Bloodstream infection in pediatric patients with febrile neutropenia induced by chemotherapy

Abstract Introduction Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication of cancer chemotherapy. The present study aimed to identify risk factors for documented infection in pediatric patients with FN and cancer. Methods This prospective cohort study included patients under 18 years from 2016 to 2018. Infection was defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Results A total of 172 febrile neutropenic episodes were evaluated. From univariate analysis, the risk factors were: female gender; monocyte count < 100 cell/mm³, platelets < 50,000, C-reactive protein (CRP) > 90 mg/dl and hemoglobin < 7mg/dl at the onset of an episode; two or more episodes of FN, and; fever onset; positive blood culture at the fever onset. Independent risk factors according to the multivariate analysis were: CRP at the onset of a febrile episode > 90mg/dl, fever onset and first blood culture with a positive result. The lowest probability of infection was related to first episode and to platelets > 50,000 at the onset of fever. Conclusion A CRP > 90 at the onset of a febrile episode, platelets < 50,000, second episode or more, first fever episode during hospitalization and positive first blood culture were found to be associated with a higher risk of infection and they could be useful for the establishment of risk scores for infection in neutropenic children.

Serum levels of vancomycin: is there a prediction using doses in mg/kg/day or m2/day for neonates?

Abstract Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus has been identified as the main nosocomial agent of neonatal late-onset sepsis. However, based on the pharmacokinetics and erratic distribution of vancomycin, recommended empirical dose is not ideal, due to the inappropriate serum levels that have been measured in neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of vancomycin used in newborns and compare the prediction of adequate serum levels based on doses calculated according to mg/kg/day and m2/day. This is an observational reprospective cohort at a referral neonatal unit, from 2011 to 2013. Newborns treated with vancomycin for the first episode of late-onset sepsis were included. Total dose in mg/kg/day, dose/m2/day, age, weight, body surface and gestational age were identified as independent variables. For predictive analysis of adequate serum levels, multiple linear regressions were performed. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve for proper serum vancomycin levels was also obtained. A total of 98 patients received 169 serum dosages of the drug, 41 (24.3%) of the doses had serum levels that were defined as appropriate. Doses prescribed in mg/kg/day and dose/m2/day predicted serum levels in only 9% and 4% of cases, respectively. Statistical significance was observed with higher doses when the serum levels were considered as appropriate (p < 0.001). A dose of 27 mg/kg/day had a sensitivity of 82.9% to achieve correct serum levels of vancomycin. Although vancomycin has erratic serum levels and empirical doses cannot properly predict the target levels, highest doses in mg/kg/day were associated with adequate serum levels.

Estudo transversal do perfil das infecções congênitas atendidas entre 2012 e 2014 em um centro de referência em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais / Cross-sectional study of clinical and laboratorial aspects of congenital infections attended at a reference Center in Belo Horizonte, MG, 2012-2014

Introdução: as infecções congênitas são resultantes da transmissão vertical de microrganismos de gestantes infectadas para seus conceptos. Apesar dessas infecções, em geral, cursarem com pouca ou nenhuma manifestação clínica nas gestantes, a infecção fetal pode trazer morbimortalidade perinatal e na infância. Objetivo: identificar a prevalência das infecções congênitas encaminhadas ao Centro de Referência e Treinamento em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias Orestes Diniz (CTR/DIP Orestes Diniz) e avaliar os métodos laboratoriais usados para o diagnóstico. Métodos: estudo transversal realizado em ambulatório de referência em doenças infecciosas, a partir de coleta de dados de prontuários de crianças com diagnóstico suspeito de infecção congênita. A confirmação diagnóstica baseou-se em testes sorológicos ou de biologia molecular, além de descrição de sintomatologia da criança. Resultados: um total de 513 crianças foram identificadas, sendo que 41,3% tiveram o diagnóstico confirmado, a maioria foi de toxoplasmose (45,35%) e sífilis (15,98%). Entre as crianças com diagnóstico confirmado, 28,85% apresentaram manifestações clínicas, enquanto que no grupo com diagnóstico indeterminado ou suspeito o percentual foi de 16,38%. As principais manifestações identificadas foram acometimento do sistema nervoso central (n=39) e alterações visuais (n=30). Conclusão: a confirmação de infecção foi definida em aproximadamente metade dos pacientes avaliados e a maioria das crianças foi assintomática ao nascimento. O pré-natal de qualidade e a propedêutica e tratamento precoce das crianças identificadas podem reduzir o impacto dessas infecções no nosso meio.(AU)

