Bernardo Ejzenberg

Clinical patterns and seasonal trends in respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in São Paulo, Brazil

The respiratory viruses are recognized as the most frequent lower respiratory tract pathogens for infants and young children in developed countries but less is known for developing populations. The authors conducted a prospective study to evaluate the occurrence, clinical patterns, and seasonal trends of viral infections among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract disease (Group A). The presence of respiratory viruses in childrens nasopharyngeal was assessed at admission in a pediatric ward. Cell cultures and immunofluorescence assays were used for viral identification. Complementary tests included blood and pleural cultures conducted for bacterial investigation. Clinical data and radiological exams were recorded at admission and throughout the hospitalization period. To better evaluate the results, a non- respiratory group of patients (Group B) was also constituted for comparison. Starting in February 1995, during a period of 18 months, 414 children were included- 239 in Group A and 175 in Group B. In Group A, 111 children (46.4%) had 114 viruses detected while only 5 children (2.9%) presented viruses in Group B. Respiratory Syncytial Virus was detected in 100 children from Group A (41.8%), Adenovirus in 11 (4.6%), Influenza A virus in 2 (0.8%), and Parainfluenza virus in one child (0.4%). In Group A, aerobic bacteria were found in 14 cases (5.8%). Respiratory Syncytial Virus was associated to other viruses and/or bacteria in six cases. There were two seasonal trends for Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases, which peaked in May and June. All children affected by the virus were younger than 3 years of age, mostly less than one year old. Episodic diffuse bronchial commitment and/or focal alveolar condensation were the clinical patterns more often associated to Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases. All children from Group A survived. In conclusion, it was observed that Respiratory Syncytial Virus was the most frequent pathogen found in hospitalized children admitted for severe respiratory diseases. Affected children were predominantly infants and boys presenting bronchiolitis and focal pneumonias. Similarly to what occurs in other subtropical regions, the virus outbreaks peak in the fall and their occurrence extends to the winter, which parallels an increase in hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases.

Perfil etiológico das diarréias agudas de crianças atendidas em São Paulo

Objetivo: determinar o perfil etiologico das diarreias agudas de um grupo de criancas de baixo nivel socioeconomico atendidas em um servico regional de pronto-atendimento pediatrico. Metodo: durante dois anos, as criancas com diarreia aguda atendidas durante um horario pre-estabelecido do dia e da semana foram incluidas no estudo. Os outros criterios seletivos eram: a) idade inferior a 5 anos; b) nao utilizacao de antibiotico no mes precedente; c) ausencia de viagem para fora da cidade no mes precedente. Foram pesquisados nas fezes: a) rotavirus (imunofluorescencia e contra-imunoeletroforese); b) bacterias - cultura em agar MacConkey, agar SS, agar Columbia, verde brilhante, soroaglutinacao, deteccao de toxinas - INV, LT,ST,SLT I, SLT II, teste de Sereny, deteccao de fatores de virulencia -- EAF, eae ,BFP; c) protozoarios (Hoffman e Faust). No mesmo periodo, um grupo controle sem diarreia foi tambem avaliado para os mesmos patogenos fecais. Resultados: no periodo de marco de 1994 a junho de 1996, foram selecionadas para o estudo 154 criancas com diarreia aguda (GDA) e 42 criancas sem diarreia (GSDA). Foram detectados agentes enteropatogenicos em 112 casos (72,8%) do GDA, e em 9 (21,5%) do GSDA. A associacao de dois ou mais enteropatogenos ocorreu em 47 (30,5%) casos do GDA, e em 3 (7,1%) do GSDA. Os patogenos encontrados por caso, do GDA, foram: rotavirus 32 (20,8%), bacterias 53 (34,4%), ambos 25 (16,2%), e 2 (1,4%) com Giardia lamblia (em um caso associada a rotavirus e noutro a bacteria). No GSDA, foram detectadas bacterias em 8 casos (19,1%), e bacteria associada a Giardia lamblia em 1 (2,4%) caso. Das 105 bacterias isoladas no GDA, 90 eram Escherichia coli (EPEC 27, DAEC 24, ETEC 21, EAEC 18), 12 eram Shigella sp, 2 eram Salmonella sp, e uma era Yersinia sp. As criancas com infeccao mista - viral e bacteriana - apresentaram maior ocorrencia de vomitos repetidos, desidratacao e internacao.Conclusoes: as bacterias foram os enteropatogenos mais detectados nos casos de diarreia aguda, sendo a Escherichia coli a mais frequente. Na maior parte, as cepas de Escherichia coli eram de biovariedade nao-EPEC, habitualmente nao investigadas nos laboratorios de patologia clinica. O rotavirus foi encontrado em grande parcela dos casos, muitas vezes em associacao com as bacterias. Os protozoarios tiveram importância reduzida.

