免疫缺陷患儿合并结核分枝杆菌感染的临床特征分析

目的 探讨继发性免疫缺陷病（SID）及原发性免疫缺陷病（PID）患儿合并结核分枝杆菌感染的临床特征。方法 回顾性分析合并结核分枝杆菌感染的免疫缺陷患儿（SID组36例、PID组52例）及非免疫缺陷患儿（对照组108例）的临床资料。结果 PID组患儿起病年龄低于对照组和SID组（P < 0.05）,男性比例高于对照组和SID组（P < 0.05）。SID组及PID组患儿其他结核中毒症状（盗汗、消瘦、乏力、食欲下降）及PPD试验阳性率均低于对照组（P < 0.05）,且更易出现肺叶受累≥ 3叶（P < 0.05）。PID患儿更易合并多器官受累（P < 0.05）。SID组肺部粟粒影发生率高于对照组和PID组（P < 0.05）,PID组γ-干扰素释放试验阳性率低于对照组和SID组（P < 0.05）。结核分枝杆菌感染在SID组表现为潜伏结核感染（36.1%）和活动性结核病（63.9%）;在PID组以卡介苗病（90.4%）为主,有2例（3.8%）同时合并结核病。结论 免疫缺陷患儿合并结核分枝杆菌感染的临床症状不典型,易出现播散性感染,PPD试验及γ-干扰素释放试验阳性率较低,容易出现误诊及漏诊。免疫缺陷患儿应常规进行结核相关筛查,早期识别及干预以改善预后。     

Consensus document on treatment of tuberculosis exposure and latent tuberculosis infection in children

INTRODUCTION: The most important causes of the current tuberculosis pandemic are poverty, HIV infection, drug resistance, and the spread of infection by patients with latent tuberculosis infection. In industrialized countries, the main reasons for the increase of this disease are immigration from developing countries and the lack of effective surveillance programs. The situation of children is even more serious as they are more vulnerable to the disease than adults. The children most at risk are those who live with adults at risk for tuberculosis, immigrant children, and adoptees from developing countries. Although children are bacilliferous only exceptionally, the appropriate management of bacilliferous tuberculosis exposure and latent tuberculosis infection in children contributes to the creation of close surveillance of nuclear families and rigorous study of contacts. Moreover, it could prevent serious forms of the disease, which are more frequent in children. OBJECTIVE: The principal objective of this second consensus document of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (Sociedad Espa?ola de Infectología Pediátrica [SEIP]) is to unify the criteria for the treatment of tuberculosis exposure and latent tuberculosis infection in children. A further aim is to increase awareness of the need for strict detection measures in high-risk populations among health authorities.     

Lyme disease in Canada: Focus on children

Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne infection in Canada and much of the United States, is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Peak incidence for Lyme disease is among children five to nine years of age and older adults (55 to 59 years of age). The bacteria are transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks of the Ixodes species. The primary hosts of black-legged ticks are mice and other rodents, small mammals, birds (which are reservoirs for B burgdorferi) and white-tailed deer. Geographical distribution of Ixodes ticks is expanding in Canada and an increasing number of cases of Lyme disease are being reported. The present practice point reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and prevention of Lyme disease, with a focus on children.     

Children tuberculosis after familial contamination: experience in general pediatrics]

The heterogeneity of clinical presentations of children in contact with a tuberculous adult do not allow simple guidelines for treatment and exams. Indications of thoracic computed tomography (CT) in young children and the risk of a follow-up without antituberculous treatment are always discussed. PATIENTS: Sixty-nine children, belonging to 50 families, living in close contact with an adult treated for tuberculosis were explored during 7 years in a General Pediatric Unit. A CT was performed in 51 patients. RESULTS: Mantoux test was negative in 3/17 children with typical tuberculous disease on X-ray. When results of CT were compared with those of standard thoracic X-ray, a difference for the diagnosis of mediastinal adenopathies was found only in children younger than 5 years. Fifty-eight patients were given usual treatment of latent or patent tuberculosis if indicated, or a chemoprophylaxis. All of them had normal clinical and X-ray exam 2 to 4 years later. Eleven children, initially checked in an other unit, were given no treatment, but a follow-up was set up. However, after 6 to 24 months, 4/11 had a patent tuberculosis and 5/11 a latent tuberculosis, 6/9 being aged more than 3 years. CONCLUSION: This study shows that risk of tuberculosis after familial contamination is high, and that the choice of absence of treatment with following re-evaluation, is sometimes questionable because families or doctors do not perform the prescribed follow-up. To perform systematically a thoracic CT, searching for mediastinal adenopathies, is useful only before the age of 5 years.     

