Petting Zoos as an Unsuspected Source of Pediatric Infections.

Children are at risk for infection following animal exposure at petting zoos owing to suboptimal hand hygiene and frequent hand-to-mucosal surface contact. Public health surveillance is limited, and infectious risk is likely underrecognized. Most reported infections are enteric.

Delayed Development of Coronary Artery Dilitation in Suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome: More Research Needed.

Unlabelled: Although significant disease burden in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has been relatively uncommon in children, worldwide cases of a postinfectious multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and possible atypical Kawasaki-like disease attributing to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection have arisen. Original thinking for coronavirus disease-19 disease was that an overwhelming proinflammatory response drove disease pathogenesis. Emerging reports suggest that a robust immune suppression may be more relevant and predominant.

Clostridioides difficile Infections in Inpatient Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Cohort Study Evaluating Risk Factors and Associated Outcomes.

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant source of morbidity in pediatric cancer patients. Few reports to date have evaluated risk factors and short-term outcomes for this population.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated pediatric oncology admissions at St Louis Children's Hospital from 2009 to 2018.

Vancomycin Concentrations in Paraspinal Muscles During Posterior Spinal Fusions for Neuromuscular Scoliosis.

Study Design: Prospective consecutively enrolled cohort.

Objectives: To evaluate paraspinal muscle concentration of intravenously administered vancomycin, at predetermined time points, during posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with instrumentation in neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS).

Summary: Surgical site infection (SSI) after PSF for NMS can be a devastating complication, which may lead to prolonged antibiotic use, multiple additional surgical procedures, pseudarthroses, and sepsis.

Use of Administrative Data for the Identificationof Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Infection: The Validity ofInfluenza-Specific ICD-9 Codes.

We used Pediatric Health Information System data and laboratory records from 3 children's hospitals to determine whether administrative data accurately identify children with laboratory-confirmed influenza. Among 23 282 inpatients, diagnosis codes for influenza detected 73% of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, whereas <1% of patients without a diagnosis code had laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Risk factors and outcomes of surgical site infection in children.

Background: Indices for prediction of surgical site infection (SSI) are well documented in the adult population; however, these factors have not been validated in children.

Study Design: A retrospective case-control study was performed by examining the medical records of children (0 to 18 years) who developed an SSI within 30 days of selected class I and class II procedures at our institution from 1996 to 2008. Two controls were selected from among patients undergoing identical procedures within 12 months of each case.

Methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: preventing surgical site infections following plastic surgery.

The reader is presumed to have a broad understanding of aesthetic surgical procedures. After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Explain the microbiology of Staphylococcus species and discuss antibiotic resistance development in Staphylococcus species and assess how clinical outcomes are affected.

Effect of nosocomial infections due to antibiotic-resistant organisms on length of stay and mortality in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of nosocomial infection due to antimicrobial resistant bacteria in patients treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Design: Nested case-cohort study. Patient data were collected prospectively, and antimicrobial susceptibility data were abstracted retrospectively.

Attributable cost of catheter-associated bloodstream infections among intensive care patients in a nonteaching hospital.

Objective: To determine the attributable cost and length of stay of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired, catheter-associated bloodstream infections from a hospital-based cost perspective, after adjusting for potential confounders.

Design: Patients admitted to the ICU between January 19, 1998, and July 31, 2000, were observed prospectively for the occurrence of catheter-associated bloodstream infections. Hospital costs were obtained from the hospital cost accounting database.

Risk factors for nosocomial primary bloodstream infection in pediatric intensive care unit patients: a 2-year prospective cohort study.

Objective: The primary objective was to determine the rate of and risk factors for nosocomial primary bloodstream infection (BSI) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients in order to determine the validity of our previously published findings. The secondary objective was to analyze whether risk factors for primary BSI differed by organism type, particularly whether device use was more strongly associated with BSI due to gram-positive organisms.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Attributable cost of nosocomial primary bloodstream infection in pediatric intensive care unit patients.

Objective: To determine the attributable cost of nosocomial primary bloodstream infections (BSIs) in PICU patients.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted of the PICU of the St Louis Children's Hospital, a 235-bed academic tertiary care center. All patients who were admitted to the PICU were included unless they met the following exclusion criteria: age >18 years, death within 24 hours of PICU admission, admission to the NICU service.

Survey of knowledge, beliefs, and practices of neonatal intensive care unit healthcare workers regarding nosocomial infections, central venous catheter care, and hand hygiene.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design: Self-administered survey.

Setting: A 55-bed NICU.

Rate, risk factors, and outcomes of nosocomial primary bloodstream infection in pediatric intensive care unit patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the rate, risk factors, and outcomes of nosocomial primary bloodstream infection in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Settings: This study was performed at St Louis Children's Hospital, a 235-bed academic tertiary care center with a combined 22-bed medical and surgical PICU.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit patients: risk factors and outcomes.

Objectives: To determine the rates, risk factors, and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the St Louis Children's Hospital PICU on all patients who were admitted to the PICU from September 1, 1999, to May 31, 2000, except those who died within 24 hours, were > or =18 years of age, or were neonatal intensive care unit patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The primary outcome measured was the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia.