Infection what else? The usefulness of procalcitonin in children after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Procalcitonin is a useful biomarker for predicting bacterial infection after cardiac surgery. However, sometimes procalcitonin rises following cardiac surgery without a confirmation of bacterial infection. The aim was to analyse procalcitonin levels in children without a bacterial infection after cardiac surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective, observational study of children <18 years old admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after cardiac surgery. RESULTS: 1,042 children were included, 996 (95.6%) without a bacterial infection. From them, severe complications occurred in 132 patients (13.3%). Procalcitonin increased differentially depending on the type of complication. Patients who presented a poor outcome (n = 26, 2.6%) had higher procalcitonin values in the postoperative period than the rest of patients (<24 hours: 5.8 ng/mL vs. 0.6 ng/mL; 24-48 hours, 5.1 ng/mL vs. 0.8 ng/mL, and 48-72 hours, 5.3 ng/mL vs. 1.2 ng/mL), but these values remained stable over time (p = 0.732; p = 0.110). The AUC for procalcitonin for predicting poor outcome was 0.876 in the first 24 hours. The cut-off point to predict poor outcome was 2 ng/mL in the first 24 hours (sensitivity 86.9%, specificity 77.3%). Patients with bacterial infection (n = 46) presented higher values of procalcitonin initially, but they decreased in the 48-72 hours period (<24 hours: 4.9 ng/mL; 24-48 hours, 5.8 ng/mL, and 48-72 hours, 4.5 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: A procalcitonin value<2 ng/mL may indicate the absence of infection and poor outcome after cardiac surgery. The evolution of the values of this biomarker might help to discern between infection (where procalcitonin will decrease) and poor outcome (where procalcitonin will not decrease).

Device-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria surveillance in critically ill children: 10 years of experience.

AIM: Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are a public health problem worldwide. However, most of the information available refers to adults. The main objectives were to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes for device-associated infections, especially those involving multidrug-resistant bacteria. METHODS: This is a prospective, observational study. Children aged ≥1 month and <18 years admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit from 2008 to 2017, with a device-associated infection microbiologically confirmed were included. Patients infected with resistant bacteria were compared with those who had a drug-susceptible infection. RESULTS: The study included 213 patients. Out of all the device-associated infections, 22% (48 patients) were caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. The most frequent were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteria. Cardiovascular diseases, age under 1year, comorbidity, prolonged use of invasive device, and length of stay until infection were risk factors for resistant bacteria, but not specifically for ESBL-producing bacteria. Length of stay and mortality was increased in patients with multidrug-resistant bacteria. CONCLUSION: Being under 1-year-old and having a cardiovascular disease were the two major risk factors for resistant bacterial infection. ESBL-producing bacteria were the most frequent multidrug-resistant agents. However, patients with ESBL-producing bacteria did not have any additional risk factors, so they may have been colonised in the community.

End-of-life care in a pediatric intensive care unit: the impact of the development of a palliative care unit.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper is to describe how end-of-life care is managed when life-support limitation is decided in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and to analyze the influence of the further development of the Palliative Care Unit. METHODS: A 15-year retrospective study of children who died after life-support limitation was initiated in a pediatric intensive care unit. Patients were divided into two groups, pre- and post-palliative care unit development. Epidemiological and clinical data, the decision-making process, and the approach were analyzed. Data was obtained from patient medical records. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-five patients were included. The main reason for admission was respiratory failure (86/175). A previous pathology was present in 152 patients (61/152 were neurological issues). The medical team and family participated together in the decision-making in 145 cases (82.8%). The family made the request in 10 cases (9 vs. 1, p = 0.019). Withdrawal was the main life-support limitation (113/175), followed by withholding life-sustaining treatments (37/175). Withdrawal was more frequent in the post-palliative group (57.4% vs. 74.3%, p = 0.031). In absolute numbers, respiratory support was the main type of support withdrawn. CONCLUSIONS: The main cause of life-support limitation was the unfavourable evolution of the underlying pathology. Families were involved in the decision-making process in a high percentage of the cases. The development of the Palliative Care Unit changed life-support limitation in our unit, with differences detected in the type of patient and in the strategy used. Increased confidence among intensivists when providing end-of-life care, and the availability of a Palliative Care Unit may contribute to improvements in the quality of end-of-life care.