Introduction: congenital infections are results of microorganisms transmitted to the fetus by the infected pregnant. Most newborn infants infected during pregnancy or labor have no sings of congenital disease. However, these infections may cause perinatal and infancy morbidity and mortality. Objective: to determine the prevalence of congenital infections in newborns and infants attended at the CTR/DIP Orestes Diniz (Centro de Treinamento e Referência em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias Orestes Diniz) and to analyse the laboratorial methods used for diagnosis of congenital disease of assisted children. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted in an Infectious Diseases Reference Center where it was evaluated the charts of infants with suspected congenital infection. Diagnosis confirmation was based on serological tests, molecular biology and signs and symptoms described in the charts. Results: A total of 41,3% of the 513 children identified have had a defined diagnosis. Most of them had toxoplasmosis (45,35%) and syphilis (15,98%). Clinical manifestations was observed in 28,85% of children with defined diagnosis of congenital infection, and in 16,38% of children with uncertain diagnosis. Central Nervous System (n=39) and ocular (n=30) manifestations were the most frequent findings. Conclusions: Defined diagnosis was possible in about half of cases and most of them were asymptomatic at birth. An appropriate prenatal care and early diagnosis and treatment of congenital infections may reduce the impact of disease in the population.(AU)

Estudo comparativo da pressão arterial sistêmica aferida por três métodos distintos não-invasivos / Comparative study of arterial blood pressure using threedifferent non-invasive methods

Introdução: a hipertensão arterial sistêmica apresenta alta prevalência em praticamente todos os países do mundo, sendo considerada dos principais fatores de risco paramorbimortalidade cardiovascular. A aferição precisa da pressão arterial é procedimento fundamental na avaliação semiológica do sistema cardiovascular, permitindo estabelecer condutas terapêuticas individualizadas. A reprodutibilidade dos valores de pressão arterial aferidos por diferentes métodos, entretanto, permanece controversa. Objetivo: verificar a confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade de três métodos distintos de aferiçãoo da pressão arterial empregados na rotina clínica habitual e compará-los entresi. Métodos: trata-se de estudo comparativo das medidas de pressão arterial sistêmica de 115 pessoas residentes em Belo Horizonte. Foram realizadas múltiplas aferições da pressão arterial sistêmica por meio de aparelhos distintos: digital (Omron 705-CP), esfigmomanômetro aneroide (Welch-Allyn) e esfigmomanômetro de coluna de mercúrio. Resultados: as médias da pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica medidas pelo esfigmomanômetro de coluna de mercúrio foram significativamente mais altas que as obtidas pelos aparelhos aneroide e digital (p<0,05). Os três aparelhos apresentaram correlação positiva aceitável, sendo a maior semelhança obtida entre as medidas obtidas pelos aparelhos digital e aneroide e entre os esfigmomanômetros de coluna de mercúrio e aneroide. Conclusões: ambos os métodos, auscultatório e oscilométrico, apresentamconcordância satisfatória entre si. Observam-se, entretanto, diferenças significativas nos valores de pressão arterial aferidos pelos diferentes métodos. Dessa maneira, essesequipamentos podem levar a diagnósticos distintos de hipertensão arterial sistêmica,culminando em diferentes condutas. Sugere-se, então, que os pacientes tenham suapressão arterial sistêmica aferida sempre com o mesmo aparelho/método, visando à redução dessa variabilidade.

Introduction: systemic blood arterial hypertension presents high prevalence in practically all over the world and is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular morbi-mortality. The blood pressure precise measurement is a basic procedure in the cardiovascular system semiologic evaluation, allowing setting individual therapeutic conducts. The reproducibility of the arterial pressure values measured through different methods, however, remains controversial. Objective: to verify the reliability and reproducibility of three different methods applied in the clinic routine and compare them to each other. Methods: the comparative study of the systemic arterial blood pressure measurements of 115 individuals living in Belo Horizonte.Multiple measurements of the systemic arterial blood pressure were carried out by different devices: digital (Omron 705-CP), aneroid sphygmomanometer(Welch-Allyn) and mercury column sphygmomanometer. Results: the medians of systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure measured by the mercury column sphygmomanometer were significantly higher than those obtained by the aneroid and digital devices (p<0,05). The three devices presented positive acceptable co-relation, with the highest similarity obtained between the measures by the digital and aneroid devices and between the mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers.Conclusion: both methods, auscultatory and oscillometric, are satisfactorily concordant to each other. However, it was noted significant differences in the arterial pressure values measured by different behaviors. Thus, it is suggested that the patients have their systemic arterial pressure measured always with the same device/method, aiming at the reduction in this variability.