Recent advances in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis

Children account for a major proportion of the global tuberculosis disease burden, especially in endemic areas. However, the accurate diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis remains a major challenge. This review provides an overview of the most important recent advances in the diagnosis of intrathoracic childhood tuberculosis: (1) symptom-based approaches, including symptom-based screening of exposed children and symptom-based diagnosis of active disease; (2) novel immune-based approaches, including T cell assays and novel antigen-based tests; and (3) bacteriological and molecular methods that are more rapid and/or less expensive than conventional culture techniques for tuberculosis diagnosis and/or drug-resistance testing. Recent advances have improved our ability to diagnose latent infection and active tuberculosis in children, but establishing a diagnosis of either latent infection or active disease in HIV-infected children remains a major challenge, particularly in high-burden settings. Although improved access to diagnosis and treatment is essential, ultimately the burden of childhood tuberculosis is determined by the level of epidemic control achieved in a particular community. Several recent initiatives, in particular the United Nations Millennium Developmental Goals, deal with the problem of poverty and disease in a holistic fashion, but global political commitment is required to support these key initiatives.     

Recent advances in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis.

Children account for a major proportion of the global tuberculosis disease burden, especially in endemic areas. However, the accurate diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis remains a major challenge. This review provides an overview of the most important recent advances in the diagnosis of intrathoracic childhood tuberculosis: (1) symptom-based approaches, including symptom-based screening of exposed children and symptom-based diagnosis of active disease; (2) novel immune-based approaches, including T cell assays and novel antigen-based tests; and (3) bacteriological and molecular methods that are more rapid and/or less expensive than conventional culture techniques for tuberculosis diagnosis and/or drug-resistance testing. Recent advances have improved our ability to diagnose latent infection and active tuberculosis in children, but establishing a diagnosis of either latent infection or active disease in HIV-infected children remains a major challenge, particularly in high-burden settings. Although improved access to diagnosis and treatment is essential, ultimately the burden of childhood tuberculosis is determined by the level of epidemic control achieved in a particular community. Several recent initiatives, in particular the United Nations Millennium Developmental Goals, deal with the problem of poverty and disease in a holistic fashion, but global political commitment is required to support these key initiatives.     

Th1/Th2 Cytokine Profile and Its Diagnostic Value in Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

Background:

The levels of Th₁/Th₂ cytokine can alter in pathogenic infection in children with pneumonia.

Objectives:

To evaluate Th₁/Th₂ cytokine profile and its diagnostic value in M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

Patients and Methods:

Children with M. pneumoniae mono-infection and 30 healthy children were tested with cytokines assay. We used real time PCR to detect M. pneumoniae in children with pneumonia.

Results:

M. pneumoniae test was positive in 2188 (16.62%) out of 13161 pneumonia children. Children aged 5 - 9 years had the highest rate and summer was a season with high rate of M. pneumoniae incidence in Zhejiang province. During the course of study, in 526 pneumonia children with M. pneumoniae mono-infection and 30 healthy children cytokines assay was performed. IL-2 level of M. pneumoniae pneumonia children was lower than that of healthy children (median levels, pg/mL: IL-2: 3.2 vs. 5.7, P = 0.00), while IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ were higher than in healthy children (median levels, pg/mL: IL-4: 3.2 vs. 1.5, P = 0.00; IL-10: 5.6 vs. 2.5, P = 0.001; IFN-γ: 20.4 vs. 4.8, P = 0.001).

Conclusions:

IL-2 decreases and IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ increase in children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia, which has a promising prospect in diagnosis of this disease in clinical practice.     

