Management of catheter-related infections in pediatric patients

Broviac catheters are commonly used to provide parenteral nutrition and access for infusion of blood products and drugs to pediatric patients. Sepsis is the most common serious complication of continued catheter use. Although removal of the catheter is generally recommended when it becomes contaminated, it may not be feasible to do so without compromising patient care. We evaluated the management of catheter-related infections in pediatric patients with and without removal of catheter. Seventy-seven episodes of catheter sepsis were evaluated in 61 pediatric patients; 24 were neonates and 37 were older children. The catheters were used for multiple purposes in 75% of cases. The most common microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus epidermidis in 26%, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 9%, and Streptococcus viridans in 8% of cases; other pathogens included group D Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in four older children. Thirty-five patients were treated with antibiotics without catheter removal. Thirty patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy based on the susceptibility data. Twenty-six of these 30 patients responded within 5 days of therapy whereas the others required 15-39 days of treatment. Lack of response was mainly associated with the presence of abscess, immunocompromised status, and organisms P. aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Based on the sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration data, a combined regimen of gentamicin and vancomycin would be an effective initial therapy. These findings suggest that (1) catheter sepsis can be managed with appropriate antibiotics, and (2) when continued use of Broviac catheter is desired, a trial of antibiotic therapy should be attempted before catheter removal.     

Status of child health worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to summarize some of the facts about child health and goals of international health organizations. DATA SOURCES: The sources included the publications of World Health Organization's (WHO), United Nations Children Fund, and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations; and journal articles. DATA EXTRACTION: Data on areas related to child health were obtained from various publications. DATA SYNTHESIS: Although childhood mortality continues to fall worldwide, nearly 14 million children under five years of age still die annually in developing countries. Diarrhea, measles, tetanus, pertussis, pneumonia, and malnutrition are preventable and treatable and yet account for the majority of deaths. AIDS has begun to substantially affect the pediatric population. It is encouraging that the WHO's goal to immunize 80 percent of all children in the developing world has been met. The World Summit for Children, in consultation with governments of 159 countries, and the agencies of the United Nations, has adopted new goals to be attained by the year 2000. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that governmental and nongovernmental agencies will embrace these goals and formulate plans to markedly reduce childhood morbidity and mortality.     

Cefotaxime and metabolite disposition in two pediatric continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime in pediatric patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) after intraperitoneal administration of cefotaxime. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Ambulatory children from Children's Hospital nephrology clinic, Columbus, Ohio. PATIENT POPULATION: Two adolescents without peritonitis. METHODS: A single intraperitoneal dose of cefotaxime 500 mg per 1 L dianeal was given during CAPD. Cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime were measured in plasma, urine, and dialysate by HPLC. RESULTS: Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of cefotaxime was 11.94 and 13.08 mg/L and that of desacetylcefotaxime 5.73 and 5.33 mg/L. Time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax) of cefotaxime was 2.22 and 4.08 h, and that of desacetylcefotaxime was 5.33 and 5.73 h after instillation of the intraperitoneal cefotaxime dose. Systemic absorption of cefotaxime was 56.6 and 64.8 percent. Total clearance of cefotaxime was 62 and 79 mL/min/1.73 m2. Nonrenal clearance accounted for nearly 95 percent; renal and CAPD clearance contributed approximately 5 percent of the total clearance. Renal and CAPD clearance measurements of desacetylcefotaxime were similar to those for cefotaxime. Cefotaxime half-life was 1.83 and 2.49 h and desacetylcefotaxime half-life was 8.14 and 11.0 h. CONCLUSIONS: Cefotaxime was well absorbed and therapeutic serum concentrations were achieved after intraperitoneal administration. Renal and CAPD clearances for cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime were low. Cefotaxime nonrenal clearance was unaffected. Further studies are needed to establish appropriate intraperitoneal dosing guidelines of cefotaxime in pediatric CAPD patients.     

Guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis

Antimicrobials are frequently used to prevent infections. Principles of prophylaxis, and antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery, tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, influenza A, traveller's diarrhoea, malaria, recurrent otitis media, Haemophilus influenzae type b infection, pertussis, rheumatic fever, and urinary tract infection are described. Various strategies to improve the prophylactic use of antibiotics are discussed. Collaborative efforts among health care disciplines are needed to assure optimal antimicrobial prophylaxis. This should maximize efficacy and minimize adverse effects, the development of bacterial resistance and associated costs.     