Etiologic profile of acute diarrhea in children in São Paulo

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the etiologic profile of acute diarrhea in socioeconomically deprived children assisted at a regional pediatric emergency care service. METHODS: During two years all children with acute diarrhea assisted at a previously established day and week time schedule were included in the study. Other selective criteria were: a) age less than 5 years; b) nonuse of antibiotics in the previous month; and c) no travel outside the city in the previous month. Stool examination was used for the detection of the following microorganisms: a) rotavirus (immunofluorescence and counterimmunoelectrophoresis); b) bacteria - culture in MacConkey agar, SS agar, Columbia agar, bright green, serotyping, detection of toxins - INV, LT,ST,SLT I, SLT II, Sereny test, detection of virulence factors- EAF, eae, BFP; and c) protozoa (Hoffman and Faust). In the same period, a control group without diarrhea was also evaluated for the same fecal pathogens. RESULTS: Between March 1994 and June 1996, 154 children with acute diarrhea (AD) and 42 control children (WAD), that is, without acute diarrhea, were selected. In the AD group, intestinal pathogens were detected in 112 (72.8%) cases, and in 9 (21.5%) cases in the WAD group. The association of two or more intestinal pathogens occurred in 47 (30.5%) cases in the AD group, and in 3 (7.1%) cases in the WAD group. The pathogens identified in the AD cases were: Rotavirus: 32 (20.8%), bacteria: 53 (34.4%), both: 25 (16.2%), and 2 (1.4%) with Giardia lamblia (in one case associated with Rotavirus and in another one associated with bacteria). In the WAD group, only bacteria were detected in 8 (19.1%) cases, and bacteria associated with Giardia lamblia in 1 (2.4%) case. Altogether, there were 105 bacteria isolated in the AD group: 90 were Escherichia coli (EPEC 27, DAEC 24, ETEC 21, EAEC 18), 12 were Shigella sp, 2 were Salmonella sp, and one was Yersinia sp. Children with mixed infections (viral and bacterial) had increased incidence of severe vomiting, dehydration and hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteria were the most frequent pathogens detected in acute diarrhea cases, among which Escherichia coli was highly predominant. The majority of Escherichia coli strains belong to non-EPEC varieties, strains that are not routinely evaluated in clinical laboratories of pathology. Rotavirus was found in a great number of diarrhea cases, often associated with bacteria. Protozoa showed reduced importance.

Viral infections in hospitalized children affected by acute lower respiratory tract disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of the main respiratory viruses in hospitalized children affected by acute lower respiratory tract disease at a university hospital. METHODS: This is a prospective trial that included two cohorts of hospitalized children in the period from April to July 1996. The groups were selected according to the presence of lower respiratory tract disease on admission: Group A- with acute disease (history of less than 7 days) and B- without present or recent respiratory disease. The parameters for defining lower respiratory tract disease included physical and/or radiological pulmonary changes. Clinical and radiological criteria were established for the classification of lower respiratory tract diseases in group A. Nasopharyngeal swab was collected from all children on admission for viral detection by cellular cultures and direct immunofluorescence. RESULTS: 201 cases were selected, 126 in group A and 75 in group B. Viruses were identified in 71 children from groupA(56.4%) and only in 3 from group B (4.0%). The predominant agent in group A was respiratory syncytial virus, identified in 66 cases; adenovirus (4) and influenza (1) were detected in other patients. In group B two patients with respiratory syncytial virus and one with adenovirus were identified. The patients from group A affected by respiratory syncytial virus were younger (median age 3 months versus 13 months) and more wheezy on physical examination (78.7%) than the other patients of the group (33.3%). This virus was associated to most of the bronchiolitis cases (84%) and to half of the pneumonia cases (46.4%). CONCLUSION: The authors found a significant presence of viruses in the majority of children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract disease. The respiratory syncytial virus was the predominant agent identified. These results are similar to others previously reported both in developed and some developing countries. The authors emphasize that the present study evaluated only partially the possibility of simultaneous infection by other pathogens and that the present protocol was conducted during the season with the highest incidence of respiratory syncytial virus.

