Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric and adolescent vaccinations and well child visits in the United States: A database analysis

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare, including immunization practice and well child visit attendance. Maintaining vaccination coverage is important to prevent disease outbreaks and morbidity. We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric and adolescent vaccination administration and well child visit attendance in the United States.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used IBM MarketScan Commercial Database (IMC) with Early View (healthcare claims database) and TriNetX Dataworks Global Network (electronic medical records database) from January 2018–March 2021. Individuals ≤ 18 years of age who were enrolled during the analysis month of interest (IMC with Early View) or had ≥ 1 health encounter at a participating institution (TriNetX Dataworks) were included. We calculated the monthly percent difference between well child visit attendance and vaccine administration rates for 10 recommended pediatric/adolescent vaccines in 2020 and 2021 compared with 2018–2019. Data were stratified by the age groups 0–2 years, 4–6 years, and 9–16 years.ResultsIn IMC with Early View, the average monthly enrollment for children 0–18 years of age was 5.2 million. In TriNetX Dataworks, 12.2 million eligible individuals were included. Well child visits and vaccinations reached the lowest point in April 2020 compared with 2018–2019. Well child visit attendance and vaccine administration rates were inversely related to age, with initial reductions highest for adolescents and lowest for ages 0–2 years. Rates rebounded in June and September 2020 and stabilized to pre-pandemic levels in Fall 2020. Rates dropped below baseline in early 2021 for groups 0–2 years and 4–6 years.ConclusionsWe found substantial disruptions in well child visit attendance and vaccination administration for children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and early 2021. Continued efforts are needed to monitor recovery and catch up to avoid outbreaks and morbidity associated with vaccine-preventable diseases.     

儿科临床研究协调员职业培训现状的调查与需求分析

目的 了解儿科临床研究协调员（clinical research coordinator,CRC）职业培训现状,探讨儿科CRC基地化培训建设,以促进儿科CRC的能力提升。方法 采用匿名问卷调研法,于2023年7月25日至10月16日期间,通过问卷星向调查对象发放自行设计的问卷,以进行儿科CRC职业培训及基地化培训需求相关情况的调查分析。采用Excel对数据进行整理。计数资料以例数或者率表示。结果 回收有效问卷328份。调查结果显示,认为当前CRC培训充分且可以满足实际工作需求的仅为7.62%（25人）,另有4.88%（16人）的人认为没有CRC培训,46.34%（152人）的人认为培训不足以支撑实际工作的要求。87.50%（287人）的人认为CRC需要持续的培训。46.95%（154人）的人选择了有经验的CRC是较为合适的带教人员之一,但是需要3年及以上CRC工作经验。46.95%（154人）选择了CRC合适的培训时长为3个月。培训方式的选择从高到低为：有经验的CRC带教实习（90.85%,298人）、实操技能手把手带教（88.41%,290人）、案例分析讨论（87.20%,286人）、流程模拟（83.23%,273人）、授课（76.52%,251人）。培训后考核方式的选择从高到低为：案例分析（76.52%,251人）、操作模拟（74.09%,243人）、流程模拟（73.17%,240人）、笔试（66.16%,217人）、面试（63.72%,209人）。结论 目前,儿科CRC的培训还不足以满足实际工作需求,急需制定一个符合工作需要的CRC培训体系并进行推广实践,从基础上促进中国儿科临床研究健康生态的构建。     

Twenty-four-hour venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation without systemic heparinization in dogs

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed in five dogs without systemic heparinization to assess the feasibility of heparin-free ECMO. The surfaces of the inverted hollow-fiber-type oxygenator and circuit of the ECMO system were coated with heparin by the endpoint-attached (covalent-bonded) technique. No heparin was administered to the animal except for a small dose to maintain patency of the arterial line (1 IU/h). ECMO was run for 24 h at a pump flow of 50 ml/kg · min and was successful throughout the experiment in four of the five dogs. Scanning electron microscopy did not detect any blood clots in the oxygenator or circuit except for inside and outside the cannulas that were not coated with heparin in the carotid artery and jugular vein. Activated clotting time (ACT), fibrinogen, and anti-thrombin III (AT-III) activity remained within the normal physiological range. Serum heparin concentrations were low throughout the experiment, indicating minimal heparin release. Platelet levels decreased and fibrinopeptide B 15–42 (FPB 15–42) increased significantly after 6 h ECMO. D-dimer levels did not change throughout the experiment. ECMO was discontinued in one case after successful a 23-h run because of macroscopic clot formation at the oxygenator blood inlet. ACT had suddenly increased to 160 s approximately 1 h prior to this clot formation. These results suggest that the amount of systemic heparinization required can be substantially reduced by a heparin-coated ECMO system. Total abolishment of heparin administration in pediatric venoarterial ECMO may be possible by refinement of this technique. Monitoring of AT-III and FPB 15–42 in addition to ACT may be useful for early diagnosis of latent but ongoing coagulopathies during ECMO.     