Proposed management of childhood tuberculosis in low-incidence countries

The incidence of childhood tuberculosis continues to decline in central Europe, but due to migration from high incidence countries paediatricians will still be confronted with it. The management of childhood tuberculosis in low-incidence, high-income countries differs from most high-incidence countries. The primary measures for preventing the transmission of tuberculosis to children are the detection of adult source cases, detection of latent TB infection (LTBI) in children by history, tuberculin skin testing and, if necessary and recommended, interferon-gamma release assays. Children with LTBI should receive preventive therapy. The inclusion of tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of unclear pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease remains important, and tuberculosis has to be managed according to international standards.     

Gruźlica i latentne zakażenie prątkami gruźlicy u dzieci. Zastosowanie testów uwalniania interferonu-γ w identyfikacji latentnego zakażenia prątkami gruźlicy u dzieci

The interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) were developed for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection. IGRAs are currently used for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in adults; a lack of evaluated studies in children has led to difficulties in their clinical interpretation. These two blood assays, including the commercially available T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON, enable detection of circulating T-cells responsive to specific Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. These assays are available for use in Poland. Evaluation of these tests has been hampered by the lack of a gold standard for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and limited pediatric data on their use. They may add sensitivity if used in addition to the tuberculin skin test (TST) in the youngest children. A summary of IGRA and TST, their application to pediatric practice and their benefits and limitations are described in this article.     

Latent Tuberculosis in Children: Diagnosis and Management

Control of tuberculosis in children often escapes attention because of the paucibacillary nature of the illness. However, they contribute much of the morbidity, mortality and future reservoir of the disease which reiterates the importance of risk-factor based screening for latent infection and appropriate treatment. We review the modalities and importance of diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in children. At this time, the role for interferon-gamma release assays in low-income, high-burden settings is rather limited but further research in the coming years might clear their role in children. An important emerging area of research is the development of an improved skin test for TB that uses specific mycobacterial antigens rather than tuberculin, thus is more feasible and useful in resource limited settings.     

儿童洋葱伯克霍尔德菌感染16例临床分析

目的 探讨儿童洋葱伯克霍尔德菌感染的分布特点及临床特征。方法 回顾性分析2012年6月至2017年9月分离到洋葱伯克霍尔德菌的16例住院患儿的临床资料。结果 16例感染洋葱伯克霍尔德菌患儿均为散发病例，送检标本中共分离到16株洋葱伯克霍尔德菌，其中痰培养检出8株、血培养检出5株、气管插管尖端培养检出2株、肺穿刺活检物培养检出1株。16例患儿中，男性患儿11例，女性患儿5例；年龄分布在5 d至6岁之间，1岁以下的患儿占69%；科室分布上有10例在PICU/NICU，6例在普通病房；临床表现方面，除1例主要表现为弥漫性血管内凝血外，其他15例均存在有肺部感染，其中重症肺炎11例，有8例在治疗过程中行机械通气；基础疾病方面，存在严重先天性心脏病2例，明确存在原发性免疫缺陷病4例，高度怀疑存在免疫缺陷或遗传代谢病3例，气管狭窄1例，川崎病1例，早产儿并支气管肺发育不良1例，严重唇腭裂1例，无确切基础疾病3例；合并腺病毒、支原体等其他病原体感染有7例。16例患儿的平均住院天数为20.3 d，经治疗后，12例好转，4例死亡。分离到的16株洋葱伯克霍尔德菌对阿米卡星、庆大霉素耐药率为100%，对氨苄西林/舒巴坦、替卡西林/克拉维酸耐药率 ≥ 80%，对左氧氟沙星耐药率最低。结论 洋葱伯克霍尔德菌为条件致病菌，发生在免疫功能低下的患儿，且易产生耐药；在抗感染治疗的同时，应注意是否存在基础疾病；洋葱伯克霍尔德菌感染患儿常预后较差，了解容易出现该菌感染的疾病谱有助于临床诊疗。     