Procalcitonin-guided protocol decreased the antibiotic use in paediatric patients with severe bronchiolitis.

AIM: Our aim was to determine the effectiveness and safety of a procalcitonin-guided protocol to decrease antibiotic use in infants with severe bronchiolitis. METHODS: This prospective, observational study was conducted at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu from 2010 to 2017. Patients under the age of one were included if they were diagnosed with bronchiolitis, had a suspected bacterial infection and were admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit. A procalcitonin-guided protocol was established in 2014, and two cohorts were compared before and after implementation: 340 in 2010-2014 and 366 in 2015-2017. RESULTS: We recruited 706 patients (58.6% male) with a median age of 47 days and an interquartile range of 25.0-100.2. The rate for antibiotic use was 79.9%, and this differed before and after implementation (88.2% vs 72.1%, P = .003). Antibiotic stewardship and withdrawal decisions were higher after implementation (22.3% vs 36.4%, P = .005). The length of antibiotic treatment was also different between the two periods (8.65 ± 4.8 days vs 5.05 ± 3.18 days, P = .023). No adverse outcomes were observed due to the implementation of the protocol. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a procalcitonin-guided protocol seems to lead to a safe and general decrease in antibiotic use in paediatric patients with severe bronchiolitis.

Procalcitonin to stop antibiotics after cardiovascular surgery in a pediatric intensive care unit-The PROSACAB study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after cardiovascular surgery usually require treatment with antibiotics due to suspicion of infection. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of procalcitonin in decreasing the duration of antibiotic treatment in children after cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: Prospective, interventional study carried out in a pediatric intensive care unit. Included patients under 18 years old admitted after cardiopulmonary bypass. Two groups were compared, depending on the implementation of the PCT-guided protocol to stop or de-escalate the antibiotic treatment (Group 1, 2011-2013 and group 2, 2014-2018). This new protocol was based on the decrease of the PCT value by 20% or 50% with respect to the maximum value of PCT. Primary endpoints were mortality, stewardship indication, duration of antibiotic treatment, and antibiotic-free days. RESULTS: 886 patients were recruited. There were 226 suspicions of infection (25.5%), and they were confirmed in 38 cases (16.8%). The global rate of infections was 4.3%. 102 patients received broad-spectrum antibiotic (4.7±1.7 days in group 1, 3.9±1 days in group 2 with p = 0.160). The rate of de-escalation was higher in group 2 (30/62, 48.4%) than in group 1 (24/92, 26.1%) with p = 0.004. A reduction of 1.1 days of antibiotic treatment (group 1, 7.7±2.2 and group 2, 6.7±2.2, with p = 0.005) and 2 more antibiotic free-days free in PICU in group 2 were observed (p = 0.001), without adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin-guided protocol for stewardship after cardiac surgery seems to be safe and useful to decrease the antibiotic exposure. This protocol could help to reduce the duration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and the duration of antibiotics in total, without developing complications or adverse effects.

Clinical, biochemical and microbiological factors associated with the prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis in children / Factores clínicos, bioquímicos y microbiológicos relacionados con el pronóstico de la meningitis neumocócica en niños