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis in an infant caused by Haemophilus non influenzae

We describe a rare case of cervical necrotizing fasciitis caused by Haemophilus non influenzae in a 5-month-old infant who was concomitantly affected by bacteremia, pneumonia and meningitis. The patient had a satisfactory evolution after treatment with antibiotics, intensive clinical support, and five surgical debridements of the lesion. A previously healthy 5-month-old boy was brought to the Emergency Room with fever and enlargement of the neck associated with vomiting and irritability during the 3 previous days. There was no history of previous trauma nor significant infections. The immunization schedule had not included a vaccine against Haemophilus. The infant was found to be febrile, irritable, pale and dehydrated, with signs of respiratory distress and upper airway obstruction. Examination of the oral cavity revealed the presence of a purulent secretion covering the pharynx. The skin in the cervical region appeared stretched and erythematous, and there were dark purple spots in the right submandibular area. The tissues had a hard consistency without fluctuation points. Lung auscultation showed bilateral rales and inspiratory stridor. X-rays of the cervical area showed a hyperextended cervical lordosis and a diffuse radiolucent area in the retropharyngeai region. Ultrasonographic and computerised tomography (CT) of the neck and skull revealed extensive swelling of the soft cervical tissues. The chest scan disclosed condensations in the lower two thirds of the right lung and in the left pulmonary base, which were barely visible in the X-ray. The infant was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where laboratory tests conducted showed some abnormal blood results: anaemia, leukopenia withneutrophil ia, increased prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin time, and analysis of the arterial gases revealed hypoxemia. The cerebrospinal fluid yielded an elevated cellularity mostly of polymorphonuclear cells, as well as high protein and low glucose content. CSF bacterioscopy presented intraand extra-cellular gram-negative pleomorphic bacilli, but the culture was found to be negative. Three blood cultures in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium were performed and subsequently replicated in chocolate agar incubated in carbon dioxide [1]. Samples for culture in tryptic soy broth (TSB) with polianetol sodium sulphonate in anaerobiosis were also collected. The clinical laboratory picture led to a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis of the cervical region with meningitis and bilateral bronchopneumonia. Due to his respiratory insufficiency, the infant was submitted to orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Parenteral antimicrobial therapy was started with clindamycin and ceftriaxone. Surgical intervention was subsequently performed to decompress the airways and remove necrotic tissues. Bacterioscopic examination of the secretion showed the presence of gram-negative coccobacilli which, however, did not grow either in BHI subcultured in chocolate agar under CO 2 or in TSB under anaerobiosis. The patient s initial outcome was unfavourable. Another CT scan disclosed the presence of gas in the soft tissues of the cervical region. The blood cultures allowed the identification of Haemophilus sp. non influenzae, resistant to the antibiotics in use but susceptible to chloramphenicol [2]. After the therapeutic change to chloramphenicol, the infant showed overall improvement. However, the cervical lesion continued to show new necrotic areas and four other debridements were performed. The patient was discharged on day 34 and was followed up by the outpatient clinic team for I year, showing no functional impairment or relevant infections. Immunologic evaluation tests remained normal throughout this period. Our literature review revealed that this is the first documented case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Haemophilus non influenzae in children, although other previous cases may have not been recognized [3, 4]. There are two reports of necrofizing fasciitis in infants caused by Haemophihts influenzae [5, 6]. The first is similar to the one described here in its pharyngeal onset and cervical involvement: however, three other pathogens including two anaerobic bacteria were also involved [5]. In the other case, the bacteria caused an isolated infection in a 13-month-old infants leg where there might have been a previous trauma [6]. In a recent literature review, only Haemophihts influenzae is mentioned among the various bacteria potentially causing necrotizing fasciitis in children, whereas this aetiology is recognized in adults [7, 8]. The most frequent causal agents of necrotizing fasciitis are group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus which may act separately, in conjunction with, or associated with other pathogens. For the other aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, a synergistic action is considered essential to the occurrence of necrosis of the fascia and other deep soft tissues, but this was not observed in the present case [5, 10]. In our infant, only Haemophihts sp. was isolated from the blood and observed in the material collected from the cervical lesion and the spinal fluid [111 . The hypothesis of a simultaneous occurrence of infection caused by strictly anaerobic bacteria was considered, given the high fiequency of these agents in deep infections of the neck and the local presence of gas revealed by the CT scan [5]. The fact that these agents were neither observed at the microscopy nor isolated from the specific culture led us to the conclusion that these bacteria are probably not involved. It is possible that the tissue gas was produced by Haemophilus non influenzae which can act as a gas-producing facultative anaerobic bacterium [3]. The occasional pathogenicity of Haemophilus non influenzae in various severe diseases in.children as well as its frequent presence in the upper airways are recognized [3]. The high virulence of~the strain involved in the case reported here could be indirectly inferred through observation of multiple infectious sites caused in this immunocompetent infant. Unfortunately, the loss of viability of the strain in culture did not permit a conclusive identification of the species of this Haernophilus non influenzae. There is, however, indirect evidence of the species involved. The bacterial growth was found to be dependent only on factor X