Inspiratory pressure/maximal inspiratory pressure: does it predict successful extubation in critically ill infants and children?

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of the initial negative inspiratory pressure (PI) to maximal negative inspiratory pressure (PI_max) ratio in predicting extubation outcome for intubated infants and children.Design A prospective study. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit.Patients A sample of 50 stable intubated pediatric patients who were judged clinically ready for extubation.Methods Using a one-way valve,PI andPI_max were measured in all patients, after which the ratioPI/PI_max was calculated and its accuracy in predicting extubation outcome evaluated.Measurements and results A total of 39 patients (78%) were successfully extubated and 11 patients (22%) were not. The meanPI/PI_max ratio was not significantly different between extubation successes (0.36±0.14) and failures (0.45±0.1) (P>0.05). The cut-off value of 0.3 forPI/PI_max identified in adult patients did not discriminate between extubation success and failure in children. Furthermore, a discriminatory cut-off value other than 0.3 could not be identified for infants and children.Conclusion ThePI/PI_max ratio cannot be used to predict extubation outcome in pediatric patients. Indices that predict extubation outcome in adults should not be extrapolated to infants and children before testing and validation.     

利巴韦林颗粒剂对小儿病毒性上呼吸道感染的疗效评价

[目的] 评价利巴韦林颗粒剂(同欣颗粒)对小儿病毒性上呼吸道感染的疗效和安全性。[方法] 将446例病毒性上呼吸道感染儿童随机分为同欣颗粒治疗组(1组)和利巴韦林注射剂(病毒唑注射液)治疗组(Ⅱ组)。Ⅰ组共有病例235例，每日3次口服同欣颗粒，用药剂量为10mg／(kg．d)；Ⅱ组为211例，每日2次肌肉注射病毒哩，剂量为10mg／(kg．d)。用χ2检验评定两组间在疗效和安全性方面的差异。[结果]Ⅰ组有194例为显效，显效率82．6％，不良反应发生率为4．7％；Ⅱ组显效人数为180例，显效率85．3％，不良反应发生率为5．2％。两组在疗效和不良反应方面无显著性差异，P＞0．05。[结论]同欣颗粒在用于治疗小儿病毒性上呼吸道感染时，与病毒唑注射液的疗效和安全性基本相同。     

降钙素原在诊断儿科中枢感染性疾病中的应用研究

目的　 探讨儿科中枢感染性疾病中降钙素原的改变及其临床应用价值。 方法 　采用免疫色谱法对 97例各种中枢感染的住院患儿进行了血降钙素原 (PCT)检测 ,同时检测 5 0例健康儿童作为正常对照。 结果 　化脓性脑膜炎 (化脑 ) 14例 ,PCT阳性 14例 ,阳性率 10 0 %。病毒性脑炎 (病脑 ) 72例 ,仅 19例阳性 ,阳性率 2 6 4% ,且这 19例均为病脑并多器官功能障碍 ,结核性脑膜炎 (结脑 ) 11例全部阴性。 结论 　PCT可作为区别化脓性脑膜炎、病毒性脑炎及结核性脑膜炎一项重要指标 ,能指导对儿科中枢感染性疾病的诊治及预后监测     