结核菌素皮试和全血γ干扰素测定试验的儿童结核感染诊断应用研究

目的 评价结核菌素（PPD）皮试和全血γ干扰素（IFN-γ）测定试验诊断儿童结核病的准确性。方法 选择2006年7月至2010年4月首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院住院临床诊断结核和呼吸系统疾病的患儿为研究对象。根据患儿所暴露的结核感染危险因素分为5组：A组：无结核病密切接触史的非结核病的呼吸系统疾病患儿;B组：有活动性结核病患者密切接触史的非结核病的呼吸系统疾病患儿;C组：无结核病密切接触史的临床诊断结核病患儿;D组：有活动性结核病患者密切接触史的临床诊断结核病患儿;E组：病原学或病理学确诊的活动性结核病患儿。患儿于入院当日行PPD皮试,入院后1~7 d采集外周静脉血行全血IFN-γ测定。以敏感度、特异度、阴性预测值、阳性预测值和似然比评价PPD皮试和全血IFN-γ测定对结核病的诊断价值。结果 125例患儿进入分析。A组40例,B组11例,C组29例,D组27例,E组18例。①PPD皮试取硬结≥10 mm为阳性判断标准时,诊断结核病的敏感度为77.0%,特异度为70.6%;取硬结≥15 mm为阳性判断标准时,诊断结核病的敏感度为50.0%、特异度为80.2%;全血IFN-γ测定的敏感度为85.1%、特异度为94.1%。②PPD皮试取硬结≥10 mm为阳性判断标准诊断结核病时,<3岁患儿PPD皮试的敏感度和特异度均显著低于≥3岁患儿,城区和郊区患儿的敏感度和特异度接近;全血IFN-γ测定诊断结核病的敏感度和特异度在不同年龄、居住地间差异无统计学意义。③全血IFN-γ测定阳性率与结核感染暴露因素的相关性优于PPD皮试（取硬结≥10或15 mm为阳性判断标准时）。结论 潜伏结核感染筛查时以硬结≥15 mm作为PPD皮试阳性判断标准,可提高诊断的特异度;临床疑似结核病的诊断以硬结≥10 mm作为PPD皮试阳性判断标准,可提高诊断的敏感度。全血IFN-γ测定诊断结核病的敏感度和特异度均较好。     

免疫缺陷患儿合并结核分枝杆菌感染的临床特征分析

目的 探讨继发性免疫缺陷病（SID）及原发性免疫缺陷病（PID）患儿合并结核分枝杆菌感染的临床特征。方法 回顾性分析合并结核分枝杆菌感染的免疫缺陷患儿（SID组36例、PID组52例）及非免疫缺陷患儿（对照组108例）的临床资料。结果 PID组患儿起病年龄低于对照组和SID组（P < 0.05）,男性比例高于对照组和SID组（P < 0.05）。SID组及PID组患儿其他结核中毒症状（盗汗、消瘦、乏力、食欲下降）及PPD试验阳性率均低于对照组（P < 0.05）,且更易出现肺叶受累≥ 3叶（P < 0.05）。PID患儿更易合并多器官受累（P < 0.05）。SID组肺部粟粒影发生率高于对照组和PID组（P < 0.05）,PID组γ-干扰素释放试验阳性率低于对照组和SID组（P < 0.05）。结核分枝杆菌感染在SID组表现为潜伏结核感染（36.1%）和活动性结核病（63.9%）;在PID组以卡介苗病（90.4%）为主,有2例（3.8%）同时合并结核病。结论 免疫缺陷患儿合并结核分枝杆菌感染的临床症状不典型,易出现播散性感染,PPD试验及γ-干扰素释放试验阳性率较低,容易出现误诊及漏诊。免疫缺陷患儿应常规进行结核相关筛查,早期识别及干预以改善预后。     

Polymerase chain reaction detection of Kingella kingae in children with culture-negative septic arthritis in eastern Ontario

BACKGROUND:

The bacterium Kingella kingae may be an under-recognized cause of septic arthritis in Canadian children because it is difficult to grow in culture and best detected using molecular methods.

OBJECTIVES:

To determine whether K kingae is present in culture-negative joint fluid specimens from children in eastern Ontario using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection methods.

METHODS:

K kingae PCR testing was performed using residual bacterial culture-negative joint fluid collected from 2010 to 2013 at a children’s hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. The clinical features of children with infections caused by K kingae were compared with those of children with infections caused by the ‘typical’ septic arthritis bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.

