Clinical Reflections of Acinetobacter Infections in Children in a Quaternary-Care Hospital: A Five-Year Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of Acinetobacter species in the last 5 years, the clinical diseases caused by the pathogen, the possible risk factors for infection, and the resistance pattern of the microorganism in our quaternary-care hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 67 pediatric cases infected with Acinetobacter species in our hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed. Demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed.

RESULTS

In pediatric patients infected with Acinetobacter spp., the median age was 36 (7-114) months, and 64.2% (n = 43) were female. Acinetobacter baumannii was grown in the cultures of 31 (46.3%) cases. When the type of infection was examined, 31 (46.3%) cases were urinary tract infections, and 29 (43.3%) cases were bloodstream infections. Extensively drug-resistant, pandrug-resistant, and multidrug-resistant A. baumannii were found in 10 (14.9%), 3 (4.5%), and 2 (3%) cases, respectively. Health-care-associated infections were found to have a significant rate of Acinetobacter resistance (P = .002). Significant antimicrobial resistance was detected in Acinetobacter-infected cases with intensive care hospitalization within the last month and carbapenem use in the previous 3 months (P < .001, both).

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to act in accordance with the infection prevention and control program to reduce the incidence of health-care-associated infections with Acinetobacter species and to prevent infection with highly resistant strains. Due to health-care-associated infections and factors contributing to the increase in Acinetobacter resistance, we believe this study will help clinicians to be more cautious in the use of carbapenems. Cite this article as: Elvan-Tüz A, Tekin D, Ekemen-Keleş Y, et al. Clinical reflections of acinetobacter infections in children in a quaternary-care hospital: A five-year single-center experience. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2024;59(1):38-42.

A snapshot of pediatric inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19: a point prevalence study from Turkey

This multi-center point prevalence study evaluated children who were diagnosed as having coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On February 2nd, 2022, inpatients and outpatients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were included in the study from 12 cities and 24 centers in Turkey. Of 8605 patients on February 2nd, 2022, in participating centers, 706 (8.2%) had COVID-19. The median age of the 706 patients was 92.50 months, 53.4% were female, and 76.7% were inpatients. The three most common symptoms of the patients with COVID-19 were fever (56.6%), cough (41.3%), and fatigue (27.5%). The three most common underlying chronic diseases (UCDs) were asthma (3.4%), neurologic disorders (3.3%), and obesity (2.6%). The SARS-CoV-2-related pneumoniae rate was 10.7%. The COVID-19 vaccination rate was 12.5% in all patients. Among patients aged over 12 years with access to the vaccine given by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, the vaccination rate was 38.7%. Patients with UCDs presented with dyspnea and pneumoniae more frequently than those without UCDs (p < 0.001 for both). The rates of fever, diarrhea, and pneumoniae were higher in patients without COVID-19 vaccinations (p = 0.001, p = 0.012, and p = 0.027).  Conclusion: To lessen the effects of the disease, all eligible children should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The illness may specifically endanger children with UCDs. What is Known: • Children with COVID-19 mainly present with fever and cough, as in adults. • COVID-19 may specifically threaten children with underlying chronic diseases. What is New: • Children with obesity have a higher vaccination rate against COVID-19 than children without obesity. • Among unvaccinated children, fever and pneumoniae might be seen at a higher ratio than among vaccinated children.

Attitudes of parents with children aged 12-18 to COVID-19 vaccines for themselves and their children

BACKGROUND

The incidence of vaccine hesitancy is increasing in many countries. This study aims to determine parents` attitudes and related factors regarding COVID-19 vaccine acceptance for themselves and their children aged 12-18.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on parents between 16th November and 31st December 2021, after COVID-19 vaccines were initiated for children in Türkiye. In the survey, the sociodemographic characteristics of the parents, whether they and their children were vaccinated against COVID-19, and if not, the reasons for this were asked. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors affecting parents` refusal to vaccinate their children for COVID-19.

RESULTS

Three hundred and ninety-six mothers and fathers were included in the final analysis. Overall, 41.7% of parents reported vaccine refusal for their children. COVID-19 vaccine refusal was higher in mothers younger than 35 (β = 6.5, p = 0.002, 95% CI: 2.0-23.1), children aged 15 and younger (β = 2.3, p = 0.001, 95% CI: 1.4-3.7). Concerns about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (29.7%) and their children not wanting to be vaccinated (29.0%) were the most common causes of COVID-19 vaccine refusal.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, the rate of children not vaccinated due to COVID-19 vaccine refusal was relatively high. Parents` concerns about vaccine side effects, as well as their children`s unwillingness to be vaccinated, suggest that both parents and adolescents should be informed about the importance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Evaluation of ischemia-modified albumin in the diagnosis and the clinical severity of COVID-19 in children

BACKGROUND

There is no specific biomarker used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and predicting its clinical severity. This study aimed to investigate the utility of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in diagnosing and predicting clinical severity in children with COVID-19.

