Emma Best

Outbreak of variant hand-foot-and-mouth disease caused by coxsackievirus A6 in Auckland, New Zealand

Hand‐foot‐and‐mouth disease is a common, usually mild childhood illness caused by enteroviruses. Over the last five years, coxsackievirus A6 has been identified as a causative agent in outbreaks in Europe, South‐East Asia and America. It has an atypical presentation compared with other enteroviruses, with more widespread rash, larger blisters and subsequent skin peeling and/or nail shedding. We give the first description of an outbreak of coxsackievirus A6 in New Zealand and how health‐care communication networks enabled detection of and dissemination of information about this emergent strain.

Once-daily Gentamicin in Infants and Children A Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating Safety and the Role of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Minimizing Toxicity

Background: The clinical evidence base for ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity outcomes with once-daily dosing (ODD) of gentamicin in children is suboptimal. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in once-daily gentamicin regimens is variable and its role in predicting or preventing clinical toxicity is unclear. We aimed to assess the safety of ODD of gentamicin and the usefulness of TDM in a pediatric cohort. Methods: Children with suspected sepsis were prospectively enrolled to receive ODD of gentamicin at 7 mg/kg/day. Hearing and renal function were objectively assessed at baseline, during therapy, and after therapy. TDM was performed using an interval-adjusted graphical method (Hartford nomogram). Results: A total of 79 children (median age: 5.6 years; range: 1 month–16 years) received 106 episodes of therapy. In all, 61% of these episodes were for febrile neutropenia. Evaluation was complete in 88% for ototoxicity and 92% for nephrotoxicity. Two patients (1.88%, 95% confidence interval: 0.10%–7.13%) experienced permanent hearing loss. One patient (0.94%, 95% confidence interval: <0.10%–5.73%) experienced transient nephrotoxicity. No abnormal serum gentamicin values were detected, even in those experiencing toxicity. Children experiencing toxicity were undergoing treatment for malignancies and had received nephrotoxic or ototoxic medicines before gentamicin. Conclusions: In this pediatric cohort receiving ODD of gentamicin, nephrotoxicity was uncommon and reversible, but irreversible ototoxicity occurred more frequently. TDM using a nomogram neither predicted nor prevented toxicity, which was only observed in those with risk factors.

What is behind the ear drum? The microbiology of otitis media and the nasopharyngeal flora in children in the era of pneumococcal vaccination

This study aims to describe the microbiology of middle ear fluid (MEF) in a cohort of children vaccinated with Streptococcus pneumoniae conjugate vaccine (PCV7) having ventilation tube insertion. Nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage of otopathogens in these children is compared with children without history of otitis media.

Pneumococcal vaccine impact on otitis media microbiology: A New Zealand cohort study before and after the introduction of PHiD-CV10 vaccine.

UNLABELLED We compared the microbiology of middle ear fluid (MEF) in two cohorts of children having ventilation tube (VT) insertion; the first in the era of 7-valent Streptococcus pneumoniae conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and the second following introduction of the ten-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PHiD-CV10). METHODS During 2011 (Phase 1) and again in 2014 (Phase 2) MEF and NP samples from 325 children and 319 children were taken at the time of VT insertion. A matched comparison group had NP swabs collected with 137 children (Phase 1) and 154 (Phase 2). Culture was performed on all NP and MEF samples with further molecular identification of Haemophilus species, serotyping of S. pneumoniae, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on all MEF samples. RESULTS In Phase 2 immunisation coverage with ⩾3 doses of PHiD-CV10 was 93%. The rate and ratios of culture and molecular detection of the 3 main otopathogens was unchanged between Phase 1 and Phase 2 in both MEF and NP. Haemophilus influenzae was cultured in one quarter and detected by PCR in 53% of MEF samples in both time periods. S. pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis were cultured in up to 13% and detected by PCR in 27% and 40% respectively of MEF samples. H. influenzae was the most common organism isolated from NP samples (61%) in the children undergoing VT surgery whilst M. catarrhalis (49%) was the most common in the non-otitis prone group. 19A was the most prominent S. pneumoniae serotype in both MEF and NP samples in Phase 2. Of Haemophilus isolates, 95% were confirmed to be non-typeable H. influenzae (NTHi) over both time periods. CONCLUSION Following implementation of PHiD-CV10 in New Zealand, there has been no significant change in the 3 major otopathogens in NP or MEF in children with established ear disease. For these children non-typeable H. influenzae remains the dominant otopathogen detected.

