Infections In Pediatric Oncology Patients Research Articles

Varicella zoster infection in Pediatric oncology patients in Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam

Abstract Background Varicella zoster infection in pediatric oncology patients presents a big challenge. It could lead to a severe, prolonged and disseminated infection with complications in multiple organs. This study aimed to investigate varicella zoster infection in pediatric oncology patients at Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam in order to describe demographic, epidemiological, clinical features and complications. Methods Varicella zoster infections among children with cancer were identified between January 8 to November 4, 2023, at Hue Central Hospital. Varicella zoster infection was diagnosed clinically based on the presence of typical skin manifestations. Data were abstracted from patient medical records and analyzed in SPSS v.18.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results From January 8 to November 4, 2023, a total of 20 patients with malignancies were identified as having varicella zoster, with a median age of 3.5 years (range: 1 years to 16 years). All these patients did not received varicella zoster vaccine. Almost half of the patients had solid tumor (n=11, 55.0%), and other half had leukemia (n=9, 45.0%). Some of them (n=7, 35.0%) were receiving chemotherapy, and other (n=13, 65%) just finished chemotherapy. Most children were hospitalized (n=16, 80.0%) and they were given oral acyclovir (n=18, 90.0%). Three children (15.0%) required critical care (severe infection, acute pancreatitis, and multiorgan failure (MOF)), and one (5.0%) died from disseminated and progressive varicella with MOF and suspected varicella zoster meningitis. Chemotherapy was delayed or omitted due to varicella in 70.0%. Some of the children with varicella acquired from their parents. There were 5 parents who got varicella zoster when taking care patients at the hospital. All patients were likely to expose other patients in the wards. Conclusion Children with cancer are at extra risk of varicella zoster infection and progression to severe disease due to their immunocompromised status. Optimizing vaccination of care providers, such as their relatives, will prevent transmitting virus to the patients.

Development and evaluation of high-resolution melting assays for direct and simultaneous pathogen identification in bloodstream infections in pediatric oncology patients

Blood culture, the gold-standard method for identifying pathogens in bloodstream infections, is time-consuming and demonstrates low sensitivity. These drawbacks are related to high mortality, especially among pediatric oncology patients presenting febrile neutropenia episodes. Here we describe two novel High-Resolution Melting assays designed for pathogen detection in bloodstream infections. The assays were initially evaluated using five sepsis-associated pathogens. Both assays demonstrated 100 % specificity, detected as low as 100 fg of bacterial DNA, and exhibited reproducibility. Clinical isolates from blood cultures were 100 % identified by both assays. Moreover, blind and direct identification of blood samples from pediatric cancer patients demonstrated sensitivities of 61.5 % and 69.2 % for “Primer Set 1” and “Primer Set 2”, respectively. Our study highlights the potential of HRM-based assays as a rapid and efficient diagnostic approach for sepsis-related microorganisms. Further advancements could enhance their clinical utility for better management of febrile neutropenia episodes, especially in pediatric oncology patients.

Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients: Bacterial Pathogen Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia-A 5-Year Analysis.

The epidemiology of bacterial pathogens causing bloodstream infections (BSIs) in pediatric hematology/oncology patients is changing and resistance to antimicrobial agents is globally spread. We retrospectively assessed demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data of BSIs during a 5-year period at a pediatric hematology/oncology unit from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021, at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. In 66 pediatric patients with malignancies, 93 BSI episodes were registered and 97 bacterial isolates were cultured. The Gram-positive versus Gram-negative ratio was 67 (69.1%) versus 30 (30.9%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (48; 49.6%) were the most frequent isolates, followed by Enterobacterales (17; 17.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6; 6.2%). Multidrug resistance isolates included extended spectrum β-lactamase producers (n=3). Resistance rates to piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, and meropenem in Gram-negative isolates were 15.4%, 14.3%, and 0.0%, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria are the most common cause of BSI in our patients. Resistance rates to piperacillin/tazobactam and cefepime in Gram-negative isolates make meropenem a better choice for empirical antimicrobial treatment. As national and hospital data may differ, the surveillance of pathogen distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility in pediatric hematology/oncology wards is necessary to adjust empirical treatment accordingly.