METHODS

Between October 2020 and March 2021, 41 cases constituted the COVID-19 group and 41 cases constituted the healthy control group. IMA levels were measured at admission (IMA-1) and 48-72 hours (IMA- 2) in the COVID-19 group. In the control group, it was measured at admission. COVID-19 clinical severity was classified as asymptomatic infection, mild, moderate, severe, or critical disease. Patients were divided into two groups (asymptomatic/mild and moderate/severe) to evaluate IMA levels in terms of clinical severity.

RESULTS

In the COVID-19 group, the mean IMA-1 level was 0.901±0.099, and the mean IMA-2 level was 0.866±0.090. The mean level of IMA-1 in the control group was 0.787±0.051. When IMA-1 levels of COVID-19 and control cases were compared, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). When clinical severity and laboratory data are compared, C-reactive protein, ferritin and ischemia-modified albumin ratio (IMAR) were statistically significantly higher in moderate-severe clinical cases (p=0.034, p=0.034, p=0.037 respectively). However, IMA-1 and IMA-2 levels were similar between the groups (p=0.134, p=0.922, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

To date, no study has been conducted on IMA levels in children with COVID-19. The IMA level may be a new marker for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in children. Studies with a larger number of cases are needed to predict clinical severity.

Hydatid Disease in Children from Diagnosis to Treatment: A 10-year Single Center Experience

OBJECTIVE

Hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus is a parasitic zoonosis and is endemic in Turkey. Clinical manifestations vary and are related to the anatomical location. In this report, we shared the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of hydatid disease in children with a 10-year experience.

METHODS

A total of fifty-seven children diagnosed with hydatid disease were analyzed retrospectively from hospital records. Diagnosis was based on clinical, serological and radiological findings. Treatment response was evaluated with clinical, radiological and serological findings.

RESULTS

The male/female ratio of 57 cases was 2.4:1 and the mean age was 113.6±45.9 months. The most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain (42.1%). While 22 (38.6%) of the cases had eosinophilia; indirect hemagglutination test positivity was detected in 27 cases (47.4%). Multiple organ involvement was present in 18 cases (31.6%). In patients with multiple organ involvement, the possibility of cysts being located in the abdomen was higher (p=0.005). Of the 50 cases (87.7%), 45 (78.9%) were operated with open surgery and 5 (8.8%) with percutaneous aspiration-injection-reaspiration method for treatment. There were 52 (91.2%) patients who were given albendazole in conservative treatment and the mean duration of treatment was 15.5±17.2 months. There were 10 cases (17.5%) who developed cyst rupture and the symptom duration was shorter than the cases without cyst rupture (p=0.017). Cyst rupture was more common in cases with dyspnea and fluid discharge from the mouth called rock water (p=0.001, p=0.005, respectively). Recurrence was observed in five cases (8.8%) during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In areas where the disease is endemic, despite prevention and control programs consisting of personal habits and health education, active transmission of hydatid disease is seen in children and continues to be an important public health problem. Hydatid disease should definitely be considered in the presence of suspicious radiological and clinical findings in endemic areas. Controlled clinical studies are required for diagnosis and treatment procedures.

Characteristics and Results of Hospital Admission Caused by Influenza Virus Infections in Children under 5 Years Old

AIMS

The influenza virus is an infectious disease with acute respiratory tract infections, caused secondary bacterial infections and death. In this study, we aimed to determine which predictors were associated with the need for high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) and transition to intensive care for influenza virus and also to compare single viral pathogens with multiple ones.

METHODS

Inpatients under the age of 5 with influenza virus-related respiratory tract infections between November 2015 and March 2019 were included in the study. Demographic features, comorbidities, symptoms, secondary bacterial infection, need for HFNC and pediatric intensive care unit and respiratory support system, length of hospital stay, polymerase chain reaction tests were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 93 patients were included in the study. It was determined that 53.8% of the cases were male and 84.9% were under the age of 2. Comorbidities were present in 50.5% of the cases. Secondary bacterial pneumonia developed in 56.9% of the cases. Patients with secondary bacterial pneumonia had higher PICU need, HFNC need and hospital stay (p = 0.014, p ≤ 0.001 and p ≤ 0.001, respectively). Patients with comorbidity had longer hospital stays and a higher need for HFNC (p ≤ 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it was determined that especially comorbidity and secondary bacterial infection aggravated the clinical treatment of hospitalized patients. Therefore, it was concluded that patients with comorbidity should be followed closely and secondary bacterial pneumonia should be recognized and treated early.

