Refractive power profiles of commercially available soft multifocal contact lenses for myopia control.

PURPOSE: Lens power profiles can provide valuable insights on the imposed optical defocus and visual experience of contact lens wearers, especially in the context of myopia control. This study measured the refractive power profiles of multifocal soft contact lenses (MFCLs) currently used or that have the potential for use in myopia control using high spatial resolution aberrometry. The instrument's repeatability for determining MFCLs power profiles was also assessed. METHOD: The power profiles of 10 MFCLs of various designs (centre-distance, centre-near and extended depth of focus) were measured using the Lambda-X NIMOEVO, a phase shifting Schlieren-based device. Power profiles were graphically expressed as measured power at each chord position and the maximum add power was calculated. The repeatability of the NIMOEVO was expressed as the within-subject standard deviation at each chord position for a subset of five MFCLs. RESULTS: The measured distance powers differed from nominal powers for more than half of the MFCLs with a definable distance zone. There were variations in the chord position of the distance and near correction zones, rate of power transitions and calculated maximum add between the MFCLs which did not depend on lens design. For half of the MFCLs, the power profile shape was inconsistent between different nominal back vertex powers of the same design. The repeatability of the NIMOEVO was dependent on the lens design, with designs featuring faster rates of power change exhibiting worse repeatability. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in MFCL power profiles were found which were not adequately represented in labelling. This is likely due to the small number of parameters used to define lens power characteristics. Eye health care practitioners should be aware of potential differences in power profiles between different MFCLs, which will impact the retinal defocus introduced during lens wear and the wearer's visual experience.

Resource Utilization and Costs Associated with Approaches to Identify Infants with Early-Onset Sepsis.

Objective. To compare resource utilization and costs associated with 3 alternative screening approaches to identify early-onset sepsis (EOS) in infants born at ≥35 wk of gestational age, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2018. Study Design. Decision tree-based cost analysis of the 3 AAP-recommended approaches: 1) categorical risk assessment (categorization by chorioamnionitis exposure status), 2) neonatal sepsis calculator (a multivariate prediction model based on perinatal risk factors), and 3) enhanced clinical observation (assessment based on serial clinical examinations). We evaluated resource utilization and direct costs (2022 US dollars) to the health system. Results. Categorical risk assessment led to the greatest neonatal intensive care unit usage (210 d per 1,000 live births) and antibiotic exposure (6.8%) compared with the neonatal sepsis calculator (112 d per 1,000 live births and 3.6%) and enhanced clinical observation (99 d per 1,000 live births and 3.1%). While the per-live birth hospital costs of the 3 approaches were similar-categorical risk assessment cost $1,360, the neonatal sepsis calculator cost $1,317, and enhanced clinical observation cost $1,310-the cost of infants receiving intervention under categorical risk assessment was approximately twice that of the other 2 strategies. Results were robust to variations in data parameters. Conclusion. The neonatal sepsis calculator and enhanced clinical observation approaches may be preferred to categorical risk assessment as they reduce the number of infants receiving intervention and thus antibiotic exposure and associated costs. All 3 approaches have similar costs over all live births, and prior literature has indicated similar health outcomes. Inclusion of downstream effects of antibiotic exposure in the neonatal period should be evaluated within a cost-effectiveness analysis. Highlights: Of the 3 approaches recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2018 to identify early-onset sepsis in infants born at ≥35 weeks, the categorical risk assessment approach leads to about twice as many infants receiving evaluation to rule out early-onset sepsis compared with the neonatal sepsis calculator and enhanced clinical observation approaches.While the hospital costs of the 3 approaches were similar over the entire population of live births, the neonatal sepsis calculator and enhanced clinical observation approaches reduce antibiotic exposure, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and hospital costs associated with interventions as part of the screening approach compared with the categorical risk assessment approach.

Impact of age on measurement variability for axial length in myopic children.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Axial length is a primary outcome in the management of progressive myopia. However, young children may have difficulty fixating during these measurements compared to older children, which can result in higher measurement variability. This may affect perceived axial length progression, leading to inappropriate management. BACKGROUND: This study assessed the impact of patient age on measurement variability for axial length measurements taken with the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 in myopic children. METHODS: A retrospective review of records was undertaken at a university optometry clinic. Five axial length measurements captured at the same visit were collected with the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 for myopic patients ≤16 years. The within-subject standard deviation and R2 were calculated for each instrument to examine the effects of age on instrument variability. RESULTS: Data was collected for 51 patients (30 female and 21 male), and the mean age was 10.98 ± 2.77 years. Mean axial length measured with the IOLMaster 700 was longer compared to the IOLMaster 500 (difference -0.02 ± 0.02 mm; p < 0.001). There was no effect of age on within-person variability for the measurement of axial lengths with either instrument, with R2 values of 0.021 (p = 0.305) and 0.13 (p = 0.420) for the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500, respectively. The within-subject variability of axial measurements with the IOLMaster 700 was significantly lower than that with the IOLMaster 500 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Measurement variability of axial length measurements with the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 was not dependent on age. However, axial length measurements captured with the IOLMaster 700 were significantly longer and less variable than those with the IOLMaster 500. Eye health care practitioners should be aware of the differences between the two instruments and refrain from using them interchangeably, especially for myopia control where small changes in axial length can affect patient management.

Incidence of Neonatal Hypothermia in the Newborn Nursery and Associated Factors.

Importance: Thermoregulation is a key component of well-newborn care. There is limited epidemiologic data on hypothermia in late preterm and term infants admitted to the nursery. Expanding on these data is essential for advancing evidence-based care in a population that represents more than 3.5 million births per year in the US. Objective: To examine the incidence and factors associated with hypothermia in otherwise healthy infants admitted to the newborn nursery following delivery. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study using electronic health record data from May 1, 2015, to August 31, 2021, was conducted at a newborn nursery at a university-affiliated children's hospital. Participants included 23 549 infants admitted to the newborn nursery, from which 321 060 axillary and rectal temperature values were analyzed. Exposures: Infant and maternal clinical and demographic factors. Main Outcomes and Measures: Neonatal hypothermia was defined according to the World Health Organization threshold of temperature less than 36.5 °C. Hypothermia was further classified by severity (mild: single episode, temperature 36.0-36.4 °C; moderate/severe: persistent or recurrent hypothermia and/or temperature <36.0 °C) and timing (early: all hypothermic episodes occurred within the first 24 hours after birth; late: any episode extended beyond the first 24 hours). Results: Of 23 549 included infants (male, 12 220 [51.9%]), 5.6% were late preterm (35-36 weeks' gestation) and 4.3% were low birth weight (≤2500 g). The incidence of mild hypothermia was 17.1% and the incidence of moderate/severe hypothermia was 4.6%. Late hypothermia occurred in 1.8% of infants. Lower birth weight and gestational age and Black and Asian maternal race and ethnicity had the highest adjusted odds across all classifications of hypothermia. The adjusted odds ratios of moderate/severe hypothermia were 5.97 (95% CI 4.45-8.00) in infants with a birth weight less than or equal to 2500 vs 3001 to 3500 g, 3.17 (95% CI 2.24-4.49) in 35 week' vs 39 weeks' gestation, and 2.65 (95% CI 1.78-3.96) in infants born to Black mothers and 1.94 (95% CI 1.61-2.34) in infants born to Asian mothers vs non-Hispanic White mothers. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of infants in the inpatient nursery, hypothermia was common, and the incidence varied by hypothermia definition applied. Infants of lower gestational age and birth weight and those born to Black and Asian mothers carried the highest odds of hypothermia. These findings suggest that identifying biological, structural, and social determinants of hypothermia is essential for advancing evidence-based equitable thermoregulatory care.

A Cross-sectional Study Characterizing Pediatric Temperature Percentiles in Children at Well-Child Visits.

BACKGROUND: Temperature measurement plays a central role in determining pediatric patients' disease risk and management. However, current pediatric temperature thresholds may be outdated and not applicable to children. OBJECTIVE: To characterize pediatric temperature norms and variation by patient characteristics, time of measurement, and thermometer route. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 134,641 well-child visits occurring between 2014-2019 at primary care clinics that routinely measured temperature. We performed bivariate and multivariable quantile regressions with clustered standard errors to determine temperature percentiles and variation by age, sex, time of measurement, and thermometer route. We performed sensitivity analyses: 1) using a cohort that excluded visits with infectious diagnoses that could explain temperature aberrations and 2) including clinic as a fixed effect. RESULTS: The median rectal temperature for visits of infants ≤12 months old was 37.2˚C, which was 0.4˚C higher than the median axillary temperature. The median axillary temperature for children 1-18 years old was 36.7˚C, which was 0.1˚C lower than the median values of all other routes. The 99th percentile for rectal temperatures in infants was 37.8˚C and the 99.9th percentile for axillary temperatures in children was 38.5˚C. Adjusted analyses did not demonstrate clinically significant variation in temperature by sex, age, or time of measurement. CONCLUSIONS: These updated temperature norms can serve as reference values in clinical practice and should be considered in the context of thermometer route used and the clinical condition being evaluated. Variations in temperature values by sex, age, and time of measurement were not clinically significant.

