Varicella-Related Hospitalizations Among Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Children in Pre-Vaccine Era: A Tertiary Care Center Experience in Turkey

Aim: Although varicella is a common, contagious, self-limited childhood disease, it can cause significant long-term sequelae and mortality in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised children. The aim of the present study is to identify and review varicella-related hospitalizations, admissions and complications of primary varicella infection among immunocompetent and immunocompromised children of a large unselected local population in a governmental institution. Materials and Methods: Demographic aspects, clinical features, microbiological findings, complications, managements and outcome of the patients hospitalized for varicella were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among 100 such children, 66 were immunocompetent and 34 were immunocompromised. Secondary bacterial infection was the most common complication in both groups. The second most common complication in the immunocompetent group was neurological complications (21%) followed by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) pneumonia (2%). In the immunocompromised group neurological complications and VZV pneumonia were not observed. Hematological complications were seen in 5% of the immunocompetent patients and 6% of the immunocompromised patients. Mortality was seen in 2% in the study group, one patient in the immunocompetent and one in the immunocompromised group. Conclusion: Despite a common perception of varicella infection being highly contagious but harmless, complications requiring hospitalization are frequent, potentially serious and costly even in healthy children. Since varicella virus vaccine prevents most of the morbidity and mortality caused by primary varicella in children, prevention rather than the treatment will be the optimal approach

Clinical and microbiological features of resistant gram-negative bloodstream infections in children

Summary: Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Gram-negative (GN) bacteria cause significant morbidity and mortality. There is a worldwide increase in the reported incidence of resistant microorganisms; therefore, surveillance programs are important to define resistance patterns of GN microorganisms causing BSIs. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiological features of resistant GN BSIs in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Turkey. Methods: Patients between 1 month and 18 years of age hospitalized between January 2005 and December 2012 were included in this study. The presence of ESBL and AmpC type beta-lactamase activity were evaluated using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) disk diffusion and double-disk synergy tests. Results: A total of 209 resistant GN bacterial BSI episodes were identified in 192 patients. Of 192 children, 133 (69.2%) were aged ≤48 months of age. Sixty-six (31.6%) of the BSIs were considered community-acquired and 143 (68.4%) were hospital-acquired infections. The most common isolates were non-fermenting GN bacteria (n = 117, 55.9%). The major causative pathogens were Pseudomonas spp. in non-fermenting GN bacteria. The resistance rates to imipenem for Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. were 40.5% and 41.6%, respectively. The most common isolates in fatal patients were Pseudomonas spp. followed by Escherichia coli. The overall 28-day mortality rate was 16.3%. Conclusions: Although our study was performed at a single center and represents a local population, based on this study, it is concluded that surveillance programs and studies of novel antibiotics for resistant GN bacteria focusing on pediatric patients are required. Keywords: Bloodstream infection, Gram-negative, Resistance, Childre

Antibiotic associated diarrhea in outpatient pediatric antibiotic therapy

Background: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is one of the most frequent side effects of antimicrobial therapy. We assessed the epidemiological data of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in pediatric patients in our region. Methods: The prospective multi-center study included pediatric patients who were initiated an oral antibiotic course in outpatient clinics and followed in a well-established surveillance system. This follow-up system constituded inclusion of patient by the primary physician, supply of family follow-up charts to the family, passing the demographics and clinical information of patient to the Primary Investigator Centre, and a close telephone follow-up of patients for a period of eight weeks by the Primary Investigator Centre. Results: A result of 758 cases were recruited in the analysis which had a frequency of 10.4% antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Among the cases treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate 10.4%, and cephalosporins 14.4% presented with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. In the analysis of antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurrence according to different geographical regions of Turkey, antibiotic-associated diarrhea episodes differed significantly (p = 0.014), particularly higher in The Eastern Anatolia and Southeastern Anatolia. Though most commonly encountered with cephalosporin use, antibiotic-associated diarrhea is not a frequent side effect. Conclusion: This study on pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea displayed epidemiological data and the differences geographically in our region

Clinical and epidemiological features of Turkish children with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection: Experience from multiple tertiary paediatric centres in Turkey

Background: In April 2009 a novel strain of human influenza A, identified as H1N1 virus, rapidly spread worldwide, and in early June 2009 the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to phase 6. Herein we present the largest series of children who were hospitalized due to pandemic H1N1 infection in Turkey. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentre analysis of case records involving children hospitalized with influenza-like illness, in whom 2009 H1N1 influenza was diagnosed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, at 17 different tertiary hospitals. Results: A total of 821 children with 2009 pandemic H1N1 were hospitalized. The majority of admitted children (56.9%) were younger than 5 y of age. Three hundred and seventy-six children (45.8%) had 1 or more pre-existing conditions. Respiratory complications including wheezing, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and hypoxemia were seen in 272 (33.2%) children. Ninety of the patients (11.0%) were admitted or transferred to the paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and 52 (6.3%) received mechanical ventilation. Thirty-five children (4.3%) died. The mortality rate did not differ between age groups. Of the patients who died, 25.7% were healthy before the H1N1 virus infection. However, the death rate was significantly higher in patients with malignancy, chronic neurological disease, immunosuppressive therapy, at least 1 pre-existing condition, and respiratory complications. The most common causes of mortality were pneumonia and sepsis. Conclusions: In Turkey, 2009 H1N1 infection caused high mortality and PICU admission due to severe respiratory illness and complications, especially in children with an underlying condition