RESULTS:

A total of 50 joint fluid specimens were submitted over the study period. Ten were culture-positive, eight for S aureus and two for S pyogenes. Residual joint fluid was available for 27 of the 40 culture-negative specimens and K kingae was detected using PCR in seven (25.93%) of these samples. Children with K kingae were significantly younger (median age 1.7 versus 11.3 years; P=0.01) and had lower C-reactive protein levels (median 23.8 mg/L versus 117.6. mg/L; P=0.01) than those infected with other bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS:

K kingae was frequently detected using PCR in culture-negative joint fluid specimens from children in eastern Ontario. K kingae PCR testing of culture-negative joint samples in children appears to be warranted.     

Surveillance for cystic fibrosis-associated hepatobiliary disease: early ultrasound changes and predisposing factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate routine ultrasonography (US) as an early marker and to identify risk factors for the development of cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT) in cystic fibrosis (CF). STUDY DESIGN: A cohort of 106 children with CF aged 5.9+/-2.3 years were followed for 10.4+/-0.2 years in a CF clinic. RESULTS: At enrollment, the US was normal, but biochemical and/or clinical disease was present in 10%. By the end of the study, 19 had developed US changes, eight with evidence of PHT. At the time of the initial US change, only 36.4% of those had, at the end of the study, either a heterogeneous or a nodular parenchyma, and only 50% of those with PHT had biochemical and/or clinical disease. Of the 30 patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid for biochemical and/or clinical disease with (n=15) and without (n=15) associated US changes, PHT developed in six of the former and two of the latter. Univariate analysis and logistic regression showed that children with more severe disease in terms of forced expiratory volume in one second were at somewhat greater risk (P<.06) of PHT developing. CONCLUSION: US was an early marker of liver disease and more severe CF disease, a predictor of progressive liver disease. A controlled trial should be done to assess isolated US-detected disease as an indication for UDCA.     

Current views of the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and Henoch-Schonlein purpura in children

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal diseases and may play a potential role in certain extra-intestinal diseases. H. pylori infection are mainly acquired during childhood, and it has been reported that in endemic areas of China the infection rates are extraordinarily higher in HSP children, particular those with abdominal manifestations. Furthermore, eradication therapy may ameliorate Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) manifestations and decrease the recurrence of HSP. Therefore, results suggested that detection of H. pylori infection by appropriate method ought to be applied in HSP children. Current evidences indicate that local injury of gastric mucosa and immunological events induced by H. pylori infection are involved in the development of HSP. Increased serum IgA, cryoglobulins, C3 levels, autoimmunity, proinflammatory substances and molecular mimicry inducing immune complex and cross-reactive antibodies caused by H. pylori infection might play their roles in the course of HSP. However, there are no investigations confirming the causality between H. pylori infection and HSP, and the pathogenesis mechanism is still unclear. More bench and clinical studies need to be executed to elaborate the complex association between H. pylori and HSP.     

Tuberculosis in oncology patients

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of studies addressing the incidence and clinical presentation of tuberculosis (TB) in children with cancer. AIM: To evaluate the incidence of TB in paediatric oncology patients at Tygerberg Hospital, located in a Cape Town area of high TB prevalence, and to describe the clinical characteristics of the disease in this particular group of patients whose treatment typically suppresses their immune response. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 625 paediatric oncology patients admitted from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 2005. Of these, 87 received treatment for TB; however, only 57 cases had sufficient data to support a diagnosis of TB and only these were used for further analysis. RESULTS: In the children with TB, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was the most common malignancy (13/57, 22.8%). The incidence of TB in the study group was 9117/100,000/year, which is 22 times higher than the overall TB incidence reported in children from a similar background. Importantly, 47% of the active infections appeared in the 1st 5 months of chemotherapy, suggesting reactivation of latent TB. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying latent TB in our patients and providing prophylactic treatment during the initial months of chemotherapy might have prevented disease progression in these cases. Routine screening of paediatric oncology patients for latent TB infection and exclusion of active disease prior to initiation of cancer therapy might be indicated in TB-endemic areas.     