Evaluation of the dead space to tidal volume ratio as a predictor of extubation failure.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the ratio of dead space to tidal volume (VD/VT) as a predictor of extubation failure of children from mechanical ventilation. METHODS From September 2001 to January 2003 we studied a cohort consisting of all children (1 day-15 years) submitted to mechanical ventilation at a pediatric intensive care unit who were extubated and for whom pre-extubation ventilometry data were available, including the VD/VT ratio. Extubation success was defined as no need for any type of ventilatory support, invasive or otherwise, within 48 hours. Patients who tolerated extubation, with or without noninvasive support, were defined as success-R and compared with those who were reintubated. Statistic analysis was based on a VD/VT cutoff point of 0.65. RESULTS During the study period 250 children received mechanical ventilation at the pediatric intensive care unit. Eighty-six of these children comprised the study sample. Twenty-one children (24.4%) met the criteria for extubation failure, with 11 (12.8%) of these requiring non-invasive support and 10 (11.6%) reintubation. Their mean age was 16.8 (+/-30.1) months (median = 5.5 months). The mean VD/VT ratio for all cases was 0.62 (+/-0.18). Mean VD/VT ratios for patients with successful and failed extubations were 0.62 (+/-0.17) and 0.65 (+/-0.21) (p = 0.472), respectively. Logistic regression failed to reveal any statistically significant correlation between VD/VT ratio and success or failure of extubation (p = 0.8458), even for patients who were reintubated (p = 0.5576). CONCLUSIONS In a pediatric population receiving mechanical ventilation due to a variety of etiologies, the VD/VT ratio was unable to predict the populations at risk of extubation failure or of reintubation.

Parinaud syndrome caused by Bartonella henselae: case report

The authors report a case of Parinaud syndrome (conjunctivitis with pre-auricular satellite adenitis) caused by Bartonella henselae, the etiologic agent of Cat Scratch Disease. The etiologic assessment of this case was performed by serum indirect immunofluorescence reaction and allowed for a better therapeutics and follow up, avoiding ineffective antibiotics and surgical interventions.

