Pandemic A/H1N1v influenza 2009 in hospitalized children: a multicenter Belgian survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During the 2009 influenza A/H1N1v pandemic, children were identified as a specific "at risk" group. We conducted a multicentric study to describe pattern of influenza A/H1N1v infection among hospitalized children in Brussels, Belgium.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From July 1, 2009, to January 31, 2010, we collected epidemiological and clinical data of all proven (positive H1N1v PCR) and probable (positive influenza A antigen or culture) pediatric cases of influenza A/H1N1v infections, hospitalized in four tertiary centers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During the epidemic period, an excess of 18% of pediatric outpatients and emergency department visits was registered. 215 children were hospitalized with proven/probable influenza A/H1N1v infection. Median age was 31 months. 47% had ≥ 1 comorbid conditions. Febrile respiratory illness was the most common presentation. 36% presented with initial gastrointestinal symptoms and 10% with neurological manifestations. 34% had pneumonia. Only 24% of the patients received oseltamivir but 57% received antibiotics. 10% of children were admitted to PICU, seven of whom with ARDS. Case fatality-rate was 5/215 (2%), concerning only children suffering from chronic neurological disorders. Children over 2 years of age showed a higher propensity to be admitted to PICU (16% vs 1%, p = 0.002) and a higher mortality rate (4% vs 0%, p = 0.06). Infants less than 3 months old showed a milder course of infection, with few respiratory and neurological complications.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although influenza A/H1N1v infections were generally self-limited, pediatric burden of disease was significant. Compared to other countries experiencing different health care systems, our Belgian cohort was younger and received less frequently antiviral therapy; disease course and mortality were however similar.</p

Comparative trends of brucellosis serological testing and confirmed brucellosis cases suggest inappropriate prescription habits

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Contribution of a rapid influenza diagnostic test to manage hospitalized patients with suspected influenza.

To evaluate the performances of the Alere i influenza A&B test and to appraise its contribution to patient management.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Performances of the H-Score for Diagnosis of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Adult and Pediatric Patients.

In this study, we compared the performances of adapted hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)-2004 guidelines with those of the new diagnostic H-score to identify patients with HLH in a multicenter cohort consisting of adult and pediatric cases of suspected HLH.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Severe Staphylococcus aureus infections in children: Case reports and management of positive Panton-Valentine leucocidin cases

Background Staphylococcus aureus is a well-known bacterium associated with carriage and responsible for different types of infections. The Panton-Valentine leucocidin ( PVL ) is a key virulence factor causing tissue necrosis. PVL can, however, be present in both benign and life-threatening infections. Case reports and management We present three pediatric severe infections occurring over a period of only three weeks, in February 2021, and caused by genetically unrelated methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus producing PVL in a tertiary children’s hospital in Belgium. The first one presented with necrotizing pneumonia, the second one with a neck abscess extended to the mediastinum, and the last one had sacral osteomyelitis complicated by endocarditis. The management of these infections is mostly based on expert opinions. The most appropriate treatment seems to be the combination of early surgical drainage of infected collections with an antibiotic regimen associating two antibiotics; beta-lactams and either clindamycin or linezolid. Human immunoglobulins also appear to be useful as adjunctive therapy. Conclusion PVL -producing Staphylococcus aureus is associated with life-threatening infections in children. Prompt management is needed including surgery and appropriate antibiotic regimens.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Automatisation en bactériologie: Quel avenir ?Un exemple concret dans le cadre d'une consolidation de laboratoires universitaires

Bacteriology remained essentially manual for many years. After a partial automation for blood cultures, identifications and sensitivity testing, new technological developments including robotisation and digital pictures made it possible to open new ways. In the context of economic pression and need to increase the quality, automation offers multiple advantages concerning increase of productivity, standardization, traceability and decreasing of the delay to obtain the results. Moreover the use of digitalized pictures opens the way to tele-bacteriology, particularly useful when considering the merging of hospital laboratories because it makes it possible to geographically dissociate strict manipulation from the validation of the results and from the consultant activity of the microbiologist. The choice criteria of the equipment are detailed as well as the experience of the LHUB-ULB bacteriological laboratory which was automated at the time of merging of the Brussels public hospital laboratories and developed a conclusive experience of tele-bacteriology for the peripheral lab.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Invasive non-typhoidal infection complicated by metastatic infections: Report of three cases.

Non-typhoidal (NTS) disease is usually a self-limiting infection presenting with digestive symptoms. However, disseminated presentation with involvement of secondary infectious sites is observed. We report diagnostic specificities and challenges related to the management of three patients with invasive NTS (iNTS) and secondary infectious locations. Among the seven patients (age range 46 - 83 years), four (two with extra-digestive infectious sites) had at least one immune debilitating condition. Two patients were incidentally discovered with iNTS and deceased after developing a septic shock despite antimicrobial treatment. Two individuals recovered under medical treatment without complications. Three other patients presented with secondary infectious sites. Case 1 suffered from urinary tract infection and dorsolumbar spondylodiscitis that responded well to antimicrobials and surgery. Abdominal prosthetic aortic aneurysm was diagnosed in case 2 and medical treatment only was applied. After four years of follow-up, he remains under antimicrobial treatment. Case 3 presented with conjoint thoracic aortic aneurysm and cutaneous abscesses managed with antimicrobials and surgery. Atherosclerosis and previous vascular intervention were the predisposing events for vascular involvement. iNTS is a serious disease carrying a high risk of mortality or secondary locations. Secondary locations can be managed by long duration antimicrobial therapy combined with surgery. Spine and aortitis are the most frequent secondary locations. Multi-drug resistant NTS represent an additional risk of mortality. Public health measures should be implemented to limit the spread of NTS to humans and the emergence of drug resistance

Alteration of humoral, cellular and cytokine immune response to inactivated influenza vaccine in patients with Sickle Cell Disease

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Invasive Non-Typhoidal <i>Salmonella </i>Infection Complicated by Secondary Infection Sites: Report of Three Cases

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Detection of Herpesviridae in Whole Blood by Multiplex PCR DNA-Based Microarray Analysis after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Viral infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The monitoring by PCR of Herpesviridae loads in blood samples has become a critical part of posttransplant follow-up, representing mounting costs for the laboratory. In this study, we assessed the clinical performance of the multiplex PCR DNA microarray Clart Entherpex kit for detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) as a screening test for virological follow-up. Two hundred fifty-five blood samples from 16 transplanted patients, prospectively tested by routine PCR assays, were analyzed by microarray. Routine PCR detected single or multiple viruses in 42% and 10% of the samples, respectively. Microarray detected single or multiple viruses in 34% and 18% of the samples, respectively. Microarray results correlated well with CMV and EBV detections by routine PCR (kappa tests = 0.79 and 0.78, respectively), whereas a weak correlation was observed with HHV-6 (0.43). HHV-7 was also detected in 48 samples by microarray. In conclusion, the microarray is a reliable screening assay for a posttransplant virological follow-up to detect CMV and EBV infections in blood. However, positive samples must be subsequently confirmed and viral loads must be quantified by PCR assays. Limitations were identified regarding HHV-6 detection. Although it is promising, is easy to use as a first-line test, and allows a reduction in the cost of analysis without undue delay in the reporting of the final quantitative result to the clinician, some characteristics of this microarray should be improved, particularly regarding quality control and the targeted virus panel, such that it could then be used as a routine test.Journal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe