Neonatal sepsis with meningitis, ventriculitis and brain abscess caused by Edwardsiella tarda.

A case of neonatal sepsis caused by Edwardsiella tarda, an uncommon pathogen typically associated with aquatic lifeforms, is described. The infant presented in septic shock with seizures and respiratory failure and was found to have meningitis, ventriculitis and a brain abscess requiring drainage. Only a small number of case reports of neonatal E. tarda infection, several with sepsis with poor auditory or neurodevelopmental outcomes or meningitis, have been described in the literature. This case report suggests that E. tarda, while uncommon, can be a cause of serious central nervous system disease in the neonatal population and that an aggressive approach to pursuing and treating complications may lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.

When a Critically Ill Child is Oceans Away From a PICU: A Military Pediatric CCAT Mission.

A 4-year-old former 26-week premature male presented to the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam emergency department in respiratory failure secondary to human metapneumovirus requiring urgent intubation. His condition was complicated by a bradycardic arrest requiring 15 minutes of resuscitation before the return of circulation. He was admitted to the adult intensive care unit and was managed via pediatric telecritical care from San Diego. He developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, hypotension requiring multiple pressors, and fluid overload necessitating bilateral chest tubes and two peritoneal drains. A pediatric critical care air transport team departed San Antonio within 36 hours of activation and transported the patient via C-17 to Hawaii, performing a tail swap to a KC-135. Before takeoff, mechanical delays caused prolonged ground time and lack of temperature control resulted in patient's hyperthermia to reach 104.2°F despite the ice packing. The ambient temperature caused equipment malfunction (suction, handheld blood analyzer, and ventilator), necessitating manual bagging. Despite initial temperature challenges, the team removed 700 mL of peritoneal fluid and substantially reduced the patient's ventilator settings. After 22 hours of care, the team arrived with the patient to a civilian pediatric intensive care unit in CA, USA. Over several weeks, the patient made a full recovery. This pediatric critical care air transport mission highlights the complications intrinsic to air transport. Missions of this severity and length benefit from utilization of pediatric specialists to minimize morbidity and mortality. Highlighting the challenges related to preparation, air frame, and equipment malfunction should help others prepare for future pediatric air transports.

PICU in the MICU: How Adult ICUs Can Support Pediatric Care in Public Health Emergencies.

Initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic have largely spared children. With the advent of vaccination in many older age groups and the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, however, children now represent a growing percentage of COVID-19 cases. PICU capacity is far less than that of adult ICUs. Adult ICUs may need to support pediatric care, much as PICUs provided adult care earlier in the pandemic. Critically ill children selected for care in adult settings should be at least 12 years of age and ideally have conditions common in children and adults alike (eg, community-acquired sepsis, trauma). Children with complex, pediatric-specific disorders are best served in PICUs and are not recommended for transfer. The goal of such transfers is to maintain critical capacity for those children in greatest need of the PICU's unique abilities, therefore preserving systems of care for all children.

Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of fluoxetine as an antiviral for acute flaccid myelitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of fluoxetine for proven or presumptive enterovirus (EV) D68-associated acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). METHODS: A multicenter cohort study of US patients with AFM in 2015-2016 compared serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse effects, and outcomes between fluoxetine-treated patients and untreated controls. Fluoxetine was administered at the discretion of treating providers with data gathered retrospectively. The primary outcome was change in summative limb strength score (SLSS; sum of Medical Research Council strength in all 4 limbs, ranging from 20 [normal strength] to 0 [complete quadriparesis]) between initial examination and latest follow-up, with increased SLSS reflecting improvement and decreased SLSS reflecting worsened strength. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients with AFM from 12 centers met study criteria. Among 30 patients exposed to fluoxetine, no SAEs were reported and adverse effect rates were similar to unexposed patients (47% vs 65%, p = 0.16). The 28 patients treated with >1 dose of fluoxetine were more likely to have EV-D68 identified (57.1% vs 14.3%, p < 0.001). Their SLSS was similar at initial examination (mean SLSS 12.9 vs 14.3, p = 0.31) but lower at nadir (mean SLSS 9.25 vs 12.82, p = 0.02) and latest follow-up (mean SLSS 12.5 vs 16.4, p = 0.005) compared with the 28 patients receiving 1 (n = 2) or no (n = 26) doses. In propensity-adjusted analysis, SLSS from initial examination to latest follow-up decreased by 0.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.8 to +1.4) in fluoxetine-treated patients and increased by 2.5 (95% CI +0.7 to +4.4) in untreated patients (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Fluoxetine was well-tolerated. Fluoxetine was preferentially given to patients with AFM with EV-D68 identified and more severe paralysis at nadir, who ultimately had poorer long-term outcomes. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with EV-D68-associated AFM, fluoxetine is well-tolerated and not associated with improved neurologic outcomes.

