The Factors Affecting the Use of Empirical Antibiotics in Febrile Infants from 1 Month to Less than 3 Months

PURPOSE: This study investigated the factors affecting the use of empirical antibiotics in febrile infants from 1 month to less than 3 months. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized previously healthy infants with fever in Pusan National University Children's Hospital from January 2010 to December 2016. Clinical features, laboratory findings and antibiotic therapy were analyzed. Respiratory viruses were identified by multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and were reported after 1–3 days. Enterovirus were identified by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were reported in several hours. RESULTS: The 129 of 366 subjects used empirical antibiotics and 237 patients didn't used empirical antibiotics. Empirical antibiotics were used more frequently when the fever was longer before admission, respiratory symptoms and ill being appearances were present and C-reactive protein was elevated. The rate of readmission was low in the group not used empirical antibiotics. Most of the patients detected by enterovirus PCR in cerebrospinal fluid didn't used empirical antibiotics. The results of respiratory virus multiplex RT-PCR showed no difference in the use of empirical antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, empirical antibiotic prescriptions were affected not respiratory virus multiplex RT-PCR but enterovirus PCR. If multiplex RT-PCR were reported more rapid turn around time, it will affect antibiotic use.

Drug Rash With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome Induced by Chloral Hydrate in Early Childhood

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, also known as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), is a rare, acute and severe life-threatening systemic disease. DRESS syndrome is characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, rash, hypereosinophilia and involvement of systemic organs. The most commonly implicated drugs are anticonvulsants, sulfonamides and allopurinol. Chloral hydrate is a sedative and hypnotic drug frequently used in pediatric patients. We first report a case of DRESS syndrome induced by chloral hydrate in a 14-month-old female.

Clinical Characteristics of Failure to Thrive in Infant and Toddler: Organic vs. Nonorganic / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes among infants and toddlers with failure to thrive (FTT). METHODS: This retrospective study was done with 123 patients who had visited Pusan National University Children's Hospital during their first two years of life and had received an FTT diagnosis. We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients based on the causes of their FTT and their ages at the time of first hospital visit. We investigated triggering factors, feeding practices, and outcomes in 25 patients with nonorganic FTT (NOFTT). RESULTS: Eighty cases (65.0%) were NOFTT. The gestational ages, birth weights, and weights at the first visits were significantly lower in patients with organic FTT (OFTT) (p<0.05). Infants who had first visited the clinic at age <6 months had the least z-score. The percentage of patients with severe weight decline was higher in OFTT than in NOFTT (60.0% vs. 17.3%). The z-scores at the follow-up visits were improved after treatment in both of the groups. Preceding infection was the most common triggering factor of NOFTT and persecutory feeding as abnormal behavior of caregiver was observed in 22 cases (88.0%). After treatment with feeding method modification, all patients with NOFTT showed normal growth. CONCLUSION: Weight decline is more severe in OFTT patients and in younger patients at the first visit. Infants with FTT can attain normal weight gain growth by treating organic diseases and supplying proper nutrition in OFTT, and by correcting abnormal dietary behavior of caregiver in NOFTT.