Frequency and Consequences of Routine Temperature Measurement at Well-Child Visits.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the (1) frequency and visit characteristics of routine temperature measurement and (2) rates of interventions by temperature measurement practice and the probability of incidental fever detection. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed well-child visits between 2014-2019. We performed multivariable regression to characterize visits associated with routine temperature measurement and conducted generalized estimating equations regression to determine adjusted rates of interventions (antibiotic prescription, and diagnostic testing) and vaccine deferral by temperature measurement and fever status, clustered by clinic and patient. Through dual independent chart review, fever (≥100.4°F) was categorized as probable, possible, or unlikely to be incidentally detected. RESULTS: Temperature measurement occurred at 155 527 of 274 351 (58.9%) well-child visits. Of 24 clinics, 16 measured temperature at >90% of visits ("routine measurement clinics") and 8 at <20% of visits ("occasional measurement clinics"). After adjusting for age, ethnicity, race, and insurance, antibiotic prescription was more common (adjusted odds ratio: 1.21; 95% CI 1.13-1.29), whereas diagnostic testing was less common (adjusted odds ratio: 0.76; 95% CI 0.71-0.82) at routine measurement clinics. Fever was detected at 270 of 155 527 (0.2%) routine measurement clinic visits, 47 (17.4%) of which were classified as probable incidental fever. Antibiotic prescription and diagnostic testing were more common at visits with probable incidental fever than without fever (7.4% vs 1.7%; 14.8% vs 1.2%; P < .001), and vaccines were deferred at 50% such visits. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature measurement occurs at more than one-half of well-child visits and is a clinic-driven practice. Given the impact on subsequent interventions and vaccine deferral, the harm-benefit profile of this practice warrants consideration.

Using Observation to Determine Teachable Moments Within a Serious Game: A GridlockED as Medical Education (GAME) Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of serious games as an educational tool may be an effective strategy to improve knowledge and skill among health care trainees. GridlockED is a serious board game designed to simulate a shift in the emergency department (ED) that incorporates concepts such as prioritization in a multipatient environment and stewardship of finite resources. Serious games can present concepts to learners that are not easily accessible through other teaching methods. GridlockED was designed to demonstrate the principles behind ED flow and how to prioritize in a complex multipatient environment. The objective of this study was to identify teaching points to which learners are exposed while playing the GridlockED game. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study from May to August 2017. Practicing emergency physicians, residents, and nurses were recruited as participants to play GridlockED. Participants were instructed on how to play the game and then engaged in playing GridlockED, during which their gameplay was video recorded. The videos of the play sessions were qualitatively analyzed using an interpretive description technique. All teaching points explicitly stated by players or implicitly observed by researchers were recorded. RESULTS: Teaching points were identified in the GridlockED play sessions centered around the concepts of patient prioritization and staff placement. Major themes present in gameplay, as well as deviations from reality and frequent misconceptions about emergency care, were also identified. CONCLUSION: Observations of experienced ED practitioners reveal that the GridlockED board game creates opportunities for engaging medical learners in systems-level teaching. Our findings will help create the basis for future education modules, but further study is required to ensure that junior trainees actually learn when playing the game.

Povidone iodine for the treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis.

Adenoviral conjunctivitis is the most common cause of ocular viral infection in the world, but currently has no approved therapeutic treatments. The antiseptic povidone-iodine (PVP-I) has been used as an off-label treatment for the condition, but high-quality evidence for its use is limited. This paper aims to review the literature surrounding the use of PVP-I in the management of adenoviral conjunctivitis. Unfortunately, treatment regimens, inclusion criteria, outcome measures, and review periods vary widely between studies, making direct comparisons between outcomes difficult. The majority of studies investigate daily instillation of 0.4 to 2.0% PVP-I rather than one-time instillation of PVP-I as has been used anecdotally in practice. In addition, only one treatment arm investigates daily PVP-I alone, with no significant difference in the duration of disease or clinical outcome compared to placebo. All other treatment arms investigate PVP-I in combination with dexamethasone which generally improve outcomes. Tolerability of PVP-I is generally good for low concentrations <1.0%, but efficacy of treatment is generally reported to be concentration dependent. Future research should investigate the optimal concentration, dosing regimen and role of each agent in combination treatment and aim to use laboratory techniques to improve diagnosis and provide quantifiable outcomes.

