The Pediatric infectious disease journal
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Feb 2009
Case ReportsPeripheral neuropathy in an adolescent treated with linezolid.
The increased incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus infections may increase linezolid use in children. Peripheral neuropathy is a rare adverse effect of linezolid therapy and is more frequent with prolonged courses. We present an adolescent with peripheral neuropathy after 4 months of linezolid therapy and review the literature related to linezolid-induced neuropathies. Children receiving long-term linezolid therapy should be monitored for neuropathy.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Feb 2009
Intravenous colistimethate (colistin) use in critically ill children without cystic fibrosis.
The increasing frequency of infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria has led to the reappraisal of colistimethate use. ⋯ Although the small number of included cases precludes any firm conclusions, our study suggests that colistimethate may have a role for the treatment of infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria in critically ill pediatric patients.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jan 2009
Responsiveness and construct validity of a symptom scale for acute otitis media.
Because resolution of symptoms is a primary goal of antimicrobial therapy in children with acute otitis media (AOM), measurement of symptoms in studies of antimicrobial effectiveness in such children is important. We have developed a scale for measuring symptoms of AOM in young children (AOM-SOS), and we present data on its construct validity and responsiveness. ⋯ These data support the validity and responsiveness of the AOM-SOS; the scale seems to measure effectively both pain and overall functional status in young children with AOM. Changes in score over the first few days of illness were substantial and generally matched the assessments both of parents and of clinicians. The AOM-SOS promises to be useful as an outcome measure in clinical studies of AOM.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jan 2009
ReviewManagement of newborn infections in primary care settings: a review of the evidence and implications for policy?
Long-term, sustainable programs to address high incidence and death rates from neonatal infections are required for improving child survival. There is an urgent need to define the role of community-based management for neonates with serious bacterial infections--both at home and at first-level facilities. ⋯ Although methodological limitations preclude estimating the precise contribution of antibiotics toward neonatal mortality reduction in community settings in low income countries, available data suggest substantial benefit of case management approaches using antibiotics for neonatal sepsis in such settings.