Pediatrics
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Blood culture contamination in the pediatric population remains a significant quality and safety issue because false-positive blood cultures lead to unnecessary use of resources and testing. In addition, few studies describe interventions to reduce peripheral blood culture contamination rates in this population. We hypothesized that the introduction of a standardized sterile collection process would reduce the pediatric emergency department's peripheral blood culture contamination rate and unnecessary use of resources. ⋯ Subsequent to our intervention, there was a significant reduction of the peripheral blood culture contamination rate as well as considerable cost savings to the institution. When performed in a standardized fashion by using sterile technique, blood culture collection with low contamination rates can be performed via the insertion of an intravenous catheter.
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Comparative Study
Theoretical breast cancer induction risk from thoracic spine CT in female pediatric trauma patients.
To quantify the radiation dose received during thoracic spine computed tomography (CT) versus plain radiographs as well as the theoretical risk of breast cancer induction in a pediatric trauma population. ⋯ CT clearance of the thoracic spine in the pediatric trauma patient results in a high dose of radiation and an age-dependent increase in theoretical breast cancer induction.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Parents smoking in their cars with children present.
To determine prevalence and factors associated with strictly enforced smoke-free car policies among smoking parents. ⋯ The majority of smoking parents exposed their children to tobacco smoke in cars. Coupled with the finding of low rates of pediatricians addressing smoking in cars, this study highlights the need for improved pediatric interventions, public health campaigns, and policies regarding smoke-free car laws to protect children from tobacco smoke.
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Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to pulmonary surfactant deficiency is heritable, but common variants do not fully explain disease heritability. ⋯ In contrast to lethal neonatal RDS resulting from homozygous or compound heterozygous ABCA3 mutations, single ABCA3 mutations are overrepresented among European-descent infants ≥34 weeks' gestation with RDS and account for ~10.9% of the attributable risk among term and late preterm infants. Although ABCA3 mutations are individually rare, they are collectively common among European- and African-descent individuals in the general population.
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This study aimed to identify the prevalence and characteristics of rib fractures in ex-preterm infants. ⋯ Evidence of rib fractures is present in ~2% of ex-preterm infants. The evaluation of these fractures in infancy requires a detailed neonatal history irrespective of the site of rib fracture.