Evaluation on the Time to Start Parenteral Nutrition in Hospitalized Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: Malnutrition is quite prevalent in hospitalized cancer patients, with a 40%~80% rate. Malnutrition in cancer patients can result in an increase in the number of complications, length of stay, mortality, and morbidity. Therefore, cancer patients with malnutrition must have the appropriate nutritional support to improve the prognosis of cancer. This study evaluated the appropriate time point to start parenteral nutrition (PN) after admission according to the nutrition support guidance in Samsung Medical Center. METHODS: This study enrolled patients diagnosed with the Korean standard classification of disease 6 (KCD6) code C00-C97 and discharged from March 1st to 31st, 2016. The following data were collected: patients'age, gender, diagnosis, length of stay, body mass index, nutritional status, and whether to consult nutrition support team (NST). RESULTS: Among a total of 2,944 patients, 381 patients (12.9%) were in a malnourished status upon admission. In the malnourished patients, 139 patients were prescribed PN for a median of 6 days (range, 1∼49) and moderate to severe malnourished patients were started on PN within 2 days after admission. The proportion of patients with a poor nutritional status was lower in the NST group than in the non-NST group (50.0% vs. 66.7%) on the 28th day after admission. Among the nourished patients, 229 patients were prescribed PN. Of them, 183 patients (79.9%) were started on PN within 7 days after admission. CONCLUSION: In moderate to severe malnourished cancer patients, the initiation of PN on the day after admission is appropriate.

Insulin pump therapy in transient neonatal diabetes mellitus

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a rare disease requiring insulin treatment. Its treatment is primarily focused on maintaining adequate glycemic control and avoiding hypoglycemia. Although insulin pump therapy is frequently administered to adults and children, there is no consensus on the use of insulin pumps in NDM. A 10 day-old female infant was referred to us with intrauterine growth retardation and poor weight gain. Hyperglycemia was noted, and continuous intravenous insulin infusion was initiated. However, the patient's serum glucose levels fluctuated widely, and maintaining the intravenous route became difficult within the following weeks. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion with an insulin pump was introduced on the twenty-fifth day of life, and good glycemic control was achieved without any notable adverse effects including hypoglycemia. We suggest that the insulin pump is a safe and effective mode for treating NDM and its early adoption may shorten the length of hospital stays in patients with NDM.

Parenteral Nutrition Associated Cholestasis Is Earlier, More Prolonged and Severe in Small for Gestational Age Compared with Appropriate for Gestational Age Very Low Birth Weight Infants

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) would be more severe in small for gestational age (SGA) compared with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one VLBW infants were diagnosed as PNAC with exposure to parenteral nutrition with elevation of direct bilirubin > or =2 mg/dL for > or =14 days. Twenty-one SGA infants and 40 AGA infants matched for gestation were compared. RESULTS: Compared with AGA infants, PNAC in SGA infants was diagnosed earlier (25+/-7 days vs. 35+/-14 days, p=0.002) and persisted longer (62+/-36 days vs. 46+/-27 days, p=0.048). Severe PNAC, defined as persistent elevation of direct bilirubin > or =4 mg/dL for more than 1 month with elevation of liver enzymes, was more frequent in SGA than in AGA infants (61% vs. 35%, p=0.018). The serum total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels during the 13 weeks of life were significantly different in SGA compared with AGA infants. SGA infants had more frequent (76% vs. 50%, p=0.046), and persistent elevation of alanine aminotransferase. CONCLUSION: The clinical course of PNAC is more persistent and severe in SGA infants. Careful monitoring and treatment are required for SGA infants.