Impact of Antecedent Antibiotic Usage on Community-associated Clostridioides difficile Infection in Pediatrics.

Children exposed to antibiotics develop community-associated Clostridioides difficile infections in the 12 weeks following exposure. This secondary analysis was a retrospective review of children with filled prescriptions for commonly prescribed antibiotics between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2016. Compared with amoxicillin, incident rates of community-associated Clostridioides difficile infections were highest following clindamycin, cephalosporins, and amoxicillin-clavulanate.

Temperature Measurement at Well-Child Visits in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and predictors of temperature measurement at well-child visits in the US and report rates of interventions associated with visits at which temperature is measured and fever is detected. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 22 518 sampled well-child visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 2003 and 2015. We estimated the frequency of temperature measurement and performed multivariable regression to identify patient, provider/clinic, and seasonal factors associated with the practice. We described rates of interventions (complete blood count, radiograph, urinalysis, antibiotic prescription, and emergency department/hospital referral) by measurement and fever (temperature ≥100.4 °F, ≥38.0 °C) status. RESULTS: Temperature was measured in 48.5% (95% CI 45.6-51.4) of well-child visits. Measurement was more common during visits by nonpediatric providers (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6-2.5; reference: pediatricians), in Hispanic (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6-2.3) and Black (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9; reference: non-Hispanic White) patients, and in patients with government (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.7-2.4; reference: private) insurance. Interventions were more commonly pursued when temperature was measured (aOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6) and fever was detected (aOR 3.8, 95% CI 1.5-9.4). CONCLUSIONS: Temperature was measured in nearly one-half of all well-child visits. Interventions were more common when temperature was measured and fever was detected. The value of routine temperature measurement during well-child visits warrants further evaluation.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Community Associated Clostridioides difficile in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess which risk factors are associated with community-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in children. STUDY DESIGN: This case control study was a retrospective review of all children 1-17 years of age with stool specimens sent for C difficile testing from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016. Cases and controls were children who had C difficile testing performed in the community or first 48 hours of hospital admission and >12 weeks after hospital discharge, with no prior positive C difficile testing in last 8 weeks, without other identified causes of diarrhea, and with clinical symptoms. Cases had positive confirmatory testing for C difficile. Controls had negative testing for C difficile and were matched to cases 1:1 by age and year of specimen collection. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of community-acquired CDI in this cohort was 13.7 per 100 000 children per year. There was a substantial increase in community-acquired CDI from 9.6 per 100 000 children per year in 2012 to a peak of 16.9 per 100 000 children per year in 2015 (Cochran-Armitage test for trend P = .002). The risk factors for community-acquired CDI included non-Hispanic ethnicity; amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalosporin, and clindamycin use within the previous 12 weeks; a previous positive C difficile test within 6 months; and increased health care visits in the last year. CONCLUSIONS: As rates of community-acquired CDI are increasing, enhanced antibiotic stewardship and recognition of health care disparities may ease the burden of community-acquired CDI.

Risk Factors for Recurrent Community-associated Clostridiodes Difficile Infection in Children.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence of community-associated (CA) Clostridiodes difficile infection (CDI) approaches 30%. Studies on risk factors and treatment of choice for pediatric CA-CDI are scarce with variable recommendations. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of the electronic health records of children 1-17 years with stool specimens sent for C. difficile at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from January 01, 2012 to December 31, 2016. Children with (1) CA disease, (2) confirmatory C. difficile laboratory testing with no other identified causes of diarrhea and (3) clinical symptoms consistent with CDI were defined as cases. Recurrent CA-CDI was defined using the above-described case criteria and onset of diarrhea within 8 weeks of primary CA-CDI. RESULTS: Of the 7350 children with stool samples sent for C. difficile testing, 408 had primary CA-CDI. Forty-five (11%) experienced a recurrence. Using multivariable logistic regression, inflammatory bowel disease [odds ratio (OR) 7.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6-21.1] and cancer (OR 6.3; 95% CI: 1.6-24.1) diagnoses were risk factors for recurrent disease. Compared with children of Caucasian race, those with multi/other/unknown race had an OR of 3.03 (95% CI: 1.04-8.82) of recurrence. There was no statistically significant difference in the type or duration of therapy as a predictor for recurrent CA CDI. Six percent of children who received metronidazole were switched to vancomycin due to subjective metronidazole allergy or intolerance or metronidazole treatment failure. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent CA-CDI in children in our population is less common than previously reported. This study supports first-line treatment with the standard, short course metronidazole in most cases of primary CA-CDI.