Collin S. Goto

Diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae Lower Respiratory Infection in Hospitalized Children by Culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Serological Testing, and Urinary Antigen Detection

A prospective study of 154 consecutive high-risk hospitalized children with lower respiratory infections was conducted to determine the clinical utility of a pneumolysin-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay compared with blood and pleural fluid cultures and serological and urinary antigen tests to determine the incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Whole blood, buffy coat, or plasma samples from 67 children (44%) tested positive by PCR. Sensitivity was 100% among 11 promptly tested culture-confirmed children and specificity was 95% among control subjects. Age, prior oral antibiotic therapy, and pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization did not influence PCR results, whereas several surrogates of disease severity were associated with positive tests. Although serological and urinary antigen tests had comparable sensitivity, specificity varied among infected children, and statistical agreement among all assays was limited. These findings support the use of PCR tests to evaluate the protective efficacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and to identify promptly children with pretreated or nonbacteremic pneumococcal lower respiratory infections.

Clinical utility of the polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis in infancy

OBJECTIVE To determine the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, and urine for rapid diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis in infants 3 months of age and younger. STUDY DESIGN We identified prospectively infants 3 months of age and younger coming to the emergency department with fever whose examination included a lumbar puncture, blood culture, or both. Samples of CSF, serum, urine, throat, and stool specimens were collected for viral culture and, with the exception of stool, for PCR assay. Those infants who had not received prior antibiotic therapy and had sterile bacterial cultures of CSF, blood, and urine were selected for the present analysis. RESULTS A total of 259 specimens for viral culture and 203 specimens for PCR assay were collected from 64 infants. Comparison of results of PCR assay of CSF with viral culture, the gold standard for diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis, demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90%. Because enteroviruses are not always detectable by culture, the following modified standard was established to define enteroviral meningitis: either CSF pleocytosis, sterile bacterial cultures and detection of an enterovirus in stool culture or positive viral culture of CSF, or both. With this modified definition, the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay of CSF were 92% and 94%, respectively. PCR assay of serum and urine offered no benefit over PCR assay of CSF alone for diagnosis of meningitis. CONCLUSION PCR assay of CSF is useful for the rapid and reliable diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis. Application of this technique in the clinical setting can potentially diminish unnecessary hospitalization and use of antibiotics.

Noninvasive capnometry monitoring for respiratory status during pediatric seizures

OBJECTIVE To determine the reliability and clinical value of end-tidal CO2 by oral/nasal capnometry for monitoring pediatric patients presenting post ictal or with active seizures. DESIGN Clinical, prospective, observational study. SETTING University affiliated childrens hospital. INTERVENTIONS One hundred sixty-six patients (105 patients with active seizures, 61 post ictal patients) had end-tidal CO2 obtained by oral/nasal sidestream capnometry, and respiratory rates, oxygen saturation, and pulse rates recorded every 5 mins until 60 mins had elapsed. End-tidal CO2 values were compared with a capillary PCO2 and clinical observation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The mean end-tidal CO2 reading was 43.0 +/- 11.8 torr [5.7 +/- 1.6 kPa] and the mean capillary PCO2 reading was 43.4 +/- 11.7 torr [5.7 +/- 1.6 kPa]. The correlation between end-tidal CO2 and capillary PCO2 was significant (r2 = .97; p < .0001). A relative average bias of 0.33 torr (0.04 kPa) with end-tidal CO2 lower than capillary PCO2 was established with 95% limits of agreement +/-4.2 torr (+/-0.6 kPa). Variability of difference scores was not related to range of mean scores (r2 = .00003), age (r2 = .0004), or respiratory rates (r2 = .0009). End-tidal CO2 (r2 = .22; p < .001) correlated better with respiratory rate changes when compared with oxygen saturation (r2 = .02; p = .01). CONCLUSIONS Dependable end-tidal CO2 values can be obtained in pediatric seizure patients using an oral/nasal cannula capnometry circuit. Continuous end-tidal CO2 monitoring provides the clinician with a reliable assessment of pulmonary status that can assist with decisions to provide ventilatory support.

Rattlesnake envenomation with neurotoxicity refractory to treatment with crotaline Fab antivenom

Introduction. Neurotoxicity following rattlesnake envenomation is reported with certain crotaline species. In some instances, crotaline Fab antivenom therapy that effectively halts progression of local tissue edema and hemotoxicity fails to reverse neurologic venom effects. Case series. A 50-year-old man presented following a rattlesnake envenomation to the left ring finger. He had swelling and pain in the affected hand and complained of dyspnea and dysphonia. Significant fasciculations were seen in the face, tongue, neck, trunk, and arms. The patient received crotaline Fab antivenom but continued to develop worsening respiratory distress. His respiratory insufficiency requiring ventilatory support appeared related to respiratory muscle incoordination as extremity motor function remained intact. Initial control of local edema progression and hematologic parameters was achieved with antivenom, but diffuse fasciculations involving the entire body worsened despite aggressive antivenom treatment. In another case, a 9-year-old boy was envenomated by a rattlesnake on the left thenar eminence. He presented with pain and swelling up to the forearm and fasciculations of the tongue, face, and upper extremities. The progression of edema was halted at the mid-bicep level and hematologic parameters normalized with crotaline Fab antivenom. However, fasciculations continued for two days despite antivenom treatment. Conclusion. We describe two cases of neurotoxicity following rattlesnake envenomation in which treatment with crotaline Fab antivenom adequately obtained initial control of local swelling and hematologic effects, but neurotoxic venom effects remained refractory to antivenom therapy. This phenomenon is anecdotally recognized following certain crotaline species envenomations.

Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab for the treatment of pediatric crotaline envenomation.

Abstract Crotaline snakebites occur frequently in children, often resulting in significant morbidity. Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab antivenom (FabAV) became available for clinical use in the US in 2000 and is currently the standard of care for the treatment of crotaline envenomation. The pediatric emergency care provider should be familiar with FabAV because its judicious use in affected children can greatly decrease morbidity caused by crotaline snakebites. This article will review the use of FabAV for the treatment of pediatric crotaline envenomation.

Upper airway obstruction caused by brown recluse spider envenomization of the neck.

A 7-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with progressive cervical soft tissue swelling and airway compromise due to envenomization by a brown recluse spider. This life-threatening complication is an extremely unusual presentation of brown recluse spider envenomization. Previous published reports have centered on the disfiguring localized tissue necrosis or life-threatening systemic reactions that occur secondary to the spiders venom.

Acute flank pain: An unusual presentation of a spinal AVM

The authors report the case of a 6-year-old boy with a spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM) who presented with acute flank pain and a delayed onset of paraplegia. An early diagnosis of a spinal cord AVM was made difficult by the absence of neurological findings on initial evaluation. Included is a description of his clinical course, and the presentation of spinal AVMs to the emergency physician is discussed.

Safety and efficacy of milk and molasses enemas compared with sodium phosphate enemas for the treatment of constipation in a pediatric emergency department

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of routine milk and molasses enemas (MME) compared with sodium phosphate enemas for the treatment of constipation in the pediatric emergency department (ED). A secondary objective included the identification of factors associated with enema selection in the pediatric ED. Methods This study was approved by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Institutional Review Board. The study design was a retrospective comparative chart review. Medical records of patients who presented to the ED and received either MME or sodium phosphate enema for constipation between November 1, 2007, and November 1, 2008, were identified and reviewed for data collection. The following data were collected to determine safety and efficacy: baseline demographics, chief complaint, medical history, radiographic imaging, enema type, treatment dose, adverse effects, improvement in symptoms, time until defecation, failure of initial therapy requiring additional intervention, and time from treatment until disposition. Results Both treatment groups had similar baseline characteristics. No statistically significant differences in treatment effect were noted between MME and sodium phosphate enemas. Several clinically significant trends were noted including the need for additional rectal treatment after administration of sodium phosphate enemas versus oral therapy after MME. In addition, there were 6 cases of treatment failure with sodium phosphate enemas versus 1 case with MME. Conclusions No statistically significant differences were found between MME and sodium phosphate enemas. Based on our results, the 2 treatment options were found to be equally safe and effective.

Safety and efficacy of rocuronium for controlled intubation with paralytics in the pediatric emergency department

Background Controlled intubation in the pediatric emergency department (ED) requires a paralytic agent that is safe, efficacious, and of rapid onset. The safety of succinylcholine has been challenged, leading some clinicians to use vecuronium as an alternative. Rocuronium’s onset is similar to that of succinylcholine. Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of rocuronium for controlled intubation with paralysis (CIP) in the pediatric ED. Methods A retrospective, observational study reviewed the records of patients less than 15 years of age, who received controlled intubation with paralytics at two Dallas EDs. The patients received either vecuronium or rocuronium. Results The study included 84 patients (vecuronium 19, rocuronium 65). Complications were similar between the two groups. Rocuronium had a shorter time from administration to intubation when compared to vecuronium (P < 0.05). Conclusion Rocuronium is as safe and efficacious as vecuronium for CIP in the pediatric ED.

Benzonatate toxicity in a teenager resulting in coma, seizures, and severe metabolic acidosis.

We report a benzonatate overdose in a teenager resulting in life-threatening toxicity to increase awareness of this overdose, and discuss recent pediatric warnings and labeling information provided by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After an overdose of benzonatate, a 13-yr-old female presented to our emergency department with coma, seizures, hypotension, prolonged QT interval on electrocardiogram, and metabolic acidosis. Benzonatate is an antitussive medication with sodium channel-blocking properties and local anesthetic effects on the respiratory stretch receptors due to a tetracaine-like metabolite. Overdose is reported to cause coma, seizures, hypotension, tachycardia, ventricular dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. The FDA recently issued a Drug Safety Communication warning that accidental benzonatate ingestion in children younger than 10 years of age have increased risk of death and added the new information to the Warnings and Precautions section of benzonatates label.