Plasma Microbial Cell-free DNA Sequencing for the Detection of Kingella kingae Pediatric Spinal Infections.

Background: Diagnosis of Kingella kingae skeletal system infections is made challenging by the microbe's fastidious nature. Detection and quantification of circulating microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) in plasma by the Karius Test, a commercial metagenomic sequencing test, may offer promise in diagnosing pediatric spinal infections caused by difficult-to-culture organisms such as K. kingae.

Perimyocarditis in Adolescents After Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

On May 10, 2021, the Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2) was expanded to include adolescents (May 10, 2021. https://www.fda.

septic arthritis in an immunocompetent child: A case report.

A 2-year-old, previously healthy, male presented with an insidious history of intermittent left knee pain and edema who had been evaluated in the emergency department on multiple occasions with unremarkable imaging and normal laboratory results. On the day of presentation, he had mild edema of the left knee and inability to bear weight. Synovial fluid analysis showed an elevated white cell count with neutrophil predominance and mildly elevated inflammatory markers, consistent with septic arthritis.

Pediatric COVID-19 presenting as supraglottitis with vocal cord hypomobility.

In the United States, an estimated 7.3% of confirmed cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19) are among persons aged less than 18 years. Data regarding clinical manifestations in this age group are still evolving.

Dengue Virus Seroconversion in Travelers to Dengue-Endemic Areas.

We conducted a prospective study to measure dengue virus (DENV) antibody seroconversion in travelers to dengue-endemic areas. Travelers seen in the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network planning to visit dengue-endemic countries for ≥ 2 weeks were enrolled from 2009 to 2010. Pre- and post-travel blood samples and questionnaires were collected.

Prevalence of dengue virus infection in US travelers who have lived in or traveled to dengue-endemic countries.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) infections may occur in travelers.

Objectives: To determine prevalence of anti-DENV IgG antibody in travelers who lived in or visited dengue-endemic countries and to describe risk factors and characteristics associated with infection and subsequent anti-DENV IgG antibody presence.

Methods: Participants were enrolled from travel clinics of the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network from August 2008 through June 2009.

Acceptability of hypothetical dengue vaccines among travelers.

Background: Dengue viruses have spread widely in recent decades and cause tens of millions of infections mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. Vaccine candidates are being studied aggressively and may be ready for licensure soon.

Methods: We surveyed patients with past or upcoming travel to dengue-endemic countries to assess rates and determinants of acceptance for four hypothetical dengue vaccines with variable efficacy and adverse event (AE) profiles.

Optimization of the cutoff value for a commercial anti-dengue virus IgG immunoassay.

A commercial anti-dengue virus (anti-DENV) indirect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis was evaluated for its utility in determining previous DENV exposure in U.S. travelers.