Risk of Surgery for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

PURPOSE: The main postnatal risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were described as prolonged oxygen therapy and lower gestational age. Recent data suggest poor early weight gain during the first weeks of life, which can be an additional predictor of severe ROP. We aimed to analyze the risk factors associated with requiring operation for ROP in preterm infants with very low birth weight (VLBW). METHODS: In a retrospective case control study, from January 2004 to June 2010, 140 VLBW infants diagnosed as ROP by the International classification of ROP were recruited. There were 14% of infants with stage 1 disease, 65.7% stage 2, and 20% stage 3 or more. A group requiring a laser surgery for ROP was 66 infants, and a group not requiring surgery was 74 infants. RESULTS: By a univariate analysis, antenatal steroid, chorioamnionitis, gestational age, birth weight, days on oxygen, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalasia and sepsis were significantly associated with ROP requiring surgery. Weight differences between birth and each from 4 to 12 weeks were significantly lower in the infants requiring surgery (P<0.05). However, after adjustment for gestational age in logistic regression, weight difference between birth and 8th week was a significant predictive factor for the requirement of surgery in infants with ROP (OR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996-0.999, P=0.013). CONCLUSION: We suggest that careful monitoring of weight change and aggresive nutritional support for poorly growing infants, during the first 8 weeks of life, may possibly prevent laser surgery of ROP in preterm VLBW infants.

Risk Factors for Community-onset Urinary Tract Infections due to Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Producing Bacteria in Children

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria have been increasingly recognized in the community. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for community-onset urinary tract infections (UTIs) by ESBL producers in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 854 episodes of community-onset UTIs in children diagnosed at CHA Bundang Medical Center from January, 2004 to April, 2009. The presence of ESBL in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. was screened and confirmed by VITEK(R)-2 ESBL test. Controls were matched in a 2:1 ratio to case patients by age and sex. The clinical characteristics, risk factors, antimicrobial resistance, and treatment efficacy were compared with controls. RESULTS: The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli (681 isolates), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (60 isolates), Enterococcus faecalis (23 isolates), etc. The number of isolated ESBL producers among the pathogens E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 25 (3.7%) and 7 isolates (11.7%), respectively. No significant differences were noted as to the UTI history prior to the present treatment, underlying urogenital anomaly, and clinical characteristics. Use of any antibiotics within a month (P=0.012, Odds ratio, 6.341, 95% confidence interval, 1.492 to 26.955) was related to the increased risk of community-onset UTI by ESBL producers. Conclusion: ESBL-producing bacteria has been identified in pediatric community-onset UTI, and the use of any antibiotics within the previous month was related to the increased risk of UTI by ESBL producers. Therefore, careful selection and use of antibiotics should be recommended for community-onset UTI in children.

Risk Factors for Community-onset Urinary Tract Infections due to Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Producing Bacteria in Children

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria have been increasingly recognized in the community. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for community-onset urinary tract infections (UTIs) by ESBL producers in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 854 episodes of community-onset UTIs in children diagnosed at CHA Bundang Medical Center from January, 2004 to April, 2009. The presence of ESBL in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. was screened and confirmed by VITEK(R)-2 ESBL test. Controls were matched in a 2:1 ratio to case patients by age and sex. The clinical characteristics, risk factors, antimicrobial resistance, and treatment efficacy were compared with controls. RESULTS: The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli (681 isolates), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (60 isolates), Enterococcus faecalis (23 isolates), etc. The number of isolated ESBL producers among the pathogens E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 25 (3.7%) and 7 isolates (11.7%), respectively. No significant differences were noted as to the UTI history prior to the present treatment, underlying urogenital anomaly, and clinical characteristics. Use of any antibiotics within a month (P=0.012, Odds ratio, 6.341, 95% confidence interval, 1.492 to 26.955) was related to the increased risk of community-onset UTI by ESBL producers. Conclusion: ESBL-producing bacteria has been identified in pediatric community-onset UTI, and the use of any antibiotics within the previous month was related to the increased risk of UTI by ESBL producers. Therefore, careful selection and use of antibiotics should be recommended for community-onset UTI in children.

Diagnostic Value of Serum Procalcitonin in Febrile Infants Under 6 Months of Age for the Detection of Bacterial Infections / 소아감염

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants 11,920/microliter) and an increased CRP level (>1.06 mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.