The Characteristics and Follow-Up of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pediatric Oncology Patients.

Introduction Clinical data about the first and second most prominent waves of SARS-CoV-2 among pediatric cancer patients were inconsistent. This study aims to retrospectively report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric oncology patients. Methods This is an observational, retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care oncology center from March 2020 to May 2022. We reviewed the prevalence, severity of symptoms, and duration of positivity in relation to blood count laboratory data and mortality with a follow-up of 30 days post-infection for SARS-CoV-2. Results A total of 396 PCR tests were performed on 342 pediatric cancer patients. The overall rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 43.1% (2.7% in the first wave and 95.4% in the second wave). Among 342 screened pediatric cancer patients, 72 patients had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positivity in 92 different episodes. Nearly 59% had a mild or moderate infection, with fever and cough as the predominant presentations. The mean duration of positivity was 18.4±7.76 days. Comparing the laboratory values before and after acquiring the COVID-19 infection, only monocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets were statistically significantly affected, with P-values of 0.002, 0.03, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively. More than 18% of patients had grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count=0.39±0.35) before COVID-19 infection and remained neutropenic throughout the disease, regardless of symptom severity. The mean recovery time was 13.67±8 days, which resulted in a delay in cancer treatment delivery of up to four weeks in 42.2% of patients. Conclusion Our data demonstrated that pediatric cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection have a mild to moderate course of COVID-19 disease, with the majority being symptomatic, yet a great portion of our study population experienced treatment interruptions reaching up to four weeks caused by COVID-19.

Predictors and Outcomes of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients

Background Pediatric patients with cancer are at great risk of infection either from disease process or after being immuno-suppressed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, this is especially with gram negative and multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. The primary aim of our study is to detect the frequency of multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) infections at the Pediatric Oncology Department. The secondary aim is to identify the patterns of resistance of different pathogens to commonly used antimicrobials and detect the risk factors and outcomes of MDR-GNB infections in pediatric oncology patients. Patients and Methods We studied episodes of fever and /or bacteremia in children (aged 1 m to 18 y) with hematologic and solid malignancies in the pediatric oncology department in Ain Shams University Hospital between January 2020 and March 2021. We studied different risks for MDR-GNB including sex, age, underlying malignancy, the presence of indwelling catheter, absolute neutrophil count and other laboratory investigations. Results MDR bacteria were isolated in about 15% samples. The most commonly detected MDR-GNB pathogens were Klebsiella (61.1%) and Acintobacter (22.2%). Among studied patients, MDR-GNB were significantly reported among patients with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (p = 0.006). Although most patients were neutropenic, neutrophil count was not significantly correlated (p = 0.981). Low serum albumin on the other hand was significantly correlated with MDR-GNB (p = 0.009). Conclusion MDR-GNB is a significant threat to pediatric oncology patients. Contact precautions for all patients with colonization or infection with MDR pathogens and an antimicrobial stewardship based on local epidemiology should be implemented to prevent MDR infections.

Eliminating Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Quality Improvement Effort.

Our SMART aim was to reduce the CLABSI rate by 50% from a baseline of 1.89/1000 central line days to less than 0.9/1000 central line days by December 31, 2021. We created a multidisciplinary team being mindful to identify roles and responsibilities upfront. We developed a key driver diagram and designed and implemented interventions to influence our primary outcome. We implemented interventions and conducted Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles concurrently. We found that performing audits by directly observing tasks rather than auditing documentation resulted in more accurate compliance assessments. As a result, our CLABSI rate improved from 1.89/1000 central line days in 2020 with 11 primary CLABSI to 0.73/1000 central line days in 2021 with four primary CLABSI. Average days between events improved from 30 days in 2020 to 73 days in 2021, and we achieved an unprecedented 542 days CLABSI-free, extending into 2022. Through a multimodal approach and utilizing characteristics of high-reliability organizations, we significantly reduced primary CLABSI, approaching zero in our PHO population and doubling the average days between events. Future efforts will focus on the sustained engagement of all stakeholders and improving our safety culture.