Dosage guidelines for the use of vancomycin based on its pharmacokinetics in infants

Summary The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin and to develop optimal dosage guidelines in infants. Thirteen infants between the ages of 13 to 183 days were enrolled. All had been born prematurely, and average gestational age, postconceptional age, and actual body weight were 29.8 weeks, 38.2 weeks, and 2.1 kg respectively. Multiple blood samples were obtained from each patient after 72 h of therapy. Serum inhibitory and bactericidal titres were determined for peak and trough samples.There were good correlations between total body clearance of vancomycin and both postconceptional age (r=0.86) and actual body weight (r=0.87). This information was used to develop vancomycin dosage guidelines in premature infants. The regression line for vancomycin daily dosage requirements vs postconceptional age may be useful for determining initial dosage recommendations.There were also good correlations between vancomycin serum concentrations and serum inhibitory and cidal titres. Peak and trough concentrations in the therapeutic range (peak, 25–35 µg/ml; trough, 5–10 µg/ml) corresponded to titres of 1:8 and 1:2 to 1:8 respectively.Based on these data we suggest the following dosage guidelines for vancomycin: 10 mg/kg 12 hourly for 30–34 weeks postconceptional age and <1.2 kg actual body weight; 10 mg/kg 8 hourly for 30–42 weeks postconceptional age and >1.2 kg actual body weight; 10 mg/kg 6 hourly for >42 weeks postconceptional age and >2.0 kg actual body weight.Thus, doses which are lower than currently recommended are needed for infants born prematurely. Furthermore, the initial dose of vancomycin can easily be determined using an infant's postconceptional age.SML was a Fellow at Children's Hospital at the time of study and is now at Rutgers University, College of Pharmacy, Piscataway, NJ, USA     

Dopamine pharmacokinetics in critically ill newborn infants

Summary Dopamine is frequently used in critically ill newborn infants for treatment of shock and cardiac failure, but its pharmacokinetics has not been evaluated using a specific analytical method. Steady-state arterial plasma concentrations of dopamine were measured in 11 seriously ill infants receiving dopamine infusion, 5–20 g · kg^–1 · min^–1, for presumed or proven sepsis and hypotensive shock.Steady-state concentrations of dopamine ranged from 0.013–0.3 g/ml. Total body clearance averaged 115 ml · kg^–1 · min^–1. The apparent volume of distribution and elimination half life averaged 1.8 1 · kg^–1 and 6.9 min, respectively.No relationship was observed between dopamine pharmacokinetics and gestational age, postnatal age or birthweight. Substantial interindividual variation was seen in dopamine pharmacokinetics in seriously ill infants, and plasma concentrations could not be predicted accurately from its infusion rate.Marked variation in clearance explains in part, the wide dose requirements of dopamine needed to elicit clinical response in critically ill newborn infants.VBM was a Fellow at Ohio State University and Children's Hospital at the time of study and is now at the Department of Pharmacy Services and College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA     

Association Between Race, Depression, and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence in a Low-Income Population with HIV Infection

Background

Racial disparities exist in many aspects of HIV/AIDS. Comorbid depression adds to the complexity of disease management. However, prior research does not clearly show an association between race and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, or depression and adherence. It is also not known whether the co-existence of depression modifies any racial differences that may exist.

Objective

To examine racial differences in ART adherence and whether the presence of comorbid depression moderates these differences among Medicaid-enrolled HIV-infected patients.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Multi-state Medicaid database (Thomson Reuters MarketScan®).

Participants

Data for 7,034 HIV-infected patients with at least two months of antiretroviral drug claims between 2003 and 2007 were assessed.

Main Measures

Antiretroviral therapy adherence (90 % days covered) were measured for a 12-month period. The main independent variables of interest were race and depression. Other covariates included patient variables, clinical variables (comorbidity and disease severity), and therapy-related variables.

Key Results

In this study sample, over 66 % of patients were of black race, and almost 50 % experienced depression during the study period. A significantly higher portion of non-black patients were able to achieve optimal adherence (≥90 %) compared to black patients (38.6 % vs. 28.7 %, p < 0.001). In fact, black patients had nearly 30 % decreased odds of being optimally adherent to antiretroviral drugs compared to non-black patients (OR = 0.70, 95 % CI: 0.63–0.78), and was unchanged regard less of whether the patient had depression. Antidepressant treatment nearly doubled the odds of optimal ART adherence among patients with depression (OR = 1.92, 95 % CI: 1.12–3.29).

Conclusions

Black race was significantly associated with worse ART adherence, which was not modified by the presence of depression. Under-diagnosis and under-treatment of depression may hinder ART adherence among HIV-infected patients of all races.KEY WORDS: HIV, adherence, depression, race, Medicaid     

Effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in pediatric patients with cat scratch disease

Background Appropriate antibiotic treatment of cat scratch disease (CSD) in pediatrics is not well established. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response rates of antibiotic therapy in pediatrics with CSD. Methods The electronic medical records of a cohort of pediatric patients with confirmed diagnosis of CSD (2006–2016) were reviewed, retrospectively. Data collection included patient demographics, clinical and laboratory results, antibiotic treatment and follow-up evaluations. Results One hundred and seventy-five patients (aged 7.4?±?4.4 years) had confirmed CSD. Azithromycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) were the largest groups with documented effectiveness at follow-up visits. Resolution and improvement of CSD was observed in 51.4% and 61.5% of patients with azithromycin and TMP/SMX, respectively among those with follow-up assessment. The effectiveness of azithromycin and TMP/SMX was comparable (p?=?0.56). Conclusion Azithromycin and TMP/SMX were most frequently prescribed antibiotics. Azithromycin appeared to be an appropriate option for the treatment of CSD. TMP/SMX may be considered as an alternative antibiotic when azithromycin cannot be used.