedback (PAF) as an educational strategy. Methods: A new competency-based educational curriculum (CBEC) was created which addressed multiple stages along the competence continuum. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) core elements for AS were used to generate Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and milestones for this CBEC. Results: Trainees completed a PAF as an AS educational strategy on all antimicrobial starts in a pediatric hospital (141 beds) over a 1-month rotation. The PAF created 26 audits and addressed all (100%) of the CDC's core elements for inpatient AS programs through seven EPAs and 20 milestones. Conclusions: The PAF allowed for 26 interventions to improve effective antimicrobial use and mapped to multiple EPAs and milestones. Additionally, the PAF utilized all of the CDC's core elements for inpatient AS programs. It is imperative to ensure that educational strategies expose residents to AS interventions that have been shown to decrease antimicrobial usage in various settings. The current manuscript may serve as a model for how a CBEC can be developed, and how AS interventions can be integrated into a CBME program.

Historique: Les programmes de gestion des antimicrobiens (GA) deviennent un élément essentiel des programmes d'enseignement en infectiologie et en microbiologie médicale. Tout comme l'enseignement médical postdoctoral évolue vers l'enseignement médical axé sur les compétences (EMAC), le curriculum d'enseignement de la GA doit subir une transition semblable. Les auteurs se sont donné l'objectif de concevoir un curriculum d'enseignement combinant les principes de GA et d'EMAC et d'opter pour la vérification et rétroaction prospectives (VRP) comme stratégie pédagogique. Méthodologie: Les auteurs ont créé un nouveau curriculum d'enseignement axé sur les compétences (PEAC), lequel tient compte de multiples étapes dans le continuum des compétences. Ils ont utilisé les éléments fondamentaux des Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relatifs à la GA pour produire des activités professionnelles confiables (APC) et les jalons de ce PEAC. Résultats: Les étudiants ont effectué une VRP, qui leur a servi de stratégie pédagogique de la GA à l'égard de tous les débuts d'antimicrobiens dans un hôpital pédiatrique (141 lits) pendant une rotation d'un mois. Cette VRP a donné lieu à 26 vérifications et tenu compte de tous les éléments fondamentaux des CDC (100 %) pour les programmes de GA auprès des patients hospitalisés, au moyen de sept APC et de 20 jalons. Conclusions: Grâce à la VRP, 26 interventions ont amélioré l'utilisation efficace des antimicrobiens, cartographiées en multiples APC et jalons. De plus, la VRP incluait tous les éléments fondamentaux des CDC relatifs aux programmes de GA auprès des patients hospitalisés. Il est impératif de prévoir des stratégies pédagogiques qui exposent les résidents à des interventions de GA, dont la capacité à réduire le recours aux antimicrobiens a été démontrée dans de multiples contextes. Le présent manuscrit peut servir de modèle pour élaborer un EMAC et pour savoir comment intégrer la GA à un programme d'EMAC.

Stroke in Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis: Population-Based Epidemiology.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis is a severe infection of the nervous system with a high complication rate including stroke. The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence, risk factors, patterns, and outcomes in pediatric meningitis complicated by stroke. METHODS: The study design was a population-based, 10-year retrospective (2002 to 2012) cohort study set in Southern Alberta, Canada. The inclusion criteria were: (1) age from newborn to 18 years, (2) brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted imaging during admission, and (3) laboratory confirmed acute bacterial meningitis. The main outcomes were demographics, clinical presentations, risk factors, laboratory findings, radiographic findings, and neurological outcomes. FINDINGS: Forty-three patients had confirmed bacterial meningitis and diffusion MRI (9 neonates (21%), 89% male; 22 infants aged one month to one year (51%), 50% male; and 12 children older than one year (28%), 58% male, median age four years (interquartile range 7.9 years). Ischemic stroke was confirmed in 16/43 (37%), often multifocal (94%). Patients with stroke were significantly more likely to have seizures (P = 0.025), otitis media (P = 0.029), and multiple presentations to hospital (P = 0.013). Mortality was 25% in children with stroke compared with 4% in those without (P = 0.067). Survivors with stroke were more likely to have neurological deficits at follow-up (69% versus 26%, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of children with acute bacterial meningitis and clinically indicated MRI had ischemic stroke. Stroke was associated with clinical factors including duration of illness, seizures, and causative organisms. Stroke was associated with higher mortality and morbidity, warranting consideration of increased MRI screening and new approaches to treatment.

Survey of isolation practices at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: Although isolation precautions are an important aspect of hospital infection control, current rates of isolation in a pediatric hospital and rates of compliance with established precautions are unknown. We therefore initiated hospital-wide point prevalence studies to determine unit-specific rates of patient isolation and compliance with proper isolation requirements focusing on communication of isolation status and availability of personal protective equipment. In this report, we present data from the first 14 months of the study. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Twice monthly, between January 2004 and February 2005, infection control professionals reviewed the types and appropriateness of isolation of all hospitalized patients, except for those on the psychiatry unit. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of patients in the hospital during the study period were isolated, most frequently for community-acquired infections. Droplet isolation precautions were the most common form of isolation. Overall, only 74.6% of patients were isolated appropriately. The solid organ transplantation, hematology/oncology, and bone marrow transplantation units were those with the highest rates of inappropriate isolation. CONCLUSION: At our hospital, community-acquired infections, in particular respiratory infections, were the most common reasons for patient isolation. Monitoring of the appropriateness of isolation precautions offers the opportunity to reduce health care-related transmission of infection and identify specific target areas for improvement.