Evaluation of Five Host Inflammatory Biomarkers in Early Diagnosis of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Critically Ill Children: A Prospective Single Center Cohort Study.

Early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a challenge due to subjective clinical criteria and the low discriminative power of diagnostic tests. We assessed whether rapid molecular diagnostics in combination with Clinically Pulmonary Index Score (CPIS) scoring, microbiological surveillance and biomarker measurements of PTX-3, SP-D, s-TREM, PTX-3, IL-1β and IL-8 in the blood or lung could improve the accuracy of VAP diagnosis and follow-up in critically ill children. : A prospective pragmatic study in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) was conducted on ventilated critically ill children divided into two groups: high and low suspicion of VAP according to modified Clinically Pulmonary Index Score (mCPIS).

The Effect of Various, Everyday Practices on Glucose Levels in Critically Ill Children.

Background: To evaluate the effect of various, everyday intensive care unit (ICU) practices on glucose levels in critically ill pediatric patients with the use of a continuous glucose monitoring system.

Methods: Seventeen sensors were placed in 16 pediatric patients (8 male). All therapeutic and diagnostic interventions were recorded and 15 minutes later, a flash glucose measurement was obtained by swiping the sensor with a reader.

Use of Ceftazidime-avibactam for the Treatment of Extensively drug-resistant or Pan drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Neonates and Children <5 Years of Age.

Background: Emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) or pan drug-resistant (PDR) Enterobacteriaceae is a major public threat especially for young patients. Treatment options for these bacteria are extremely limited with no safety data existing for neonates and children. Ceftazidime-avibactam has activity against Gram-negative bacteria producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, but virtually no data exist on its use in neonatal and pediatric patients.