Hospital-based Surveillance of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Pneumonia in South Bangalore, India.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia, distribution of pneumococcal serotypes, and antibiotic susceptibility in children aged 28 days to <60 months. Design: Hospital-based surveillance. Setting:; South Bangalore, India. Participants: 9950 children aged 28 days to <60 months with clinical suspicion of invasive pneumococcal disease or pneumonia. Results: The estimated at-risk population included 224,966 children <5 years of age. Forty cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were identified. Estimated invasive pneumococcal disease incidence was 17.8/100,000 with incidence being highest among children aged 6 months to <12 months (49.9/100,000). Clinical pneumonia syndrome was the most frequent diagnosis (12.5/100,000). Pneumococcal serotypes included: 6A (n=6, 16.7%); 14 (n=5, 13.9%); 5 (n=4, 11.1%); 6B (n=4, 11.1%); 1, 18C, and 19A (n=3 each, 8.3%); 9V (n=2, 5.6%); and 3, 4, 10C, 18A, 18F, and 19F (n=1 each, 2.8%). Serotypes 6A, 14, 6B, 1, 18C, 19A, 9V, 4, 10C, and 18A showed antibiotic resistance. Clinical pneumonia incidence was 2109/100,000, with incidence being highest among children aged 28 days to <6 months (5033/ 100,000). Chest radiograph-confirmed pneumonia incidence was 1114/100,000, with incidence being highest among children aged 28 days to <6 months (2413/100,000). Conclusion: Invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia were found to be common causes of morbidity in young children living in South Bangalore, India.

Temperature monitoring in newborns using thermospot.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothermia is a common problem in newborns. This is more so in community environment especially in low-birth weight and preterm babies. METHODS: A simple liquid crystal temperature monitoring device was used in 20 infants on a continuous basis to monitor for hypothermia. This was compared with the measurement of rectal temperature using a rectal thermometer. The colour changes and measures to be taken when hypothermia occurs was explained to the mothers and was well understood by all. RESULTS: The Thermo Spot was in agreement with the rectal temperature in 310 out of 313 measurements. This includes 299 times when temperature was normal; and 11 times when the temperature was hypothermic. It underestimated the temperature of three infants, falsely indicating hypothermia in a normothermic child with normal body temperature. It correctly identified hypothermia in every case. CONCLUSION: ThermoSpot device is a simple accurate device allowing continuous thermal monitoring of low birth weight infants, especially in resource poor setting.