Clinical and Laboratory Features of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections: 8 Years Experience

OBJECTIVE

Invasive infections caused by group A streptococci, including bacteremia, pneumonia, sepsis, necrotizing fasciitis, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and focal infections, are the significant causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study aimed to assess the clinical and laboratory features and management of children with invasive group A streptococci infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive observational study was conducted on children younger than 18 years with invasive group A streptococci infection in a single center between 2012 and 2019. The clinical and laboratory features, treatment options, and patient outcomes were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients diagnosed with an invasive group A streptococci infection were analyzed. Among them, 28 (57.1%) were boys and 21 (42.9%) were girls, with a median age of 84 months (IQR: 48-150). Group A streptococci strains were found to be isolated mainly from the skin and soft tissue abscesses (60.7%). It was found that 21 (42.9%) of the cases were hospitalized, and the median duration of hospitalization was 7 (IQR: 5-11) days. It was noted that all of the cases were treated, and infection-related mortality was not observed in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

For correct management of invasive group A streptococci infections, timely diagnosis, appropriate duration of antimicrobial therapy, and surgical intervention in selected cases are required. It is thought that examining this issue in future studies may provide clues regarding the localization, severity, management of the infection clinic, and treatment.

Seasonal coronaviruses infections in children: do they always cause mild illness?

BACKGROUND

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) cause a comprehensive clinic ranging from asymptomatic course to pneumonia. We aimed to describe the HCoV infections in children to determine the clinical status and coinfection effects in a five-year retrospective surveillance study. The primary outcome was admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the secondary outcome was the need of high oxygen support.

METHODS

Between September 2015 and November 2020, all patients whose reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests were positive were determined and patients with HCoVs were included in the study. Demographical characteristics, underlying chronic diseases, clinical diagnosis, laboratory data, subtypes of HCoVs, radiological findings, treatments, hospitalization, and ICU admission were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 2606 children, the overall respiratory tract virus detection rate was 82.4%. Among these, 98 cases were HCoVs positive and of these 80 (81.6%) were under five years of age and most of the patients were admitted to the hospital in spring and 70% were a mixed infection with other respiratory viruses. Since lower respiratory tract infections are more common in HCoV coinfections, a significant difference was found in clinical diagnosis (p < 0.001). The presence of hypoxia (p=0.003) and underlying disease (p=0.004) were found to be significantly more common in patients admitted to the ICU. The presence of hypoxia, infiltration on chest X-ray, and elevated C-reactive protein levels were more frequently determined in patients who received high oxygen support (p=0.001, p=0.036, p=0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical findings may be more severe if HCoVs, which generally cause mild respiratory disease, are coinfected with another viral agent.

Knowledge and awareness of optimal use of reporting guidelines in paediatricians: A cross-sectional study

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate pediatricians' ideas and awareness of reporting guidelines of scientific researches, as well as the use of these guidelines in routine practice.

Material and Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted among pediatricians working at two of the largest pediatric hospitals in Ankara. The pediatricians were asked to complete a 13-item questionnaire in Turkish about reporting guidelines and the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research internet network, and their level of knowledge, awareness, and use of these guidelines were investigated.

Results

A total of 224 physicians from both centers agreed to participate in the study (56.4% of the target population). The average age of the participants was 34±9.24 years, their median age was 31 (min-max: 24-63) years, and 71.4% were female physicians. The participants' median duration in their careers was 6 (min-max: 1-39) years and 63.8% had participated in a scientific study as a researcher. Forty-five (20%) of the participants had known about the reporting guidelines before and reported that they had most frequently heard about them via journals, congresses, and seminars. Twenty (26.6%) of these physicians had used the guidelines. Sixty-five (29%) of the participants had served as a reviewer for a scientific article, but only three (4.6%) stated that they had made use of the guidelines while reviewing the articles. Some 83.5% of the participants reported that they would like to be informed about reporting guidelines. Both centers had similar knowledge levels about the use of the guidelines.

Conclusion

The awareness and use of reporting guidelines of scientific researches by pediatricians is insufficient.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus bacteremia in a child with acute myeloid leukemia: successful treatment with daptomycin

Multiple-drug-resistant enterococcal infections canbe a serious problem in pediatric patients particularly concomitance with severe underlying diseases and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The treatment options in children are limited compared with adults. We report a 3-year old-boy with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-M7 and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus bacteremia successfully treated with daptomycin. Daptomycin may be an alternative therapy for VRE infections in children; more studies are needed for extended usage.

Etiologies, outcomes, and prognostic factors of pediatric acute liver failure: A single center's experience in Turkey

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Our aim was to determine the etiologies, outcomes, and prognostic indicators in children with acute liver failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-one patients who were followed for pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) over a 15-year period were included. Patients who survived with supportive therapy were designated as Group 1, while those who died or underwent liver transplantation were designated as Group 2.

