The Pediatric infectious disease journal
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jun 2003
Comparative StudyProspective incidence study of nosocomial infections in a pediatric intensive care unit.
Nosocomial infections are important causes of substantial morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospital stay in pediatric intensive care units (PICU). ⋯ Performance of surveillance highlights the importance of nosocomial infections and their influence in the hospital stay and can guide selection of prevention and control measures to reduce morbidity and mortality in a PICU.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jun 2003
Comparative StudyFactors associated with hand hygiene practices in two neonatal intensive care units.
To determine whether hand hygiene practices differ between levels of contact with neonates; to characterize the hand hygiene practices of different types of personnel; and to compare hand hygiene practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) using different products. ⋯ Hand hygiene was suboptimal in this high risk setting; administrative action and improved products may be needed to assure acceptable practice. In this study use of an alcohol-based product was associated with significantly improved hand hygiene and should be encouraged, as recommended in the new CDC hand hygiene guideline.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Jun 2003
Comparative StudyTreatment of children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection with ganciclovir.
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection affects approximately 1% of live births in the US. Ten percent of these infants have symptoms at birth and another 10 to 15% acquire hearing loss or developmental problems. Congenital CMV is the most common cause of nonhereditary sensorineural hearing loss in children, and progressive hearing loss is common. To arrest the natural progression of congenital CMV, children referred to our center were treated with a prolonged course of ganciclovir. ⋯ Of nine children none treated with ganciclovir for congenital CMV had detectable progressive hearing loss. Complications associated with iv therapy occurred frequently. Currently available oral analogues of ganciclovir may facilitate earlier and more prolonged therapy for children with symptomatic congenital CMV and should be subjected to randomized controlled trials.
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · May 2003
Comparative StudyElevated serum procalcitonin values correlate with renal scarring in children with urinary tract infection.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) in young children carries the risk of parenchymal damage and sequelae. The location of the infection within the urinary tract influences decisions regarding both therapeutics and follow-up. Because clinical features and laboratory markers of infection at an early age are not specific, it is difficult to make a distinction between lower UTI and acute pyelonephritis. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been studied as a marker of severe bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to test the usefulness of PCT concentration in serum to distinguish between uncomplicated UTI and severe acute pyelonephritis with renal scars. ⋯ A low PCT value at admission indicates a low risk of long term renal scarring. Increased PCT values at admission correlate with the presence of scars. PCT values have proved to be more specific than CRP and leukocyte count for identifying patients who might develop renal damage.