When Fever, Paracetamol? Theory and Practice in a Paediatric Outpatient Clinic

Objective: To determine how medical and nursing staff treat feverish children and compare the findings with their theoretical knowledge, evaluating how they might contribute to fever phobia in parents.Setting: Paediatric Emergency Department.Method: In the first step, we analysed prospectively the files of all children having consulted the Paediatric Emergency Department with a history of fever or of body temperature above 38 °C during a 2-week period. The second step consisted of evaluating knowledge and perception of fever of doctors and nurses using a questionnaire.Main outcome measures: Prospective study: final diagnosis (viral, non- invasive bacterial disorders, invasive bacterial disorders), site of measurement and average temperature. Evaluation of theoretical knowledge: definition of fever, site of measurement, evaluation of the child’s clinical state, antipyretic drug choice.Results: A total of 114 children under 5 years of age were enrolled and 24 caregivers (12 doctors, 12 nurses, 90 of the staff) responded to the questionnaire. The results showed good consistency in theoretical knowledge, but an excessive fear about cerebral damage was also shown by doctors. This belief likely contributes to the transmission of fever phobia to parents. In contrast, analysis of children management showed that fever was often under-treated, especially by nurses and even more so by parents. Paracetamol remained the first-line antipyretic drug yet was often administered in insufficient doses. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were seldom used, except by parents (16 of all the children). Contrary to literature, the favourite route of administration was the rectal one. Physical methods like sponging were largely used by nurses, despite the uncertainties in their real effectiveness and their known side-effects.Conclusion: Our study showed that the management of feverish children was globally correct in the Paediatric Emergency Department, but several improvement measures have been taken (e.g. tables of normal and abnormal ranges of temperature, recommended temperature measurement techniques, dosage regimen of antipyretic drugs, guidelines to parents), justifying the implementation of a pharmaceutical follow-up.     

2009~2018年国家自然科学基金对儿科学研究资助情况回顾与展望

目的 对国家自然科学基金委员会立项资助的儿科研究课题进行回顾整理与数据分析,以了解学科重点支持领域和研究方向、热点的变化。方法 以中国国家自然科学基金数据库为基础,对2009~2018年儿科领域研究课题进行筛选,并对资助力度和研究方向变化进行分析。结果 2009~2018年国家自然科学基金委员会共资助1 017项儿科领域课题,其中面上项目485项（47.69%）,青年基金426项（41.89%）,地区项目73项（7.18%）,重点项目16项（1.57%）,优青项目6项（0.59%）,海外项目7项（0.69%）,其他项目4项（0.39%）。资助经费总额从2009年的842万元增加至2018年的6 625万元,增幅近7倍之多。以生殖系统/围产期医学/新生儿、神经系统和精神疾病、循环系统为一级学科代码申请立项的课题获资助力度最大。结论 近10年来国家自然科学基金委员会对儿科研究的资助力度持续增加,以面上项目和青年基金为主;研究获资助项目申请方向以新生儿、神经系统和精神、循环系统疾病为主。     

上海市单中心儿科门诊特征和医疗服务2009至2018年趋势分析

目的 探索医院信息系统(HIS)医疗大数据处理方法,分析儿童专科医院近10年门诊患儿就诊特征及医疗服务趋势。方法 以复旦大学附属儿科医院(我院)HIS门诊患儿就诊挂号登记表的全样本数据为基础,系统地进行数据清洗(诊断、地址、重复、离群、缺失)、数据集成(数据库链接和匹配)、数据规约、数据脱敏和数据核查,行门诊患儿就诊特征及医疗服务趋势的分析。结果 2009至2018年我院门诊挂号20 775 899人次,依据纳入和剔除标准,18 242 822 人次进入本文分析;男性占57.42%,婴儿占9.57%,幼儿占40.94%,学龄前儿童占24.82%,学龄儿童占24.67%。诊断缺失率为5.92%,地址缺失率为45.31%,接诊医生姓名缺失率为26.81%,行缺失数据人群分析,各年份性别和年龄构成比差别不大。10年间门诊量年平均增长5.22%,2012较2011年增长11.22%,2014较2013年增长10.93%,2015年后环比增长均<2.90%。10年间不同年份各省市门诊量>P₇₅ 和~P₅₀的省市,从华东向西南、西北、华南、中部、东北扩大。10年间门诊医生平均日接诊51人次,初、中和高级职称医生门诊日均接诊分别63、54和45人次;专科门诊从2009年的46个发展为2018年的180个,2018年专科就诊比例达68.12%,专病门诊从2009年的16个发展为2018年的142个。结论 基于国家儿童医学中心之一的我院的门诊数据表明,10年间门诊量先快速增长后平稳增长,患儿来源地区快速从华东地区辐射至全国,门诊医生平均日接诊数量低于全国平均水平,专科门诊和专病门诊成为重要的发展趋势。