Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 shortens acute infectious diarrhea in a pediatric outpatient setting / O Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduz a diarreia infecciosa aguda no cuidado pediátrico ambulatorial

OBJECTIVE: Two randomized controlled clinical trials have shown thatLactobacillus (L) reuteri DSM 17938 reduces the duration of diarrhea in children hospitalized due to acute infectious diarrhea. This was the first trial evaluating the efficacy of L. reuteri DSM 17938 in outpatient children with acute infectious diarrhea.METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, single-blinded, case control clinical trial in children with acute watery diarrhea. A total of 64 children who presented at outpatient clinics were enrolled. The probiotic group received 1 × 108 CFU L. reuteri DSM 17938 for five days in addition to oral rehydration solution (ORS) and the second group was treated with ORS only. The primary endpoint was the duration of diarrhea (in hours). The secondary endpoint was the number of children with diarrhea at each day of the five days of intervention. Adverse events were also recorded.RESULTS: The mean duration of diarrhea was significantly reduced in the L. reuteri group compared to the control group (approximately 15 h, 60.4 ± 24.5 h [95% CI: 51.0-69.7 h] vs. 74.3 ± 15.3 h [95% CI: 68.7-79.9 h], p < 0.05). The percentage of children with diarrhea was lower in the L. reuteri group (13/29; 44.8%) after 48 h than the control group (27/31; 87%; RR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34-0.79,p < 0.01). From the 72nd hour of intervention onwards, there was no difference between the two groups in the percentage of children with diarrhea. No adverse effects related to L. reuteri were noted.CONCLUSION:L. reuteri DSM 17938 is effective, safe, and well-tolerated in outpatient children with acute infectious diarrhea.

OBJETIVO: Dois ensaios clínicos randomizados controlados demonstraram que oLactobacillus (L) reuteri DSM 17938 reduz a duração de diarreia em crianças hospitalizadas devido a diarreia infecciosa aguda. Este é o primeiro ensaio que avalia a eficácia do L. reuteri DSM 17938 em crianças com diarreia infecciosa aguda no ambulatório.MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico multicêntrico, randomizado, único cego, com grupos paralelos e controlado em crianças com diarreia aguda. Foram inscritas 64 crianças internadas na clínica ambulatorial. O grupo probiótico recebeu 1 × 108 CFU L. reuteri DSM 17938 por cinco dias, além de uma solução de reidratação oral (SRO), e o segundo grupo foi tratado apenas com SRO. O desfecho principal foi a duração da diarreia (em horas). O desfecho secundário foi o número de crianças com diarreia em cada um dos cinco dias da intervenção. Os eventos adversos também foram registrados.RESULTADOS: A duração média da diarreia foi significativamente reduzida no grupoL. reuteri em comparação com o grupo de controle (aproximadamente 15 horas; 60,4 ± 24,5 horas [51,0-69,7 horas, IC de 95%] em comparação com 74,3 ± 15,3 horas [68,7-79,9 horas, IC de 95%], p < 0,05). O percentual de crianças com diarreia foi menor no grupo L. reuteri (13/29; 44,8%) após 48 horas do que no grupo de controle (27/31; 87%) (RR: 0,51; 0,34-0,79; IC de 95%, < 0,01). A partir da 72a hora de intervenção, não havia diferença entre os dois grupos no percentual de crianças com diarreia. Nenhum efeito adverso com relação ao L. reuteri foi observado.CONCLUSÃO: O L. reuteri DSM 17938 é eficaz, seguro e bem tolerado por crianças com diarreia infecciosa aguda no ambulatório.