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal meningitis (PM) has a high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate what factors are related to a poor PM prognosis. METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted on patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of PM (January 2000 to December 2013). Clinical, biochemical and microbiological data were recorded. Variable outcome was classified into good or poor (neurological handicap or death). A multivariate logistic regression was performed based on the univariate analysis of significant data. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were included. Clinical variables statistically significant for a poor outcome were younger age (p = .008), lengthy fever (p = .016), sepsis (p = .010), lower Glasgow Score (p < .001), higher score on Pediatric Risk Mortality Score (p = 0.010) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (p < .001), longer mechanical ventilation (p = .004), and inotropic support (p = .008) requirements. Statistically significant biochemical variables were higher level of C-reactive protein (p < .001) and procalcitonin (p = .014) at admission, low cerebrospinal (CSF) pleocytosis (p = .003), higher level of protein in CSF (p = .031), and severe hypoglycorrhachia (p = .002). In multivariate analysis, independent indicators of poor outcome were age less than 2 years (p = .011), high score on SOFA (p = .030), low Glasgow Score (p = .042), and severe hypoglycorrhachia (p = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Patients younger than 2 years of age, with depressed consciousness at admission, especially when longer mechanical ventilation is required, are at high risk of a poor outcome

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las meningitis neumocócicas (MN) se relacionan con una elevada morbimortalidad. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar qué factores se relacionan con un peor pronóstico. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo observacional con pacientes diagnosticados de MN ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos de un hospital de tercer nivel (enero 2000-diciembre 2013). El pronóstico fue clasificado en buena o mala evolución (secuelas neurológicas o muerte). Se realizó un análisis multivariante de los resultados significativos obtenidos en el análisis univariante. RESULTADOS: Se reclutaron 88 pacientes. Las variables clínicas relacionadas de forma estadísticamente significativa con una peor evolución fueron: menor edad (p = 0,008), mayor duración de la fiebre (p = 0,016), sepsis (p = 0,010), menor puntuación en la Escala de Glasgow (p < 0,001), mayor puntuación en Pediatric Risk Mortality Score (p = 0,010) y Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA) (p < 0,001), ventilación mecánica (p = 0,004) y soporte inotrópico (p = 0,008) prolongados. Las bioquímicas fueron: mayor elevación de proteína C reactiva (p < 0,001) y de procalcitonina (p = 0,014) al ingreso, menor pleocitosis en líquido cefalorraquídeo (p = 0,003), intensas proteinorraquia (p = 0,013) e hipoglucorraquia (p = 0,002). En el análisis multivariante, los factores independientes relacionados con una peor evolución fueron: edad inferior a 2 años (p = 0,011), elevada puntuación en SOFA (p = 0,030), menor puntuación en la Escala de Glasgow (p = 0,042) e hipoglucorraquia intensa (p = 0,009). CONCLUSIONES: Los menores de 2 años con mayor depresión del sensorio al ingreso, especialmente cuando requieren soporte ventilatorio prolongado, tienen un mayor riesgo de mala evolución

Glutamine effects on heat shock protein 70 and interleukines 6 and 10: Randomized trial of glutamine supplementation versus standard parenteral nutrition in critically ill children.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To determine whether glutamine (Gln) supplementation would have a role modifying both the oxidative stress and the inflammatory response of critically ill children. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, interventional clinical trial. Selection criteria were children requiring parenteral nutrition for at least 5 days diagnosed with severe sepsis or post major surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to standard parenteral nutrition (SPN, 49 subjects) or standard parenteral nutrition with glutamine supplementation (SPN + Gln, 49 subjects). RESULTS: Glutamine levels failed to show statistical differences between groups. At day 5, patients in the SPN + Gln group had significantly higher levels of HSP-70 (heat shock protein 70) as compared with the SPN group (68.6 vs 5.4, p = 0.014). In both groups, IL-6 (interleukine 6) levels showed a remarkable descent from baseline and day 2 (SPN: 42.24 vs 9.39, p < 0.001; SPN + Gln: 35.20 vs 13.80, p < 0.001) but only the treatment group showed a statistically significant decrease between day 2 and day 5 (13.80 vs 10.55, p = 0.013). Levels of IL-10 (interleukine 10) did not vary among visits except in the SPN between baseline and day 2 (9.55 vs 5.356, p < 0.001). At the end of the study, no significant differences between groups for PICU and hospital stay were observed. No adverse events were detected in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Glutamine supplementation in critically-ill children contributed to maintain high HSP-70 levels for longer. Glutamine supplementation had no influence on IL-10 and failed to show a significant reduction of IL-6 levels.

