The Pediatric infectious disease journal
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Sep 2013
Ensuring quality in AFRINEST and SATT: clinical standardization and monitoring.
Three randomized open-label clinical trials [Simplified Antibiotic Therapy Trial (SATT) Bangladesh, SATT Pakistan and African Neonatal Sepsis Trial (AFRINEST)] were developed to test the equivalence of simplified antibiotic regimens compared with the standard regimen of 7 days of parenteral antibiotics. These trials were originally conceived and designed separately; subsequently, significant efforts were made to develop and implement a common protocol and approach. Previous articles in this supplement briefly describe the specific quality control methods used in the individual trials; this article presents additional information about the systematic approaches used to minimize threats to validity and ensure quality across the trials. ⋯ Harmonization of AFRINEST and SATT have helped to ensure consistency and quality of implementation, both internally and across the trials as a whole, thereby minimizing potential threats to the validity of the trials' results.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Sep 2013
Role of procalcitonin in predicting dilating vesicoureteral reflux in young children hospitalized with a first febrile urinary tract infection.
The aim of this article was to assess the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker for predicting dilating (grades III-V) vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in young children with a first febrile urinary tract infection. ⋯ PCT is useful for diagnosing acute pyelonephritis and predicting dilating VUR in young children with a first febrile urinary tract infection. A voiding cystourethrography is indicated only in children with high PCT values (≥1.0 ng/mL) and/or abnormalities found on a US.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Aug 2013
Novel predictors of intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in Chinese children with Kawasaki disease.
The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive scoring system to identify intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in children with Kawasaki disease, to implement additional therapies early in the course of their illness and prevent coronary artery lesions. ⋯ The new scoring system had a higher specificity and sensitivity for Chinese children, compared with the Kobayashi scoring system and the Egami scoring system, but, unfortunately, the new scoring system was not good enough to be widely used because of its low sensitivity.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jul 2013
Infectious complications of intrathecal baclofen pump devices in a pediatric population.
Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is an effective therapy for spasticity and dystonia in pediatric populations; however, there are associated infectious complications. ⋯ Infectious complications were relatively uncommon; however, when present, frequently led to the explantation of the ITB pump device.