Estado oxidante e antioxidante de crianças com bronquiolite aguda / Oxidative and antioxidative status of children with acute bronchiolitis

OBJETIVO: O estresse oxidativo demonstrou contribuir para a patogênese de doenças pulmonares inflamatórias agudas e crônicas. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar o estado oxidante/antioxidante de crianças com bronquiolite aguda por meio de mensuração da capacidade antioxidante total do plasma, estado oxidante total e índice de estresse oxidativo. MÉTODOS: As crianças com bronquiolite aguda encaminhadas para o Departamento de Emergência Pediátrica do hospital universitário entre janeiro e abril 2012 foram comparadas a controles saudáveis de mesma idade. Os pacientes com bronquiolite aguda tiveram essa doença classificada como leve e moderada. O estado oxidante e antioxidante foi avaliado pela mensuração da capacidade antioxidante total do plasma, estado oxidante total e índice de estresse oxidativo. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídas 31 crianças com bronquiolite aguda com idade de três meses a dois anos e 37 crianças saudáveis. O estado oxidante total (EOT) foi maior em pacientes com bronquiolite aguda do que no grupo de controle (5,16±1,99 µmol H2O2 em comparação a 3,78±1,78 µmol H2O2 [p = 0,004]). A capacidade antioxidante total (CAT) foi significativamente menor em crianças com bronquiolite que no grupo de controle (2,51±0,37 µmol Trolox equivalente/L em comparação a 2,75±0,39 µmol Trolox Eqv/L) (p = 0,013). Os pacientes com bronquiolite moderada apresentaram níveis de EOT mais elevados que os com bronquiolite leve e os do grupo de controle (p = 0,03, p < 0,001). Os pacientes com bronquiolite moderada apresentaram níveis de IEO mais elevados que os do grupo de controle (p = 0,015). O nível de saturação de oxigênio de pacientes com bronquiolite foi inversamente correlacionado ao nível de EOT (r = -0,476, p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O equilíbrio entre os sistemas oxidante e antioxidante é interrompido em crianças com bronquiolite moderada, indicando que o fator de estresse poderá ter um papel na patogênese da doença.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung inflammatory diseases. This article aimed to evaluate the oxidant/antioxidant status of children with acute bronchiolitis through the measurement of plasma total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index. METHODS: Children with acute bronchiolitis admitted to the pediatric emergency department of a university hospital between January and April of 2012 were compared with agematched healthy controls. Patients with acute bronchiolitis were classified as mild and moderate bronchiolitis. Oxidative and antioxidative status were assessed by measurement of plasma total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index. RESULTS: Thirty-one children with acute bronchiolitis aged between 3 months and 2 years, and 39 healthy children were included. Total oxidative status (TOS) was higher in patients with acute bronchiolitis than the control group (5.16±1.99 µmol H2O2 versus 3.78±1.78 µmol H2O2 [p = 0.004]). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was lower in children with bronchiolitis than the control group (2.51±0.37 µmol Trolox eqv/L versus 2.75±0.39 µmol Trolox eqv/L [p = 0.013]). Patients with moderate bronchiolitis presented higher TOS levels than those with mild bronchiolitis and the control group (p = 0.03, p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with moderate bronchiolitis had higher oxidative stress index levels than the control group (p = 0.015). Oxygen saturation level of bronchiolitis patients was inversely correlated with TOS (r = -0.476, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The balance between oxidant and antioxidant systems is disrupted in children with moderate bronchiolitis, which indicates that this stress factor may have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Bacteremia due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans in neonates: clinical features and outcome

OBJECTIVE: We report an outbreak of Achromobacter xylosoxidans at a neonatal intensive care unit. We aimed to present clinical, laboratory and treatment data of the patients. Materials and METHODS: All consecutive episodes of bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans at our neonatal intensive care unit, beginning with the index case detected at November 2009 until cessation of the outbreak in April 2010, were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty-four episodes of bacteremia occurred in 22 neonates during a 6-month period. Among the affected, 90% were preterm newborns with gestational age of 32 weeks or less and 60% had birth weight of 1000 g or less. Endotracheal intubation, intravenous catheter use, total parenteral nutrition and prolonged antibiotic therapy were the predisposing conditions. Presenting features were abdominal distention, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. The mortality rate was 13.6% and the majority of isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, carbapenems and trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole, and resistant to gentamycin. More than half were breakthrough infections. Despite intensive efforts to control the outbreak by standard methods of hand hygiene, patient screening and isolation, containment could be achieved only after the neonatal intensive care unit was relocated. The investigation was not able to single out the source of the outbreak. CONCLUSION: A. xylosoxidans has the potential to cause serious infections in premature babies. More studies are needed to determine the importance of different sources of infection in hospital units.