Clinical, biochemical and microbiological factors associated with the prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis in children.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal meningitis (PM) has a high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate what factors are related to a poor PM prognosis. METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted on patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of PM (January 2000 to December 2013). Clinical, biochemical and microbiological data were recorded. Variable outcome was classified into good or poor (neurological handicap or death). A multivariate logistic regression was performed based on the univariate analysis of significant data. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were included. Clinical variables statistically significant for a poor outcome were younger age (p=.008), lengthy fever (p=.016), sepsis (p=.010), lower Glasgow Score (p<.001), higher score on Pediatric Risk Mortality Score (p=0.010) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (p<.001), longer mechanical ventilation (p=.004), and inotropic support (p=.008) requirements. Statistically significant biochemical variables were higher level of C-reactive protein (p<.001) and procalcitonin (p=.014) at admission, low cerebrospinal (CSF) pleocytosis (p=.003), higher level of protein in CSF (p=.031), and severe hypoglycorrhachia (p=.002). In multivariate analysis, independent indicators of poor outcome were age less than 2 years (p=.011), high score on SOFA (p=.030), low Glasgow Score (p=.042), and severe hypoglycorrhachia (p=.009). CONCLUSIONS: Patients younger than 2 years of age, with depressed consciousness at admission, especially when longer mechanical ventilation is required, are at high risk of a poor outcome.

Endocarditis infecciosa. A propòsit de tres casos / Endocarditis infecciosa. A propósito de tres casos / Infectious endocarditis. Report of three cases

Introducció: l'endocarditis infecciosa (EI) es defineix com la infecció microbiana de l'endoteli cardíac, fonamentalment a nivell valvular, ja sigui natural o protèsic. Adquireix espe-cial importància en les unitats de cures intensives pediàtri-ques per les complicacions que pot generar a nivell cardíac o per la seva relació amb l'ús de procediments invasius. Observació clínica: es presenten tres casos clínics d'endocarditis de diversa etiologia i amb desenllaç diferent: una lactant postoperada de cirurgia cardíaca, una nena prèviament sana i un lactant amb sèpsia per S. aureus. Comentaris: la majoria d'EI estan causades per cocs grampositius, entre ells l'Streptococcus viridans (com a causa més freqüent), l'Staphylococcus aureus i l'Enterococcus spp. La clínica sol ser de caràcter subagut amb manifestacions generals i clínica d'insuficiència cardíaca amb buf. El diagnòstic és difícil, per la qual cosa s'utilitzen criteris diferents. El marcador de la malaltia és la bacterièmia persistent, i són necessaris tres hemocultius positius per ferne el diagnòstic. El tractament antibiòtic difereix en funció de la naturalesa de la vàlvula afectada, del curs clínic de la malaltia i del germen aïllat. En general es basa en un tractament bactericida, a altes dosis i durant un temps perllongat. En alguns casos és necessari tractament quirúrgic

Introducción. Se define endocarditis infecciosa (EI) como la infección microbiana del endotelio cardíaco, fundamentalmente a nivel valvular, ya sea natural o protésico. Adquiere especial importancia en las unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos por las complicaciones que puede generar a nivel cardíaco o por su relación con el uso de procedimientos invasivos. Observación clínica. Se presentan tres casos clínicos de endocarditis de diversa etiología y con final diferente: una lactante postoperada de cirurgía cardíaca, una niña previamente sana y un lactante con sepsis por S. aureus. Comentarios. La mayoría de EI estan causadas por cocos grampositivos, entre ellos Streptococcus viridans (como causa más frecuente), Staphylococcus aureus y Enterococcus spp. La clínica acostumbra a ser de carácter subagudo con manifestaciones generales y clínica de insuficiencia cardíaca con soplo. El diagnóstico es difícil, por lo que se usan diferentes criterios. El marcador de la enfermedad es la bacteriemia persistente, siendo necesarios tres hemocultivos positivos para el diagnóstico. El tratamiento antibiótico difiere según la naturaleza de la válvula afectada, del curso clínico de la enfermedad y del gérmen aislado. En general se basa en un tratamiento bactericida, a altas dosis y durante un tiempo prolongado. En algunos casos es necesario tratamiento quirúrgico (AU)