Blood stream infections in pediatric oncology patients in a tertiary care setup

Blood stream infections in pediatric oncology patients in a tertiary care setup

Dexamethasnoe mobilised granulocyte transfusions for severe infection in pediatric oncology patients with neutropenia

Dexamethasnoe mobilised granulocyte transfusions for severe infection in pediatric oncology patients with neutropenia

Sampling Multiple Catheter Lumens to Improve Detection of Bloodstream Infection in Pediatric Oncology Patients.

Current guidelines recommend sampling each central-access lumen during the initial evaluation of febrile pediatric oncology patients. We investigated this recommendation's validity at centers implementing a diagnostic stewardship program to reduce blood cultures in critically ill children. Among 146 oncology patients admitted to the intensive care unit, there were 34 eligible blood culture-sets. Eleven (34%) sets yielded discordant results, most commonly cultivating a likely pathogen from one lumen and no growth from another. As hospitals move toward reducing testing overuse, these results emphasize the continued importance of culturing each central-access lumen to optimize the detection of bacteremia in the initial evaluation of critically ill pediatric oncology patients.

Prognostic impact of CT severity score in childhood cancer with SARS-CoV-2

BackgroundCT chest severity score (CTSS) is a semi-quantitative measure done to correlate the severity of the pulmonary involvement on the CT with the severity of the disease.The objectives of this study are to describe chest CT criteria and CTSS of the COVID-19 infection in pediatric oncology patients, to find a cut-off value of CTSS that can differentiate mild COVID-19 cases that can be managed at home and moderate to severe cases that need hospital care.A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 64 pediatric oncology patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection between 1 April and 30 November 2020. They were classified clinically into mild, moderate, and severe groups. CT findings were evaluated for lung involvement and CTSS was calculated and range from 0 (clear lung) to 20 (all lung lobes were affected).ResultsOverall, 89% of patients had hematological malignancies and 92% were under active oncology treatment. The main CT findings were ground-glass opacity (70%) and consolidation patches (62.5%). In total, 85% of patients had bilateral lung involvement, ROC curve showed that the area under the curve of CTSS for diagnosing severe type was 0.842 (95% CI 0.737–0.948). The CTSS cut-off of 6.5 had 90.9% sensitivity and 69% specificity, with 41.7% positive predictive value (PPV) and 96.9% negative predictive value (NPV). According to the Kaplan–Meier analysis, mortality risk was higher in patients with CT score > 7 than in those with CTSS < 7.ConclusionPediatric oncology patients, especially those with hematological malignancies, are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Chest CT severity score > 6.5 (about 35% lung involvement) can be used as a predictor of the need for hospitalization.

The Pattern of Microorganisms and Drug Susceptibility in Pediatric Oncologic Patients with Febrile Neutropenia

Objective The study aimed to describe the pattern of causative microorganisms, drug susceptibility, risk factors of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, and clinical impact of these organisms on pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia. Methods A retrospective descriptive study of oncologic patients aged less than 15 years who were diagnosed with febrile neutropenia in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital was conducted between January 2013 to December 2017. Characteristics and clinical outcomes of febrile neutropenia episodes, causative pathogens, and their antibiotic susceptibilities were recorded. Result This study included 267 patients with 563 febrile neutropenia episodes. The median (range) age was 5.1 years (1 month–15 years). The most common underlying disease was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (42.7%). Of 563 febrile episodes, there were 192 (34.1%) with microbiologically documented infection. Among these 192 episodes of microbiologically documented infection, there were 214 causative pathogens: 154 bacteria (72%), 32 viruses (15%), 27 fungus (12.6%), and 1 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (0.4%). Gram-negative bacteria (48.6%) accounted for most of the causative pathogens. Twenty-three percent of them were multidrug resistant, and 18% were carbapenem resistant. Among Gram-positive bacterial infection which accounted for 23.4% of all specimens, the proportion of MRSA was 20%. The 2-week mortality rate was 3.7%. Drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infection caused significant adverse events and mortality compared to nonresistant bacterial infection (p < 0.05). Conclusion There is high rate of drug-resistant organism infection in pediatric oncology patients in a tertiary-care center in Thailand. Infection with drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infection was associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Continuous surveillance for the pattern of drug-resistant infections is crucial.

