Reduced HIV transmission at subsequent pregnancy in a resource-poor setting

Several studies indicate that HIV-infected women continue to have children. We set out to determine the trend in HIV transmission at subsequent pregnancies. From 2002–2003, pregnant women were enrolled in a single dose nevirapine-based Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme. Six years later, women with subsequent children in this cohort were identified and their children's HIV status determined. From 330 identified HIV-infected mothers, 73 had second/subsequent children with HIV results. Of these, nine (12.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.6–20.1%) children were HIV-infected. Of the 73 second children, 51 had older siblings who had been initially enrolled in the study with definitive HIV results with an infection rate of 17/51 (33.3%, 95% CI: 19.9–46.7). About 35% of the women had been on antiretroviral drugs. These results demonstrate lower subsequent HIV transmission rates in women on a national PMTCT programme in a resource-poor setting with the advent of antiretroviral therapy

Paediatrician beliefs and practices around influenza vaccination

Aim: The uptake of influenza vaccination in children with high-risk medical conditions continues to be low in Australia and internationally. We aimed to determine Australian paediatricians’ beliefs and practices around the influenza vaccination of children. Methods: This was conducted as a cross sectional survey of paediatricians from two tertiary paediatric hospitals in Sydney. Results: There were 101 participants. Influenza vaccination was not prioritised compared with other vaccines and clinical issues, with fewer than half of respondents strongly agreeing that influenza vaccination was useful. Paediatricians’ knowledge of guidelines and recommendations in this area was suboptimal. Interventions thought most likely to improve vaccine coverage included better education of doctors, greater vaccine availability in outpatient clinics and automated reminder systems. Conclusion: The inclusion of influenza vaccine on the standard Australian immunisation schedule may be required to improve vaccine coverage in high-risk children

Prevalence and determinants of influenza vaccine coverage at tertiary pediatric hospitals

© 2014. Despite long-standing recommendations, the uptake of influenza vaccination in children with high risk medical conditions is low. This study aimed to examine the uptake of influenza vaccination amongst a cohort of Australian children and factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Three hundred and sixteen parents of children attending outpatient clinics at the two pediatric hospitals in Sydney were recruited. The reported vaccination coverage rate was 41% among children with high risk conditions and 14% among standard risk children. There was a median of three clinic visits per high risk child at which an opportunity to vaccinate was apparently missed. Healthcare worker recommendation, having a high risk condition and parental beliefs about influenza and influenza vaccination were the most important determinants of vaccine uptake. Further studies on the beliefs and practices of doctors in this area will help guide interventions to improve vaccination rates in high risk children

Adherence to surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines in children: A cohort study.

AIMS:Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is an important measure to reduce post-operative infections. Guidelines exist, but their efficacy and performance in children is poorly understood compared with adults. To review adherence to SAP guidelines, this study assesses risk factors for non-adherence and rate of early post-surgical infections. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study of paediatric surgical cases (0-<18 years) at a tertiary children's hospital was performed. Patient characteristics, surgical factors and antimicrobial details were evaluated against hospital guidelines for overall adherence and domains of: antimicrobial choice, dose, re-dosing, timing and duration. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for non-adherence. Hospital records were reviewed for post-operative infections at 7 and 30 days. RESULTS:Among 326 cases, overall guideline adherence was 39.6% but varied by domain and surgical subspecialty. Incorrect wound classification was associated with overall non-adherence on multivariate regression (odds ratio (OR): 2.59; P < 0.001). Incorrect antimicrobial choice was more likely in children with penicillin hypersensitivity (OR 138.34, P = 0.004) and incorrect dosing more likely in adolescent patients (OR 4.33; P = 0.004). Presence of invasive devices was associated with prolonged duration of antimicrobials (OR 2.92, P = 0.016). Only two post-operative infections were documented by 30 days, but data were insufficient to exclude mild infections managed in the community. CONCLUSIONS:SAP was suboptimal in children, with areas for improvement including better guidance on wound classification, allergy management and care for adolescent patients. Documented infections were rare, but mild infections were unable to be excluded due to limited post-discharge information

SARS-CoV-2 in children: spectrum of disease, transmission and immunopathological underpinnings.

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolds across the globe, consistent themes are emerging with regard to aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated disease entities in children. Overall, children appear to be less frequently infected by, and affected by, SARS-CoV-2 virus and the clinical disease COVID-19. Large epidemiological studies have revealed children represent less than 2% of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases, of whom the majority experience minimal or mild disease that do not require hospitalisation. Children do not appear to be major drivers of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with minimal secondary virus transmission demonstrated within families, schools and community settings. There are several postulated theories regarding the relatively low SARS-CoV-2 morbidity and mortality seen in children, which largely relate to differences in immune responses compared to adults, as well as differences in angiotensin converting enzyme 2 distribution that potentially limits viral entry and subsequent inflammation, hypoxia and tissue injury. The recent emergence of a multisystem inflammatory syndrome bearing temporal and serological plausibility for an immune-mediated SARS-CoV-2-related disease entity is currently under investigation. This article summarises the current available data regarding SARS-CoV-2 and the paediatric population, including the spectrum of disease in children, the role of children in virus transmission, and host-virus factors that underpin the unique aspects of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity in children