Pediatric Acute Flaccid Paralysis: Enterovirus D68-Associated Anterior Myelitis.

BACKGROUND: Enteroviral infections can cause acute flaccid paralysis secondary to anterior myelitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important in the diagnosis of this potentially devastating pediatric disease. Before the 2014 outbreak of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), the virus was considered a relatively benign disease. CASE REPORT: A fully immunized 8-year-old boy was brought to the emergency department complaining of a cough, headache, neck pain, and right arm pain and weakness. Deep tendon reflexes in the weak arm could not be elicited. MRI of the brain and cervical spine revealed anterior myelitis of the cervical spine. The patient was given intravenous antibiotics, acyclovir, and methylprednisolone with no initial improvement. He was then given intravenous immunoglobulin over 3 days with improvement in symptoms. Nasal swab polymerase chain reaction revealed EV-D68. Despite medical management, the child was left with long-term motor disability in the effected extremity. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Acute flaccid paralysis is a potential devastating complication of enteroviral infections. Extremity complaints in the clinical setting of central nervous system infection should raise concern for encephalomyelitis. MRI is extremely helpful in establishing this diagnosis. Prevalence of non-polio enteroviral paralytic events is increasing in the United States. Potential EV-D68 cases should be reported to local health departments. Emergency medicine providers should consider this complication in the child with acute, unexplained significant respiratory illness with new neurologic complaints.

Development and Validation of a Score to Predict Mortality in Children Undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure: Pediatric Pulmonary Rescue With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Prediction Score.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to develop and validate a prognostic score for predicting mortality at the time of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation for children with respiratory failure. Preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation mortality prediction is important for determining center-specific risk-adjusted outcomes and counseling families. DESIGN: Multivariable logistic regression of a large international cohort of pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients. SETTING: Multi-institutional data. PATIENTS: Prognostic score development: A total of 4,352 children more than 7 days to less than 18 years old, with an initial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation run for respiratory failure reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization's data registry during 2001-2013 were used for derivation (70%) and validation (30%). Bidirectional stepwise logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with mortality. Retained variables were assigned a score based on the odds of mortality with higher scores indicating greater mortality. External validation was accomplished using 2,007 patients from the Pediatric Health Information System dataset. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The Pediatric Pulmonary Rescue with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Prediction score included mode of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation mechanical ventilation more than 14 days; preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation severity of hypoxia; primary pulmonary diagnostic categories including, asthma, aspiration, respiratory syncytial virus, sepsis-induced respiratory failure, pertussis, and "other"; and preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation comorbid conditions of cardiac arrest, cancer, renal and liver dysfunction. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for internal and external validation datasets were 0.69 (95% CI, 0.67-0.71) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.63-0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric Pulmonary Rescue with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Prediction is a validated tool for predicting in-hospital mortality among children with respiratory failure receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

Prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for children with respiratory failure.