Spleen Australia guidelines for the prevention of sepsis in patients with asplenia and hyposplenism in Australia and New Zealand

People with asplenia/hyposplenism are at increased risk of fulminant sepsis, which carries a high mortality rate. A range of preventive measures is recommended although there is ongoing evidence that knowledge of and adherence to these strategies is poor. There have been significant changes in recommended vaccinations since the previously published recommendations in 2008. We provide current recommendations to help Australian and New Zealand clinicians in the prevention of sepsis in patients with asplenia and hyposplenia. The guideline includes Australian epidemiological data, preferred diagnostic techniques and recommendations for optimal antimicrobial prophylaxis and vaccination protocols.

Incidence, aetiology and outcome of pleural empyema and parapneumonic effusion from 1998 to 2012 in a population of New Zealand children.

To document rising incidence rates of childhood empyema and parapneumonic effusion (PPE) in South Auckland, New Zealand between 1998 and 2012; to compare epidemiology, pathogens and outcomes of children with empyema and PPE; and to ascertain whether primary care antibiotic prescribing, delayed presentation, or bacterial epidemiology might account for the rising incident rates.

Bacteroides fragilis concealed in an infant with Escherichia coli meningitis

Anaerobic meningitis in infants is rare, therefore a high index of clinical suspicion is essential as routine methods for processing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do not detect anaerobes and specific antimicrobial therapy is required. We present an infant with Escherichia coli meningitis where treatment‐resistance developed in association with culture negative purulent CSF. These features should have alerted us to the presence of anaerobes, prompting a search for the causes of polymicrobial meningitis in infants.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections in children: Review of literature and recommendations for management

Non‐typhoidal Salmonellae are a major cause of infectious diarrhoea worldwide and can cause invasive diseases, including bacteraemia, meningitis and osteomyelitis. Young or immunocompromised children and those with underlying conditions such as sickle cell disease are particularly vulnerable to invasive disease. There has been an increase in the rate of resistant non‐typhoidal Salmonella, which is associated with invasive disease and hospitalisation. The intracellular nature of non‐typhoidal Salmonella protects against extracellular antibiotics and can facilitate disease relapse, particularly meningitis. Effective antimicrobial agents with good intracellular penetration include azithromycin, fluoroquinolones and third‐generation cephalosporins. Antibiotic treatment of non‐typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis is only indicated if there are risk factors for invasive disease as it can prolong excretion and does not shorten the duration of gastrointestinal symptoms. Optimal choice and length of therapy for gastroenteritis and invasive disease in children is not clear. Here, we provide a review of the literature and treatment recommendations.

Respiratory Virus detection during Hospitalisation for Lower Respiratory Tract infection in children under 2 years in South Auckland, New Zealand

To describe respiratory virus detection in children under 2 years of age in a population admitted with lower respiratory infection and to assess correlation with measures of severity.

Fatal hyperammonemia associated with disseminated Serratia marcescens infection in a pediatric liver transplant recipient

Hyperammonemia is a rare and important complication post‐liver transplantation. We review a case of a 5‐month‐old boy with biliary atresia who received a split liver transplant following a variceal bleed. The transplant was complicated by recurrent portal vein thrombosis. Colonized with Serratia marcescens pretransplant, he developed disseminated infection associated with very high levels of ammonia that led to his death. It is important to be aware of serum ammonia levels in patients with portal vein thrombosis, particularly in the setting of gastrointestinal bleeding and sepsis.