Introduction. Infectious endocarditis (IE) is defined as a microbial infection of the heart endothelium that predominantly affects the valves, whether natural or prosthetic. IE is of special relevance in pediatric intensive care units due to the potential cardiac complications and to its relationship with invasive procedures. Clinical observation. We present three cases of IE with different etiology and clinical course: an infant recovering from cardiac surgery, a previously healthy girl, and an infant with S. aureus sepsis. Comments. Most cases of IE are caused by gram-positive cocci, including Streptococcus viridans (the most common causative agent), Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus spp. The clinical presentation is usually subacute, with symptoms of systemic illness and heart failure, and the development of a new heart murmur. The diagnosis is challenging, and different criteria exist. A marker of the disease is the persistent bacteremia, and three positive blood cultures are required for diagnosis. The antibiotic treatment is selected based on the affected valve, the clinical course, and the causative agent. The general principles of therapy are based on high doses of a bactericidal treatment for a prolonged period. In some cases a surgical approach is required (AU)

Fetal exposure to cocaine and infections during the first 18 months of life in infants from a Mediterranean city.

AIM: The incidence of infections during the first 18 months of life was investigated in 36 infants prenatally exposed to cocaine and in 72 non-exposed controls from Barcelona, Spain. METHODS: Fetal exposure to cocaine was ascertained by meconium analysis, infections by structured questionnaire. RESULTS: A higher incidence of infections, if excluding those acquired in utero, was not found in exposed infants versus non-exposed infants of similar demographical and socioeconomic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: A possible role for life style factor in those cases where increased infections are associated with fetal exposure to cocaine is hypothesized.

Impact of immigration on the cost of emergency visits in Barcelona (Spain).

BACKGROUND: The impact of immigration on health services utilisation has been analysed by several studies performed in countries with lower levels of immigration than Spain. These studies indicate that health services utilisation is lower among the immigrant population than among the host population and that immigrants tend to use hospital emergency services at the expense of primary care. We aimed to quantify the relative over-utilisation of emergency services in the immigrant population. METHODS: Emergency visits to Hospital del Mar in Barcelona in 2002 and 2003 were analysed. The country of origin, gender, age, discharge-related circumstances (hospital admission, discharge to home, or death), medical specialty, and variable cost related to medical care were registered. Immigrants were grouped into those from high-income countries (IHIC) and those from low-income countries (ILIC) and the average direct cost was compared by country of origin. A multivariate linear mixed model of direct costs was adjusted by country of origin (classified in five groups) and by the individual variables of age, gender, hospital admission, and death as a cause of discharge. Medical specialty was considered as a random effect. RESULTS: With the exception of gynaecological emergency visits, costs resulting from emergency visits by both groups of immigrants were lower than those due to visits by the Spanish-born population. This effect was especially marked for emergency visits by adults. CONCLUSION: Immigrants tend to use the emergency department in preference to other health services. No differences were found between IHIC and ILIC, suggesting that this result was due to the ease of access to emergency services and to lack of knowledge about the country's health system rather than to poor health status resulting from immigrants' socioeconomic position. The use of costs as a variable of complexity represents an opportunistic use of a highly exhaustive registry, which is becoming ever more frequent in hospitals and which overcomes the lack of clinical information related to outpatient activity.

Infants castellers i politraumatismes / Human towers and multiple trauma in children

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