Screening for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in pediatric oncology patients during the epidemic peak in Italy

Screening for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in pediatric oncology patients during the epidemic peak in Italy

2400. Are Multiple Clostridioides difficile Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients Related to Recurrence of the Same Isolate or Re-infections with Different isolates?

BackgroundPediatric oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients (POTP) are at increased risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and recurrence. It is unknown whether recurrent CDI is related to the same C. difficile strain as the initial CDI. We describe genomic relatedness of C. difficile strains in patients with multiple CDI using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of CDI in POTP in 2016. CDI cases were identified by electronic medical record search for positive C. difficile toxin PCR tests. Patients with multiple CDI episodes were identified. CDI episodes were classified as incident, duplicate or recurrent using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions. Retrieved residual stool specimens were cultured anaerobically, toxin-producing C. difficile isolates were determined using a cell culture cytotoxicity assay with neutralization and WGS was performed followed by core genome MLST (cgMLST). Variability of the isolates was summarized by strain type (ST), and a minimum spanning tree was constructed, defining genomically related isolates as those with <7 allele difference.ResultsEighteen patients had 51 positive C. difficile samples. CDI were classified as incident in 31 (61%) episodes, recurrent in 18 (36%), and duplicate in 2 (3%). Isolates from 47 (92%) samples were sequenced, identifying 14 different strain types (ST) in 41 (87%) isolates. Of the 31 incident CDI, 13 (42%) episodes occurred 8 weeks or more after the initial incident CDI. Among those 13 incident CDI, 7 (54%) had prior CDI due to a related isolate. Of the 18 recurrent CDIs, 10 (55%) were due to an isolate related to the previous incident CDI and 5 (28%) were due to an isolate unrelated to the incident CDI. The relatedness of the remaining 3 recurrent episodes could not be evaluated because no isolate was available for sequence analysis.ConclusionCDI classification of incident vs. recurrent infection using NHSN definition might be not applicable in POTP. WGS showed that more than half of CDI episodes classified as incident were actually a recurrence of a previous C. difficile strain. Similarly, some CDI episodes classified as recurrent were actually re-infection with a different stain.DisclosuresRandall Hayden, MD, Abbott Molecular: Advisory Board; Quidel: Advisory Board; Roche Diagnostics: Advisory Board

The Diagnostic Value of IL8 Compared with CRP , ESR in the Detection of Bacterial Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients with Febrile Neutropenia

The Diagnostic Value of IL8 Compared with CRP , ESR in the Detection of Bacterial Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients with Febrile Neutropenia

A randomized trial of the effectiveness of the neutropenic diet versus food safety guidelines on infection rate in pediatric oncology patients

The neutropenic diet (ND) is prescribed to avoid introduction of bacteria into a host's gastrointestinal tract and reduce infection. Due to a lack of evidence to support the ND, there continues to be debate among pediatric oncologists regarding its usefulness. This prospective randomized controlled trial evaluated the difference in neutropenic infection rates in pediatric oncology patients randomized to Food and Drug Administration approved food safety guidelines (FSGs) versus the ND plus FSGs during one cycle of chemotherapy. Pediatric patients receiving cancer treatment with myelosuppressive chemotherapy were eligible. Neutropenic infection was the primary outcome and defined as (i) fever with neutropenia or (ii) hospital admission and treatment for clinical infection and neutropenia. The rate of neutropenic infection was compared with Student's t-test for independent samples. Documented infections were identified by comprehensive chart review and compared between groups using a χ2 test. One hundred fifty patients were randomly assigned to FSGs (n = 73) or ND+FSGs (n = 77). The most common diagnoses were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (32%) and sarcoma (32%). There was no significant difference between the groups in the percentage of patients who developed neutropenic infection: FSGs 33% versus ND+FSGs 35% (P = 0.78). Patients randomized to ND+FSGs reported that following the diet required more effort than those on FSGs alone. The ND offers no benefit over FSGs in the prevention of infection in pediatric oncology patients undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy and adherence requires more effort for patients and families. Institutions caring for children with cancer should consider replacing ND guidelines with FSGs.