Aerobic bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis, Pneumocystis carinii and Cytomegalovirus as agents of severe peneumonia in small infants

The authors studied 58 infants hospitalized for pneumonia in a semi-intensive care unit. Age ranged from 1 complete to 6 incomplete months. The infants were sent from another hospital in 20 cases and from home in a further 38. Pulmonary involvement, which was alveolar in 46 cases and interstitial in 12, was bilateral in 31 children. The investigation was carried out prospectively on the etiological agents associated with respiratory infection to look for evidence of aerobic bacteria (blood cultures), Chlamydia trachomatis and Cytomegalovirus (serology), and Pneumocystis carinii (direct microscopy of tracheal aspirated material). The following infectious agents were diagnosed in 21 children (36.2%): Aerobic bacteria (8), Chlamydia trachomatis (5), Pneumocystis carinii (3), Cytomegalovirus (3), Cytomegalovirus and Chlamydia trachomatis (1), Aerobic bacteria and Cytomegalovirus (1). Seven cases of infection by Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Cytomegalovirus were diagnosed out of the 12 cases with pulmonary interstitial involvement.

Avaliação da relação entre espaço morto e volume corrente como índice preditivo de falha de extubação

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a relacao entre espaco morto e volume corrente (VD/VT) como preditivo de falha na extubacao de criancas sob ventilacao mecânica. METODOS: Entre setembro de 2001 e janeiro de 2003, realizamos uma coorte, na qual foram incluidas todas as criancas (1 dia-15 anos) submetidas a ventilacao mecânica na unidade de terapia intensiva pediatrica em que foi possivel realizar a extubacao e a ventilometria pre-extubacao com a medida do indice VD/VT. Considerou-se falha na extubacao a necessidade de reinstituicao de algum tipo de assistencia ventilatoria, invasiva ou nao, em um periodo de 48 horas. Para a analise dos pacientes que foram reintubados, definiu-se como sucesso-R a nao reintubacao. Para as analises estatisticas, utilizou-se um corte do VD/VT de 0,65. RESULTADOS: No periodo estudado, 250 criancas receberam ventilacao mecânica na unidade de terapia intensiva pediatrica. Destas, 86 compuseram a amostra estudada. Vinte e uma criancas (24,4%) preencheram o criterio de falha de extubacao, com 11 (12,8%) utilizando suporte nao-invasivo e 10 (11,6%) reintubadas. A idade media foi de 16,8 (±30,1) meses, e a mediana, de 5,5 meses. A media do indice VD/VT de todos os casos foi de 0,62 (±0,18). As medias do indice VD/VT para os pacientes que tiveram a extubacao bem sucedida e para os que falharam foram, respectivamente, 0,62 (±0,17) e 0,65 (±0,21) (p = 0,472). Na regressao logistica, o indice VD/VT nao apresentou correlacao estatisticamente significativa com o sucesso ou nao da extubacao (p = 0,8458), nem para aqueles que foram reintubados (p = 0,5576). CONCLUSOES: Em uma populacao pediatrica submetida a ventilacao mecânica, por etiologias variadas, o indice VD/VT nao possibilitou predizer qual a populacao de risco para falha de extubacao ou reintubacao.

Treatment of pediatric outpatients with complicated urinary tract infections

In an open and prospective study involving outpatient children with complicated urinary tract infections (UTI), we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of ceftriaxone administered intramuscularly, once-daily--50 to 70 mg/kg, during 8 to 10 days. Initially, the selected patients exhibited at least two of the following clinical criteria: age below 6 months, any degree of toxicity, fever, strong suspicion or proved abnormalities of their urinary tracts and lumbar pain in children older than 4 years. Significant bacteriuria was demonstrated by urine culture in 40 patients (21 boys, 19 girls), whose ages ranged from 15 days to 6 years 9 months (median 3 months). The radiological studies revealed vesicoureteral reflux in 6 patients, urethral posterior valve in 1, and neurogenic bladder in 4. The main causative agents were Escherichia coli isolated in 30 patients, Klebsiella (4) and Proteus (4). The treatment was found to be effective in 38 patients (95%). There was failure of treatment in 1 patient and a symptomatic reinfection in another one. It was concluded that children with complicated UTI could be treated alternatively by once daily ceftriaxone.