Best practice guidelines for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: recommendations versus reality.

BACKGROUND: The optimal therapeutic regimen for managing childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is still under debate. We have evaluated the choice of steroid regimen and of symptomatic treatment adopted by pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists in a large number of centers as the first step towards establishing a shared protocol METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective study. A total of 231 children (132 admitted to pediatric units) aged 6 months to <15 years who presented with onset of nephrotic syndrome to 54 pediatric units and six pediatric nephrology units in Italy between 2007 and 2009 were eligible for entry into the study. RESULTS: Median steroid dosing was 55 (range 27-75) mg/m(2)/day. The overall median cumulative dose regimen for the first episode was 3,440 (1,904-6,035) mg/m(2), and the median duration of the therapeutic regimen was 21 (9-48) weeks. The total duration and cumulative steroid dose were significantly higher in patients treated by pediatricians than in those treated by pediatric nephrologists (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008). Among the patient cohort, 55, 64 and 22 % received albumin infusions, diuretics and acetyl salicylic acid treatment, respectively, but the laboratory and clinical data did not differ between children treated or not treated with symptomatic drugs. Albumin and diuretic use did not vary between patients in pediatric units and those in pediatric nephrology units. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows major differences in steroid and symptomatic treatment of nephrotic syndrome by pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists. As these differences can influence the efficacy of the treatments and the appearance of side-effects, shared guidelines and their implementation through widespread educational activities are necessary.

Universal antenatal screening for group B streptococcus in Emilia-Romagna.

BACKGROUND: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of severe infections in newborns. Intrapartum antibiotic chemoprophylaxis (IAP) reduces the rate of early-onset disease. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of clinicians' compliance with the suggested protocol for GBS prevention in Emilia-Romagna (Italy). METHODS: Characteristics of each delivery were prospectively recorded in the period between October 2005 to December 2005. Standardized pro-forma were used to collect data. RESULTS: Among 5118 babies, 7.2% (369) were preterm and 92.3% were born at term (4749). Antenatal screening was performed in 86.6% of women who delivered at term, of which 18.1% were GBS culture-positive. Information regarding culture site was available in 93.2% of women screened and recto-vaginal cultures were documented in 42.7%. IAP was administered to 28.7% of 3937 women at term who had either spontaneous delivery or emergency caesarean section. In this cohort, 15.9% were diagnosed GBS culture-positive, of which 92.6% received IAP. Prophylaxis was also administered to 8.4% (331) of women for no apparent reason. Compared with tertiary level hospitals, women delivering in primary/secondary hospitals were more likely to be both GBS screened (P < 0.0001; OR 3.04; CI 2.33-3.97) and to receive prophylaxis ≥4 hours before delivery (P = 0.0025; OR 1.57; CI 1.17-2.12). CONCLUSIONS: GBS screening was performed in >85% of women and >90% of culture-positive women received prophylaxis. However, there is a need to educate clinicians about protocol adherence, as most cultures were suboptimal and cases of unnecessary IAP were administered. The screening was more effective in hospitals with fewer deliveries.

Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis failure and group-B streptococcus early-onset disease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors influencing intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) failure in the prevention of group B streptococcus (GBS) early-onset disease (EOD). METHODS: GBS EOD case is defined as isolation of GBS from a normally sterile body site (e.g. blood or cerebrospinal fluid) in infants aged ≤7 days. During a consecutive 93-month period, GBS EOD cases and care data were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-nine GBS EOD cases were registered; 67 infants were born to women who received no i.v. antibiotics during labor. The 12 EOD cases exposed to IAP were more likely to be associated with emergency caesarean section (p = 0.0015), maternal obstetric risk factors (ORFs) (p = 0.0061), particularly intrapartum fever (p = 0.0002), and to present with signs of illness at birth (p = 0.0015). Correct dosages, agents, and timing were registered in three cases only; of which two were associated with intrapartum fever. CONCLUSIONS: ORFs, emergency caesarean section, and signs of illness at birth are significantly associated with GBS EOD in infants exposed to IAP. This study also suggests that recommended IAP agents, dosages, and timing are infrequently associated with EOD. Strict protocol adherence is recommended in all cases.

Maternal anaphylaxis and fetal brain damage after intrapartum chemoprophylaxis.

We report a case of maternal anaphylaxis following intrapartum chemoprophylaxis. The term fetus developed severe brain damage as a consequence of intrapartum asphyxia. The lesions resulted from maternal hypotension following anaphylaxis. We discuss the feto-maternal risks and the controversial treatment of such a condition. The increasing number of penicillin-treated parturients will result in further cases of maternal anaphylaxis than previously found.