RESULTS

There were 37 (40.6%) patients in Group 1 (spontaneous recovery) and 54 (59.4%) patients in Group 2. Thirty-two patients (35.2%) underwent liver transplantation. Infectious and indeterminate causes were the most common etiologies (33% each). Among the infectious causes, hepatitis A (76%) was the most frequent. Hepatic encephalopathy grade 3-4 on admission and during follow-up and high Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) and Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) scores within the first 24 h were related with a poor prognosis. Group 2 had a more prolonged prothrombin time, higher international normalized ratio, more prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and higher levels of total and direct bilirubin, ammonia, and lactate (for all, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Infectious and indeterminate cases constituted the most common etiology of PALF, and the etiology was related to the prognosis in our series. Although high PELD and PRISM scores were related to poor prognoses, no sharp thresholds for individual laboratory tests could be elucidated. Liver transplantation was the only curative treatment for patients with poor prognoses and resulted in high survival rates (1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates of 81.3%, 81.3%, and 75%, respectively) in our study.

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with invasive diseases in Turkey: 2008-2014

Successful vaccination policies for protection from invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) dependent on determination of the exact serotype distribution in each country. We aimed to identify serotypes of pneumococcal strains causing IPD in children in Turkey and emphasize the change in the serotypes before and after vaccination with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was included and PCV-13 was newly changed in Turkish National Immunization Program. Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were isolated at 22 different hospitals of Turkey, which provide healthcare services to approximately 65% of the Turkish population. Of the 335 diagnosed cases with S. pneumoniae over the whole period of 2008-2014, the most common vaccine serotypes were 19F (15.8%), 6B (5.9%), 14 (5.9%), and 3 (5.9%). During the first 5 y of age, which is the target population for vaccination, the potential serotype coverage ranged from 57.5 % to 36.8%, from 65.0% to 44.7%, and from 77.4% to 60.5% for PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 in 2008-2014, respectively. The ratio of non-vaccine serotypes was 27.2% in 2008-2010 whereas was 37.6% in 2011-2014 (p=0.045). S. penumoniae serotypes was less non-susceptible to penicillin as compared to our previous results (33.7 vs 16.5 %, p=0.001). The reduction of those serotype coverage in years may be attributed to increasing vaccinated children in Turkey and the increasing non-vaccine serotype may be explained by serotype replacement. Our ongoing IPD surveillance is a significant source of information for the decision-making processes on pneumococcal vaccination.

Kluyvera ascorbata infections in children: a case series

Kluyvera is a relatively newly described member of the Enterobacteriaceae family that rarely causes infections in humans. In the pediatric population, it is described in association with clinically significant infections ranging from urinary tract infections to sepsis with multiorgan failure. Our aim is to determine the clinical significance of K. ascorbata infections in the pediatric population at our institution. We retrospectively analyzed clinical microbiology data as from 2006 and identified four clinically significant isolates in this period. The isolates were from four cases who presented with sepsis, bacteremia associated with central venous catheter, pyelonephritis and intraabdominal collection. The ages of these patients ranged between seven months to 17 years. All patients received prompt antimicrobial treatment on the basis of susceptibility testing and good clinical response was obtained in all patients. Successful treatment options include third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, betalactams with beta-lactamase inhibitors and carbapenems. Clinicians should be aware of the spectrum of disease and increasing clinical importance associated with this pathogen.

[Atypical presentation in hydatid disease: hemoptysis]

Hydatid disease is an infectious disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. It constitutes a major public health problem worldwide. This disease may present in several atypical forms, causing difficulty in diagnosis. In this article it is stressed that the diagnosis of hydatid disease should be kept in mind in patients presenting with hemoptysis, although this presentation is very rare.

A Turkish case of congenital chloride diarrhea with SLC26A3 gene (c.2025_2026insATC) mutation: diagnostic pitfalls

Congenital chloride diarrhea is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disorder characterized by impairment of Cl-/HCO3- exchange in an otherwise normal distal ileum and colon. Infrequency of congenital chloride diarrhea makes diagnostics difficult. The typical presentation is watery Cl- rich diarrhea, hypochloremia, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and failure to thrive. This is a report of a Turkish female infant who was falsely diagnosed with Bartter syndrome when she was two months old. Ibuprofen was commenced at that time. However, severe watery diarrhea, dehydration, failure to thrive, abdominal distention, and electrolyte abnormalities persisted. She was diagnosed with congenital chloride diarrhea based on high fecal Cl- level and SLC26A3 gene c.2025_2026insATC mutation at the age of eight months. Oral NaCl and KCl supplementation was started. Our patient is now 26 months old. Her growth and development are normal. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for normal growth and development and prevention of other severe complications of congenital chloride diarrhea.