Pathogenic Etiology and Clinical Indictors of Bacterial Infectoin in Febrile Infants Aged Less than 3 Months: A Single Institute Stduy / 계명의대학술지

To analyze the infectious causes and clinical symptoms of febrile infants aged less than 3 months presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Medical Center (PEMC) and to propose more efficient, evidence-based management and treatment. We conducted a retrospective study of 462 febrile infants aged less than 3 months who visited PEMC at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center from January 2015 to June 2016. Infants' sex, age, fever duration, and laboratory findings, including bacterial or viral pathogens, were recorded. To evaluate clinical signs, one point per sign was given for grunting, decreased activity, and the presence of cyanosis; total scores were compared between the bacterial infection (BI) and non-bacterial infection (NBI) groups. BI was diagnosed in 118 (25.5%) infants, and no BI was diagnosed in 344 (74.5%) infants. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen, accounting for 80.5% (n = 95) of all infections (n = 118). Statistically significant differences in sex, the duration of fever, sign scores, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were found between the BI and NBI groups. The cut-off value for CRP was 1.445 mg/dL, with sensitivity and specificity values of 76.3% and 75.9%, respectively, in BI patients, as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve. As more PEMCs are being built in Korea, hospital accessibility is better; thus, it may be possible to perform outpatient management of young, febrile infants aged younger than 3 months without antibiotics and lumbar puncture using individual sign scores and laboratory findings.

Clinical characteristics of respiratory viral infection in children during spring/summer: focus on human bocavirus

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical characteristics of respiratory viruses that were frequently found in children during spring/summer, namely, human bocavirus (hBoV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), and human rhinovirus (hRV). METHODS: This study enrolled patients with acute lower respiratory infection in whom respiratory virus reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed between March 2013 and August of 2013. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records to collect the patients' data. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were enrolled and divided into 5 categories: hBoV in 19 patients (19.8%), hMPV in 18 patients (18.8%), PIV in 16 patients (16.7%), hRV in 20 patients (20.8%), and negative result in 23 patients (24.0%). The mean age of the patients was 8.2+/-5.9 months (median, 7.5 months; range, 1-24 months), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. The most common diagnoses were acute bronchiolitis (62.5%) and pneumonia (30.2%). Compared to other patients, those with hBoV were older (12.3+/-4.9 months, P=0.001) and more frequently diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis (P=0.005). In addition, they showed higher incidences of tachypnea and rales (P=0.039 and P=0.035, respectively), and were more frequently treated with oxygen and systemic steroids (P=0.044 and P=0.001, respectively) than the other patients. CONCLUSION: We compared respiratory viruses in children during spring/summer and found that hBoV may have more severe clinical manifestations than other viruses.

Early-onset Pericardial Effusion after Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheterization in a Preterm Infant / 대한주산의학회잡지

Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) are commonly used to provide long term intravascular access for parenteral nutrition and medications in preterm infants, but rarely life-threatening complications associated with malposition of catheter tip such as pericardial effusion may be developed. We report a preterm case of early-onset pericardial effusion related to PICC of which the distal part is angulated and located in the right atrium of heart.