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used to support children with respiratory failure. When extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration is prolonged, decisions regarding ongoing support are difficult as a result of limited prognostic data. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Multi-institutional data reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry. PATIENTS: Patients aged 1 month to 18 yrs supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure from 1993 to 2007 who received support for ≥ 21 days. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 3213 children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the study period, 389 (12%) were supported ≥ 21 days. Median patient age was 9.1 months (interquartile range, 2.5-41.7 months). Median weight was 6.7 kg (interquartile range, 3.5-15.8 kg). Survival for this group was 38%, significantly lower than survival reported for children supported ≤ 14 days (61%, p < .001). Among children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for ≥ 21 days, no differences were found between survivors and nonsurvivors with regard to acute pulmonary diagnosis, pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation comorbidities, pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation adjunctive therapies, or pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation blood gas parameters. Only peak inspiratory pressure was significantly different in survivors. Complications occurring on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were more common among nonsurvivors. The use of inotropic infusion (odds ratio 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.52), acidosis (pH <7.2) during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (odds ratio 2.62; 95% confidence interval 1.51-4.55), and male gender (odds ratio 1.95; 95% confidence interval 1.21-3.15) were independently associated with increased odds of death. CONCLUSION: Survival declines with duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Male gender and inadequate cardiorespiratory status during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation increased the risk of death. Prolonged support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation appears reasonable unless multiorgan failure develops.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation trends for pediatric respiratory failure and central nervous system injury.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines regarding arterial cannula site and cannula site-specific risks of central nervous system (CNS) injury for pediatric patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support are lacking. We reviewed cannulation trends for pediatric respiratory failure and evaluated CNS complication rates by cannulation site and mode of support. METHODS: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry was queried for all pediatric respiratory failure patients <18 years treated from 1993-2007. The primary outcome was radiographic evidence of CNS injury. RESULTS: Venoarterial (VA) support was used in 62% of 2617 ECMO runs. The carotid artery was used in 93% of VA patients. Femoral artery use increased in patients >5 years of age and >20 kg. Venovenous (VV) ECMO was used in >50% of children >10 years. No significant difference was identified in CNS injury between carotid and femoral cannulation in any age group but the femoral group was small (4.4%). VA support was independently associated with increased odds of CNS injury compared to VV cannulation (OR, 1.6). CONCLUSION: VA ECMO is the most common mode of support in pediatric respiratory failure patients. Although no significant difference in CNS injury was noted between carotid and femoral artery cannulation, the odds of injury were significantly higher than VV support.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pediatric respiratory failure: Survival and predictors of mortality.

OBJECTIVE: The last multicentered analysis of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric acute respiratory failure was completed in 1993. We reviewed recent international data to evaluate survival and predictors of mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective case series review. SETTING: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry, which includes data voluntarily submitted from over 115 centers worldwide, was queried. The work was completed at the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Primary Children's Medical Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. SUBJECTS: Patients aged 1 month to 18 yrs supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory failure from 1993 to 2007. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 3,213 children studied. Overall survival remained relatively unchanged over time at 57%. Considerable variability in survival was found based on pulmonary diagnosis, ranging from 83% for status asthmaticus to 39% for pertussis. Comorbidities significantly decreased survival to 33% for those with renal failure (n = 329), 16% with liver failure (n = 51), and 5% with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n = 22). The proportion of patients with comorbidities increased from 19% during 1993 to 47% in 2007. Clinical factors associated with mortality included precannulation ventilatory support longer than 2 wks and lower precannulation blood pH. CONCLUSIONS: Although the survival of pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has not changed, this treatment is currently offered to increasingly medically complex patients. Mechanical ventilation in excess of 2 wks before the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is associated with decreased survival.

Cardiotoxicity associated with intentional ziprasidone and bupropion overdose.

BACKGROUND: Ziprasidone and bupropion are medications prescribed for mood and behavior disorders. They have apparently safe cardiac safety profiles in both therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses, but recently the Federal Drug Administration has issued a caution regarding ziprasidone use in combination with other drugs that are known to prolong the QTc interval. CASE REPORT: A 17-year-old male developed a widened QRS and a prolonged QTc interval following an overdose of ziprasidone and bupropion. He required hospital admission for aggressive cardiac monitoring and antidysrhythmic therapy, stabilizing to baseline by 80 hours postingestion. CONCLUSIONS: We present a case that underscores the potential cardiotoxicities of these medications. Ziprasidone and bupropion ingestion can be associated with cardiotoxicities that may require several days of aggressive cardiac monitoring and treatment.

Cardiotoxicity associated with intentional ziprasidone and bupropion overdose.

BACKGROUND: Ziprasidone (Geodon) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) are medications prescribed for mood and behavior disorders. They have apparently safe cardiac safety profiles in both therapeutic and supra-therapeutic doses. CASE REPORT: A 17-year-old male developed a widened QRS and a prolonged QTc interval following an overdose of ziprasidone and bupropion. He required hospital admission for aggressive cardiac monitoring and antidysrhythmic therapy, stabilizing to baseline by 80 hours post-ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: We present a case that underscores the potential cardiotoxicities of these medications. Ziprasidone and bupropion ingestion can be associated with cardiotoxicities that may require several days of aggressive cardiac monitoring and treatment.