P0636 / #1818: IMPACT OF INFECTIONS: PERSPECTIVES FROM A NEW PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (PICU)

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: Aim: To characterize the clinical features and outcomes among children with infections admitted to PICU. Methods: Medical records of children admitted to the PICU of the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital from March to July 2019 were reviewed. Clinical features and outcome variables were compared between those with and without infection. Results: 51 children were included for analysis. The median (interquartile range) age was 5.1 (10.0) years and 66.7% were male. Oncology patients constituted 58.8% of admissions, followed by 27.5% of surgical patients and 13.7% of other specialties. Totally 31.4% of admissions were associated with a microbiologically proven infection. Concerning the distribution of type of infection, 31.3% were bacterial infection, 31.3% were viral infection and 37.5% were mixed infection. Table showed the comparison of clinical features and outcomes between children with and without infection. Those having infections were mostly oncological patients (81.2% vs 41.6%, p=0.035), and the median Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 (PIM3) score was significantly higher (1.7[4.5] vs1.0[4.3], p=0.01). Among children having infections, the length of PICU stay was significantly longer (5.5[10.0] vs 1.0[2.0], p<0.01) and a higher proportion required ventilatory support (37.5% vs 8.6%, p=0.02). The overall mortality in this cohort was low at 2.0% and there was no significant difference between children with and without infection Conclusions: Infections are common among children admitted to PICU, especially among those with oncological diagnoses. Mixed infections are as prevalent as pure bacterial and viral infections. Children with infections are associated with higher requirement of ventilatory support and a longer length of PICU stay.