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Immunocompromised Children (immunocompromised + child)
Selected AbstractsEmesis predicts bacteremia in immunocompromised children with central venous catheters and fever,CANCER, Issue 14 2009Matthew W. Richardson MD Abstract BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether vomiting at presentation of a febrile illness in immunocompromised children with central venous catheters (CVCs) predicts bacteremia. METHODS: A chart review was conducted of children who were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cancer or aplastic anemia, fever, and a CVC. Data were collected on the presence or absence of vomiting, catheter type, presence or absence of severe neutropenia, C-reactive protein (Crp) value, and culture results. RESULTS: There were 143 admissions for fever among 48 children. Among 35 admissions with emesis, 19 included bacteremia; whereas, among 107 admissions without emesis, 19 included bacteremia (P < .001). There was a 5-fold greater risk of bacteremia in children with children without vomiting (odds ratio, 5.50; 95% confidence interval, 2.20-13.67). Gram-negative organisms were more likely to be associated with vomiting than Gram-positive organisms (P = .008). Children with severe neutropenia did not have a significantly higher rate of bacteremia than children who had neutrophil counts >500 cells/mm3. Other factors that were associated with higher rates of bacteremia were underlying diagnosis and catheter type. CONCLUSIONS: Immunocompromised children with a CVC and a fever who presented with vomiting were more likely to have bacteremia than similar children who presented without vomiting. Gram-negative organisms were more likely to be associated with emesis than Gram-positive organisms. The absence of severe neutropenia was not associated with a decreased likelihood of bacteremia. These findings may be useful in identifying children who are at high risk for bacteremia and in determining initial, empiric therapy. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source] Detection of human bocavirus in respiratory, fecal, and blood samples by real-time PCR,JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2009Sarah J. Tozer Abstract Human bocavirus (HBoV) has been detected worldwide in respiratory samples. Two real-time PCR assays, targeting the non-structural protein (NP-1) and viral protein (VP-1) genes, were designed and validated to detect HBoV in patients with respiratory disease, gastroenteritis, or systemic illness. Sensitivity of the NP-1 and VP-1 assays were equal to the conventional PCR assay previously described by Allander et al. [2005: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102: 12891,12896] being 100%, and giving specificity of 94% and 93%, respectively. There was no cross-reaction identified with unrelated respiratory agents, or to human DNA. The limits of detection were 10 copies of genomic DNA equivalents per reaction for both assays. The assays were used to screen three different sample populations, combined nose, and throat swabs (n,=,96) from children with acute respiratory disease, fecal samples (n,=,375) from adults, and children with gastroenteritis and whole blood (n,=,229) collected from 31 immunocompromised children taken over an 18-month period. In total 17 (18%) respiratory samples and 18 (4.8%) fecal samples were identified as having HBoV present. Of the pediatric whole blood specimens investigated, HBoV was detected in six (2.6%) samples from four patients. In summary, two real-time PCR assays targeting different genes were designed and validated for use as screening methods for the detection of HBoV. HBoV was found in three different specimen types: parent-collected combined nose,throat swabs, fecal samples collected from symptomatic individuals and whole blood from immunocompromised children. J. Med. Virol. 81:488,493, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Current practice of antifungal prophylaxis and treatment in immunocompromised children and adults with malignancies: a single centre approachMYCOSES, Issue 2 2009Thomas Lehrnbecher Summary Although various guidelines on antifungal prophylaxis and treatment have been published, the practical approach in the individual clinical setting might considerably differ because of special local circumstances. In addition, there are major differences between paediatric and adult patients regarding antifungal strategies and the use of antifungal compounds. We here present the antifungal approach in the Departments of Hematology and Oncology of the University Hospital of Frankfurt, where per year approximately 350 children and adults are diagnosed with cancer and an additional 100 patients undergo haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The differences in the approach between the paediatric and adult setting are highlighted. [source] Pichia anomala fungaemia in immunocompromised childrenMYCOSES, Issue 5-6 2004M. Bak Pichia anomala; Fungämie; Immunsuppression; Kindern Summary Pichia anomala is an emerging yeast causing serious nosocomial infections in newborn and immunocompromised children. We describe nosocomial port catheter infection due to P. anomala in three children who were receiving cancer chemotherapy, bloodstream infection in a preterm infant and in an infant with severe combined immunodeficiency. All patients were treated with amphotericin B. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and fluconazole. No recurrence was observed during follow-up in four of five patients. The common clinical feature in all of our patients was the presence of prior antimicrobial therapy. Zusammenfassung Pichia anomala gilt als opportunistischer Erreger nosokomialer Infektionen bei Neugeborenen und immunsupprimierten Kindern. Wir beschreiben nosokomiale Katheterinfektionen durch P. anomala bei drei Kindern mit Krebs, bei einer Frühgeburt und bei einem immunsupprimierten Säugling. Alle fünf Patienten hatten vorab antibakterielle Therapie erhalten und wurden durch Amphotericin B erfolgreich behandelt. Alle Isolate waren empfindlich für Amphotericin B und Fluconazol. In der Nachbeobachtungszeit wurde an vier fünf Patienten kein Rezidiv beobachtet. [source] Efficacy and safety of linezolid in immunocompromised children with cancerPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2010Maria Moschovi Abstract Background:, The aim of this study was to determine the safety, tolerance and efficacy of linezolid for the treatment of infections from Gram-positive bacteria in immunocompromised children with cancer. Methods:, This was a prospective non-comparative unblinded study in the Hematology/Oncology Unit over a two-year period, administering linezolid as monotherapy in children with cancer. Results:, Seventeen children received linezolid (30 mg/kgr: 3 i.v. per day). Mean duration of linezolid administration was 12.2 days (range, 6,38 days), while the median age of the evaluable patients was 2.2 years (range, 6 months,11.2 years). Primary diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (nine patients), brain tumor (three patients), multi-organ Langerhans cell histiocytosis (two patients), rhabdomyosarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma and ovarian tumor (one patient each). All patients were in the midst of chemotherapy cycles. Ten out of 17 children had positive blood cultures (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, four patients; vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, three patients; penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, three patients), while seven of the 17 had fever and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in stool cultures. All patients were considered clinically cured after the end of the linezolid regimen (100% efficacy). The main adverse events were thrombocytopenia grade 1,3 and anemia grade 2,3 (four and two patients, respectively). Chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity (six patients) was not worsened during linezolid therapy. No bleeding episodes were presented. Self-limited diarrhea grade 1,2 was presented in four patients (mean duration 2 days). The total adverse event rate was 23.5%; however, there was no premature cessation of linezolid in any patient. Conclusions:, Linezolid may be another effective and safe therapy to treat infections from resistant Gram-positive bacteria in immunocompromised children, even in young ages. [source] Emesis predicts bacteremia in immunocompromised children with central venous catheters and fever,CANCER, Issue 14 2009Matthew W. Richardson MD Abstract BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether vomiting at presentation of a febrile illness in immunocompromised children with central venous catheters (CVCs) predicts bacteremia. METHODS: A chart review was conducted of children who were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cancer or aplastic anemia, fever, and a CVC. Data were collected on the presence or absence of vomiting, catheter type, presence or absence of severe neutropenia, C-reactive protein (Crp) value, and culture results. RESULTS: There were 143 admissions for fever among 48 children. Among 35 admissions with emesis, 19 included bacteremia; whereas, among 107 admissions without emesis, 19 included bacteremia (P < .001). There was a 5-fold greater risk of bacteremia in children with children without vomiting (odds ratio, 5.50; 95% confidence interval, 2.20-13.67). Gram-negative organisms were more likely to be associated with vomiting than Gram-positive organisms (P = .008). Children with severe neutropenia did not have a significantly higher rate of bacteremia than children who had neutrophil counts >500 cells/mm3. Other factors that were associated with higher rates of bacteremia were underlying diagnosis and catheter type. CONCLUSIONS: Immunocompromised children with a CVC and a fever who presented with vomiting were more likely to have bacteremia than similar children who presented without vomiting. Gram-negative organisms were more likely to be associated with emesis than Gram-positive organisms. The absence of severe neutropenia was not associated with a decreased likelihood of bacteremia. These findings may be useful in identifying children who are at high risk for bacteremia and in determining initial, empiric therapy. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source] Diagnostic approaches for immunocompromised paediatric patients with pulmonary infiltratesCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 3 2006K. Bochennek Abstract Pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised children often pose problems in terms of deciding on further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, but few studies have evaluated the value of non-invasive and invasive diagnostic methods in paediatric populations. Both galactomannan ELISA and PCR protocols appear to be less useful in children than in adults. Invasive procedures, such as bronchoalveolar lavage or lung biopsy, can yield a pathohistological diagnosis and/or the isolation of a pathogen. Prospective studies in paediatric patients are needed urgently to assess the value of different diagnostic procedures and to define an effective and safe diagnostic strategy for the individual child. [source] |