Warunee Punpanich

A review on the clinical spectrum and natural history of human influenza

OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to provide updated information on the clinical spectrum and natural history of human influenza, including risk factors for severe disease, and to identify the knowledge gap in this area. METHODS We searched the MEDLINE database of the recent literature for the period January 2009 to August 17, 2011 with regard to the abovementioned aspects of human influenza, focusing on A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza. RESULTS The clinical spectrum and outcomes of cases of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza have been mild and rather indistinguishable from those of seasonal influenza. Sporadic cases covering a wide range of neurological complications have been reported. Underlying predisposing conditions considered to be high-risk for A(H1N1)pdm09 infections are generally similar to those of seasonal influenza, but with two additional risk groups: pregnant women and the morbidly obese. Co-infections with bacteria and D222/N variants or 225G substitution of the viral genome have also been reported to be significant factors associated with the severity of disease. The current knowledge gap includes: (1) a lack of clarification regarding the relatively greater severity of the Mexican A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza outbreak in the early phase of the pandemic; (2) insufficient data on the clinical impact, risk factors, and outcomes of human infections caused by resistant strains of influenza; and (3) insufficient data from less developed countries that would enable them to prioritize strategies for influenza prevention and control. CONCLUSIONS Clinical features and risk factors of A(H1N1)pdm09 are comparable to those of seasonal influenza. Emerging risk factors for severe disease with A(H1N1)pdm09 include morbid obesity, pregnancy, bacterial co-infections, and D222/N variants or 225G substitution of the viral genome.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antiretroviral management, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual risk behavior among perinatally HIV-infected youth in Thailand

More than 30% of perinatally HIV-infected children in Thailand are 12 years and older. As these youth become sexually active, there is a risk that they will transmit HIV to their partners. Data on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of HIV-infected youth in Thailand are limited. Therefore, we assessed the KAP of perinatally HIV-infected youth and youth reporting sexual risk behaviors receiving care at two tertiary care hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand and living in an orphanage in Lopburi, Thailand. From October 2010 to July 2011, 197 HIV-infected youth completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview to assess their KAP regarding antiretroviral (ARV) management, reproductive health, sexual risk behaviors, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A majority of youth in this study correctly answered questions about HIV transmission and prevention and the importance of taking ARVs regularly. More than half of the youth in this study demonstrated a lack of family planning, reproductive health, and STI knowledge. Girls had more appropriate attitudes toward safe sex and risk behaviors than boys. Although only 5% of the youth reported that they had engaged in sexual intercourse, about a third reported sexual risk behaviors (e.g., having or kissing boy/girlfriend or consuming an alcoholic beverage). We found low condom use and other family planning practices, increasing the risk of HIV and/or STI transmission to sexual partners. Additional resources are needed to improve reproductive health knowledge and reduce risk behavior among HIV-infected youth in Thailand.

Systematic review on the etiology and antibiotic treatment of pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. Objectives and Methods: A systematic review of studies that were published between January 1990 and February 2009 on the etiology and antimicrobial or adjunctive systemic management of CAP in HIV-infected children. Results: Pneumocystis jirovecii had the strongest association with HIV infection, with a summary odds ratio of 10.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.7–62.1) and 9.1 (95% CI, 2.5–33.1) in antemortem and postmortem studies, respectively. Cytomegalovirus was strongly associated with HIV positivity among fatal cases of pneumonia (summary odds ratio = 14.4 [95% CI, 6.7–30.8]). There was a trend toward a greater prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% CI, 0.95–6.4) in HIV-infected children. Major limitations identified included substantial methodological heterogeneity across studies, limited sensitivity of assays for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia, and studies primarily being undertaken in the absence of antiretroviral treatment or cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. No a priori-planned randomized controlled trials on antimicrobial management of CAP in HIV-infected children were identified. Conclusions: A World Health Organization panel used this review as well as analysis of risks and benefits to revise recommendations for antimicrobial treatment of CAP. Ampicillin plus gentamicin or ceftriaxone is now recommended as first-line empiric regimens for treating severe and very severe CAP in HIV-infected children. In addition, treatment with cloxacillin or vancomycin is recommended in settings with a high incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and particularly if clinical or microbiological evidence of S. aureus pneumonia exist. Further studies in HIV-infected children on CAP etiology and antibiotic treatment are required in the era of antiretroviral treatment.

Invasive salmonellosis in urban Thai children: a ten-year review.

Background: Invasive, extraintestinal salmonellosis carries a significant burden of childhood morbidity especially among infants and young children in developing countries. Objectives: To determine the clinical manifestations, outcomes, laboratory findings and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in patients with invasive salmonellosis. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted among children 0–18 years of age diagnosed with invasive salmonellosis receiving care at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, Thailand, from 2001 to 2010. Results: We analyzed the records of 229 patients with culture-proven invasive salmonellosis. Sixty-three percent of cases had no documented underlying disease. Fever, diarrhea and respiratory symptoms were reported in 92%, 40% and 29% of cases, respectively. The spectrum of disease included isolated bacteremia (90%), clinical pneumonia (24.8%), bacteremia with meningitis (7.8%), septic arthritis (1.3%) and empyema thoracis (0.4%). Forty-seven of 57 cases presenting with clinical pneumonia had abnormal infiltrations on chest radiograph (20.5% of all cases). Despite the invasive nature of the illness, 53.1% of patients had a normal white blood cell count. Antimicrobial resistance was found among ampicillin (68.3%), chloramphenical (15.2%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (33.9%), ceftriaxone (17.4%) and ciprofloxacin (3%). The case fatality rate was 4.8%, 91% of whom had an underlying disease. Multivariate analysis indicated that age, underlying liver disease and presence of pneumonia were significant predictors of fatality. Conclusions: Fever, diarrhea and respiratory symptoms were among the most common presenting symptoms of invasive nontyphoidal salmonellosis. Older age, hepatobiliary disease and presence of pneumonia were associated with increased risk of fatality. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins poses a major concern for its use as empiric antimicrobial therapy for this condition.

