Diagnostic Accuracy of a Real-Time Host-Protein Test for Infection.

Objective: Determining infection etiology can be difficult because viral and bacterial diseases often manifest similarly. A host protein test that computationally integrates the circulating levels of TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand, interferon γ-induced protein-10, and C-reactive protein to differentiate between bacterial and viral infection (called MMBV) demonstrated high performance in multiple prospective clinical validation studies. Here, MMBV's diagnostic accuracy is evaluated in febrile children for whom physicians were uncertain about etiology when applied at the physician's discretion.

[Primary hypophysitis: diagnosis and treatment multicenter study].

Introduction: Primary hypophysitis (PH) is a rare disease that represents a challenge among differential diagnosis and management. Our aim was to describe clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria and different treatment outcomes in patients with PH. Multicentric, retrospective study.

Paediatric hospital visit with laboratory-confirmed influenza improved family members' influenza vaccination.

Objectives: Vaccination is the primary intervention to prevent influenza infection, yet vaccine uptake remains low among children and other at-risk patients. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of a paediatric hospital visit with laboratory-confirmed influenza on the influenza vaccination behaviour of participants and their family members in the subsequent influenza season.

Methods: This study compared the influenza vaccination coverage for participants < 18 years of age with a clinical suspicion of influenza in 2017-2018 during a hospital visit, in two subsequent influenza seasons.

BV score differentiates viral from bacterial-viral co-infection in adenovirus PCR positive children.

Background And Objectives: Adenovirus causes acute respiratory illness that can mimic bacterial infection, making it challenging to differentiate adenoviral infection from adenoviral-bacterial co-infection. A host-protein score (BV score) for differentiating bacterial from viral infection that combines the expression levels of TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand, interferon gamma-induced protein-10, and C-reactive protein exhibited a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% in prior studies. Here we evaluate BV score's diagnostic accuracy in pediatrics with adenovirus PCR detection.

Association of viral load with TRAIL, IP-10, CRP biomarker signature and disease severity in children with respiratory tract infection or fever without source: A prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Background: To investigate the association of viral load (VL) with (i) tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma-induced protein-10, C-reactive protein, and a combinatorial score (BV score), and (ii) clinical severity.

Study Design: In this prospective, multicentre cohort substudy, children with respiratory tract infection or fever without source were enrolled. VL for influenza virus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus was measured from nasopharyngeal swabs.

The diagnostic value of nasal microbiota and clinical parameters in a multi-parametric prediction model to differentiate bacterial versus viral infections in lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: The ability to accurately distinguish bacterial from viral infection would help clinicians better target antimicrobial therapy during suspected lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Although technological developments make it feasible to rapidly generate patient-specific microbiota profiles, evidence is required to show the clinical value of using microbiota data for infection diagnosis. In this study, we investigated whether adding nasal cavity microbiota profiles to readily available clinical information could improve machine learning classifiers to distinguish bacterial from viral infection in patients with LRTI.

Impact of rotavirus vaccine implementation on Israeli children: a comparison between pre- and post-vaccination era.

Background: Worldwide rotavirus vaccination has resulted in a substantial decrease in rotavirus-induced severe gastroenteritis and related hospitalizations among children. Still, the characterization of patients warranting hospitalization needs to be further elucidated. The purpose of the study is to compare the clinical and laboratory features of children hospitalized with acute rotavirus infection before and after the introduction of routine vaccination.

A host signature based on TRAIL, IP-10, and CRP for reducing antibiotic overuse in children by differentiating bacterial from viral infections: a prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Objectives: Identifying infection aetiology is essential for appropriate antibiotic use. Previous studies have shown that a host-protein signature consisting of TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand (TRAIL), interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10), and C-reactive protein (CRP) can accurately differentiate bacterial from viral infections.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre cohort study, entitled AutoPilot-Dx, aimed to validate signature performance and to estimate its potential impact on antibiotic use across a broad paediatric population (>90 days to 18 years) with respiratory tract infections, or fever without source, at emergency departments and wards in Italy and Germany.

Evaluation of Israeli healthcare workers knowledge and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered an important target group for the COVID-19 vaccines. The current study assesses the knowledge and attitudes of Israeli HCWs regarding COVID-19 immunization, and how various occupational and demographic factors may underlie COVID-related knowledge and attitudes differences.

Methods: Following a pre-test to validate measures, a cross-sectional online anonymous survey was distributed to HCWs using a snowball sampling method.

Outcomes of Migraine and Tension-Type Headache in Children and Adolescents.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of pediatric migraine and TTH in a clinical setting. We conducted a cohort study. Pediatric patients who visited the pediatric neurology clinic due to diagnoses of migraine or TTH were contacted by phone 8-10 years after their initial diagnosis and interviewed about their outcomes.

COVID-19 in a Subset of Hospitalized Children in Israel.

Background: Most pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mild. We assessed nationally severe COVID-19, including pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS), in hospitalized children.

Methods: An ongoing, prospective, national surveillance was conducted from March 2020 through March 2021, at 20 hospitals treating children <18 years across Israel (~75% of Israeli hospitals).

Pooled saliva CMV DNA detection: A viable laboratory technique for universal CMV screening of healthy newborns.

Background: Most infants with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) have no overt manifestations at birth, yet may later develop CMV-related sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). With targeted screening, many asymptomatic neonates are missed and lose the opportunity for timely anti-viral treatment to ameliorate SNHL. Saliva is the preferred screening specimen given its ease of collection.

The yield of CSF molecular testing in febrile neonates.

We retrospectively examined the yield of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) multiplex real-time PCR assay of febrile young infants undergoing a full sepsis work-up. Eighty infants were included in the study: Forty-nine (61%) neonates and 31 (39%) 29-90 day-old patients were included in the study. A viral pathogen was detected in 59% (47/80) of the samples, human enterovirus in 53% (42/80) and Human parechovirus in 6% (5/80).

Acromegaly and thyroid cancer: analysis of evolution in a series of patients.

Background: Acromegaly is associated with higher morbidity and mortality mainly due to cardiovascular disease. Data on the incidence and evolution of thyroid cancer in acromegaly are controversial. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of a group of acromegalic patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and analyze their evolution.

The Sesame-Peanut Conundrum in Israel: Reevaluation of Food Allergy Prevalence in Young Children.

Background: Food allergies (FAs) are on the rise worldwide. A previous cross-sectional study from 2002 in Israel estimated the prevalence of IgE-mediated FA among young children at 0.85%.

A Retrospective Study of the Impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine-13 Immunization in a Northern Israel Hospital.

Background: The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-13 (PCV-13) has reduced the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease.

Objectives: To characterize true positive blood cultures of children who presented to our hospital following implementation of the PCV-13 vaccine.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on positive blood cultures of children presenting with fever from 2010-2017.