Patterns of microbial growth in urine cultures in a pediatric hematology/oncology unit over a one-year period: a single institution study.

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) may present with nonspecific symptoms and without any definitive clinical signs other than fever, hence may be missed without a routine urine analysis. We retrospectively evaluated all cases of culture-positive urine infections in pediatric oncology patients in our center during the year 2015.MethodsWe assessed all positive urine culture incidents for pediatric patients receiving treatment and/or follow-up at our center during 2015. Analysis was performed on patients with regards to clinical, microbiology and pertinent lab findings as well as associated risk factors.ResultsThere were 151 episodes of documented positive urine cultures among 73 patients. Majority of positive urine cultures were found in solid tumor patients (41%), followed by hematological malignancies (26%). Most organisms detected were gram-negative organisms (84%), with E.coli being the most frequent (51%). Forty percent of bacteria were resistant to standard broad-spectrum antibiotics, with the majority being extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing. Most of these infections occurred in patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (46 out of 50). Approximately two thirds of patients were not febrile on the day of culture (64%) and almost half of the reported episodes were associated with urinary symptoms. Pyuria, leukocyte esterase and nitrites were positive in 39%, 51% and 19% of samples, respectively.ConclusionsPositive urine culture in children with cancer may not be associated with urinalysis abnormalities, particularly in patients with neutropenia. When selecting empiric treatment for cancer patients with UTIs, one should take into consideration the institutional patterns for resistance and use of prophylactic antibiotics.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Pharmacotherapy Primer

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Pharmacotherapy Primer

Central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric oncology patients in Qatar: A prospective study

Objective: To assess the central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate and risk factors in hospitalized pediatric oncology patients in Qatar. Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in pediatric oncology department at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. All children Results: Thirty-seven subcutaneous tunneled catheters were inserted. Majority of the patients were younger than 10 years of age (88%), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. Leukemia was the most frequently encountered diagnosis. The overall mean central venous catheter (CVC) infection rate was 4.12 CLABSI per 1000 CVC days (95% confidence interval 2.41, 7.05). Thirteen catheters were infected (35.1%), of which 11 catheters were Porta-a-Cath, and two catheters were Hickman double lumen line. Gram-negative bacteria were found in 69.2% of the CLABSI cases, and no fungal infection was detected. Gender, age, type of disease, and type of catheter were not associated with increased risk for CLABSI (P > 0.05). The mean number of days with neutropenia was more in the patients who had CLABSI 73.5 ± 44.5 compared to the patients who did not have CLABSI 48.9 ± 52.1, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.140). Conclusion: The incidence rate of CLABSI continues to be a concern in hospitalized pediatric oncology patients in Qatar. This study showed that mean CVC infection rate was 4.12 CLABSI per 1000 CVC days. Gram-negative bacteria CLABSI were the dominant organism in this group of patients and catheters.

Risk for Health Care-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Oncology Patients With Various Malignancies.

This was a retrospective cohort study to identify the rates, predictors, and outcomes of health care-associated bloodstream infections (HA-BSI) among children with solid tumors, lymphoma, lymphoid leukemia, and myeloid leukemia. The study population included 4500 children ≤18 years old at a pediatric hospital in New York City from 2006 to 2014. A total of 147 HA-BSI cases were identified; using multivariable logistic regression modeling, children with a hematologic diagnosis (lymphoma, lymphoid leukemia, myeloid leukemia) were at greater risk for HA-BSI than those with a solid tumor diagnosis (all P values <.0001). The odds of mortality for patients with HA-BSI were 6.98 (95% confidence interval 3.02-16.10) times that of those without HA-BSI. Although malignancy type was identified as risk factor for HA-BSI, there was no significant difference in overall mortality from HA-BSI by tumor type ( P = .51).

Effectiveness of prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulins in preventing infection in pediatric oncology patients: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) for the prevention of infection in pediatric oncology patients, and to identify which types of patients would benefit from the intervention, such as patients with specific diagnoses or those with previous infections. A further objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of prophylactic IVIGs on the prevention of diffuse interstitial pneumonitis and mortality in pediatric oncology patients.The review questions are.