Saccharomyces Boulardii in Helicobacter Pylori Eradication in Children: A Randomized Trial From Iran

Background:

Helicobacter pylori infects around 50% of the human population and is asymptomatic in 70% of the cases. H. pylori eradication in childhood will not only result in peptic symptoms relief, but will also prevent late-term complications such as cancer. Today, probiotics are being increasingly studied in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections as an alternative or complement to antibiotics.

Objectives:

In this study we aimed to assess the effect of S. boulardii supplementation on H. pylori eradication among children in our region.

Patients and Methods:

In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial 28 asymptomatic primary school children with a positive H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) exam were randomly allocated into the study group, receiving Saccharomyces boulardii, and the control group receiving placebo capsules matched by shape and size, for one month. The children were followed up weekly and were reinvestigated four to eight weeks after accomplished treatment by HpSA testing. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results:

24 children completed the study. The mean HpSA reduced from 0.40 ± 0.32 to 0.21 ± 0.27 in the study group, indicating a significant difference (P = 0.005). However, such difference was not observed in the control group (P = 0.89). Moreover, the HpSA titer showed a 0.019 ± 0.19 decrease in the study group whereas the same value was 0.0048 ± 0.12 for the controls, again stating a significant difference (P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

Saccharomyces boulardii has a positive effect on reducing the colonization of H. pylori in the human gastrointestinal system but is not capable of its eradication when used as single therapy.     

A clinical approach to paediatric tuberculosis in Canada

OBJECTIVE:

To review clinical aspects of management of tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease in Canadian children in the context of the global TB epidemic and the rising incidence of drug-resistant TB.

DATA SOURCES:

Original and review articles pertinent to: epidemiology of TB globally and in Canada; management of latent TB infection and TB disease in children; diagnostic tests for latent TB infection and TB disease; and management of drug-resistant TB disease. Multiple Medline searches were used including combinations of the MeSH terms ‘Tuberculosis*’ (and its multiple subheadings), ‘Child*’, ‘Drug Resistance’, ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis*’ and ‘Canada/epidemiology*’. Select relevant textbooks were reviewed.

DATA SELECTION AND EXTRACTION:

The articles were analyzed from the perspective of clinicians managing children in Canada today, and from our experience of managing children with TB in Southern Ontario.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

TB in Canada is largely a disease of the foreign-born and their children, but continues to occur in aboriginal children. Drug resistance is increasing globally and in Canada. Most children with TB disease in Canada are asymptomatic and found through contact tracing. False positive skin tests are frequent where TB prevalence is low.

CONCLUSIONS:

Obtain source case drug sensitivities when treating TB contacts and those with latent TB infection. Obtain cultures before treating TB disease and treat disease with at least four antituberculous drugs while awaiting sensitivities. Use Directly Observed Therapy for TB disease. Confine TB skin testing to children at high risk for TB infection or disease, including contacts of infectious patients and recent immigrants. A team approach and infection control measures including environmental controls are important in managing TB disease.     

Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in children: A population-based assessment

BACKGROUND:

Although Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of bloodstream infections, population-based data on these infections in children are limited.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the epidemiology of S aureus bacteremia in children.

METHODS:

Population-based surveillance for all incident S aureus bacteremias was conducted among children (18 years of age or younger) living in the Calgary Health Region (Alberta) from 2000 to 2006.

RESULTS:

During the seven-year study, 120 S aureus bloodstream infections occurred among 119 patients; 27% were nosocomial, 18% health care associated and 56% community acquired. The annual incidence was 6.5/100,000 population and 0.094/1000 live births. A total of 52% had a significant underlying condition, and this was higher for nosocomial cases. Bone and joint (40%), bacteremia without a focus (33%), and skin and soft tissue infections (15%) were the most common clinical syndromes. Infections due to methicillin-resistant S aureus were uncommon (occurring in one infection) and three patients (2.5%) died.

CONCLUSIONS:

S aureus bacteremia is an important cause of morbidity in the paediatric age group. Underlying medical conditions and implanted devices are important risk factors. Methicillin-resistant S aureus and mortality rates are low.