Immunogenicity and Safety of Two Doses of a Paediatric Hepatitis A Vaccine in Thai Children: Comparison of Three Vaccination Schedules

As fewer children in Thailand are exposed to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and so do not have seroprotective anti-HAV antibodies, they are becoming an important source of HAV transmission. A flexible HAV vaccination schedule would facilitate incorporation of the vaccine into existing immunization programmes, and we compared the immunogenicity and safety of three HAV immunization schedules. An open, randomized, clinical trial was carried out in which healthy children were given a primary dose of the inactivated hepatitis A vaccine, Avaxim 80 paediatric, with a booster dose 6, 12 or 18 months later. Anti-HAV geometric mean concentrations (GMC), seroconversion rates, and GMC ratios (GMCR) of the three schedules were compared and reactogenicity was evaluated. Seroconversion rates were above 98 per cent (per group) up to the booster. The three schedules were equivalent in terms of GMCRs, each eliciting a large booster effect. Local reactions were reported for fewer than 9 per cent of each group after dose one and less frequently after the booster dose. Injection site pain, gastrointestinal tract disorders and fever were the most commonly reported adverse events. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. It was concluded that the hepatitis A vaccine, Avaxim 80 paediatric, is safe and immunogenic when given as a two-dose schedule to healthy seronegative children aged 5-10 years, with the second dose given at either 6, 12 or 18 months after the first.

Outcomes of a Comprehensive Youth Program for HIV-infected Adolescents in Thailand.

&NA; We developed an intervention program for HIV‐infected Thai adolescents with two group sessions and two individual sessions, focusing on four strategies: health knowledge, coping skills, sexual risk reduction, and life goals. An audio computer‐assisted self‐interview (ACASI) was administered to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antiretroviral therapy management, reproductive health, and HIV‐associated risk behavior. The program was implemented in two HIV clinics; 165 (84%) adolescents (intervention group) participated in the program; 32 (16%) completed the ACASI without participating in the group or individual sessions (nonintervention group). The median age was 14 years, and 56% were female. Baseline KAP scores of the intervention and nonintervention groups were similar. Two months after the intervention, knowledge and attitude scores increased (p < .01) in the intervention group, and the increase was sustained at 6 months. KAP scores did not change from baseline in the nonintervention group at 6 or 12 months after enrollment.

Development of a culturally appropriate health-related quality of life measure for human immunodeficiency virus-infected children in Thailand

Aim:  Develop a reliable and valid self‐report health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected children in Thailand.

Risk factors for carbapenem non-susceptibility and mortality in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia in children

OBJECTIVE To examine the risk factors of carbapenem non-susceptibility and mortality among children with Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted of 180 cases with A. baumannii bacteremia. RESULTS The 30-day mortality risk of A. baumannii bacteremia was 26.1%. Carbapenem-non-susceptible A. baumannii was identified in 51.7% of cases. Logistic regression analysis indicated that prematurity, use of mechanical ventilation, and prior exposure to carbapenem antibiotics were independently associated with carbapenem-non-susceptible A. baumannii bacteremia, with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 3.36 (1.17-9.65), 5.59 (2.24-13.97), and 2.97 (1.01-8.77), respectively. Further, carbapenem non-susceptibility, cancer-related neutropenia, organ dysfunction, admission to the intensive care unit, catheter-related bacteremia, and treatment with sulbactam-containing regimens were associated with mortality with aORs and 95% CIs of 4.76 (1.58-14.32), 4.54 (1.09-18.79), 25.95 (5.13-131.33), 3.53 (1.29-9.71), 0.25 (0.084-0.72), and 0.14 (0.046-0.45), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The majority of A. baumannii bacteremia was caused by carbapenem-non-susceptible strains with a high mortality rate. Carbapenem non-susceptibility, cancer-related neutropenia, the presence of organ dysfunction, and admission to an intensive care unit were associated with an increased mortality risk, whereas catheter-related bacteremia and treatment with a sulbactam-containing regimen were associated with decreased mortality among children with A. baumannii bacteremia.

Hospital-based epidemiologic survey of malignancies in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Thailand.

To determine the incidence and spectrum of malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children, we surveyed 48 hospitals in Thailand between 1996 and 2000. There were 23 children (14 boys and 9 girls; average age at diagnosis of malignancy, 4.2 years), and the incidence rate was 0.6 per 1000 person-years. The most common malignancy was lymphoma (87.0%). The prognosis was poor.

Factors associated with caretaker’s readiness for disclosure of HIV diagnosis to HIV-infected children in Bangkok, Thailand

Summary To determine factors associated with caretaker’s readiness to disclose an HIV diagnosis to their child, a prospective study was conducted among caretakers of HIV-infected children aged seven to 16 years who were receiving care at two paediatric HIV treatment centres in Bangkok. Caretakers were offered readiness preparation counselling and their perceptions on disclosure were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Among caretakers who had participated in the readiness preparation process for at least one year, 71% (195/273) were ready for disclosure. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that child’s age of nine years or older, child’s severe immunosuppression, caretakers having prior discussion with their child about the illness, caretaker’s perception that their child had the ability to understand the HIV diagnosis and to keep it secret, and caretaker’s opinion that the proper age for disclosure is between seven and 12 years old were associated with caretaker’s readiness for disclosure. These determinants may be useful for guiding disclosure readiness preparation counselling.