Clinical Impact of Pleural Fluid Streptococcus pneumoniae Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing in Children With Complicated Pneumonia.

Background: While Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is the leading cause of pediatric complicated community-acquired pneumonia (cCAP), it is infrequently recovered by culture-based methods. We studied the real-world clinical impact of an Spn polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for pleural fluid.

Methods: This pre-post quasi-experimental cohort study compared pathogen detection, antibiotic usage, and outcomes in children hospitalized with cCAP requiring pleural effusion or empyema drainage at Children's Hospital Colorado between 2016 and 2023.

Evaluation of Empiric Voriconazole Dosing and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

Invasive fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children with immunodeficiencies. Current dosing recommendations for voriconazole often result in subtherapeutic exposure in pediatric patients. In this single-center retrospective study, we reviewed hospitalized pediatric patients receiving voriconazole with at least one inpatient serum trough concentration measured.

Time to positivity of blood cultures in a level IV NICU varies based on organism category and population subgroups: is a 36-hour rule out safe?

Background: Time to positivity (TTP) of blood cultures and organism characteristics may be different in a Level IV NICU population.

Methods: Retrospective study of 309 Level IV NICU positive blood cultures between January 2012 to December 2018 describing TTP and organism characteristics.

Results: Median TTP [IQR] was 21.

Guidance for prevention and management of COVID-19 in children and adolescents: A consensus statement from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Pediatric COVID-19 Therapies Taskforce.

Background: Since November 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created challenges for preventing and managing COVID-19 in children and adolescents. Most research to develop new therapeutic interventions or to repurpose existing ones has been undertaken in adults, and although most cases of infection in pediatric populations are mild, there have been many cases of critical and fatal infection. Understanding the risk factors for severe illness and the evidence for safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of therapies for COVID-19 in children is necessary to optimize therapy.

Letermovir for Cytomegalovirus prophylaxis in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Letermovir (LTV), an antiviral with exclusive activity against Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is approved for prophylaxis of CMV infection and disease in adult hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. The use of LTV in the pediatric HCT population is off-label, and has limited literature to support its use.

Procedure: This was a single-center, retrospective, matched (1:1 LTV:non-LTV) cohort study of allogeneic HCT recipients transplanted at Children's Hospital Colorado from 2015 to 2022.

Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolic Events in Children With Acute Musculoskeletal Infections.

Background And Objectives: Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) complicate acute hematogenous musculoskeletal infections (MSKIs) among hospitalized children. However, there is limited guidance for which specific MSKI patients are at the greatest VTE risk. This study aimed to identify VTE risk factors for children hospitalized with MSKIs.

Microbiology Culture Results and Antibiotic Prescribing in Pediatric Patients With Lymphadenitis.

Background: Bacterial lymphadenitis is a common reason for antibiotic treatment and hospitalization in children. The literature available addressing the bacterial etiology of lymphadenitis recommends the use of narrow-spectrum agents to cover common pathogens. We suspect that patients at our institution receive unnecessarily broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.

Identifying predictors for source culture positivity in children with acute musculoskeletal infections.

Objectives: Identifying the causative bacterial pathogen for children with acute hematogenous musculoskeletal infections (MSKIs) allows for improved care. The purpose of our study was to determine if clinical markers could predict which patients will have a causative pathogen found on source culture alone, thus being highest yield to undergo operative diagnostic procedures.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed.

Prolonged Perioperative Antibiotics: A Hidden Problem.

Objectives: National guidelines generally recommend 24 hours or less of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis. In a freestanding, regional children's hospital, we evaluated the duration of antibiotic surgical prophylaxis to identify targets for standardization of practice.

Methods: All procedures performed in 2017 were extracted from our local data warehouse; those involving an incision were considered a surgical procedure and correlated to antibiotic data.

Characteristics of Children With Culture Negative Acute Hematogenous Musculoskeletal Infections.

Background: Identifying the causative pathogen for acute hematogenous musculoskeletal infections (MSKIs) allows for directed antimicrobial therapy and diagnostic confidence. However, 20% to 50% of children with acute MSKIs remain culture negative. The objective of this study was to compare characteristics of culture negative MSKI patients to those where a pathogen is identified.

IVIG Compared With IVIG Plus Infliximab in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Objectives: To compare initial treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) versus IVIG plus infliximab in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with MIS-C who met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria and received treatment from April 2020 to February 2021. Patients were included and compared on the basis of initial therapy of either IVIG alone or IVIG plus infliximab.

Pharmacological Management of Pediatric Clostridioides difficile Infection: Clarifying the Controversies.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health concern for pediatric and adult patients. The management of pediatric CDI poses a challenge to healthcare providers due to lack of strong randomized controlled trials to guide pharmacological management. Additionally, recent updates to CDI guidelines recommend oral vancomycin over metronidazole for the management of CDI in adults, leaving questions regarding how to best manage pediatric patients.

Time to Blood Culture Positivity by Pathogen and Primary Service.

Objectives: Initiation and continuation of empirical antimicrobial agents for a 48-72-hour observation period is routine practice in the diagnosis and treatment of infants and children with concern for bacteremia. We examined blood cultures at a freestanding pediatric hospital over a 6-year period to determine the time to positivity.

Methods: Data were extracted for all patients who were hospitalized and had blood cultures drawn between January 2013 and December 2018.

Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Bundle on Inpatient Use of Highly Bioavailable Antibacterials.

Objectives: Intravenous (IV) to enteral transition of highly bioavailable antibacterial drugs is associated with improved safety and lower cost. We evaluated the impact of a bundle of stewardship-driven interventions (including in-person stewardship rounding, clinical pathways, and clinical pharmacist-driven enteral transition workflows) on IV versus enteral administration of highly bioavailable antibacterials at a freestanding children's hospital.

Methods: We collected 2010-2018 inpatient usage data for clindamycin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, rifampin, linezolid, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

A Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Initiative to Facilitate Penicillin Allergy Delabeling Among Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

Background: Penicillin allergy is reported in up to 10% of the general population; however, >90% of patients reporting an allergy are tolerant. Patients labeled as penicillin allergic have longer hospital stays, increased exposure to suboptimal antibiotics, and an increased risk of methicillin-resistant and . The primary aim with our quality improvement initiative was to increase penicillin allergy delabeling to at least 10% among all hospitalized pediatric patients reporting a penicillin allergy with efforts directed toward patients determined to be low risk for true allergic reaction.

Primary Care Physicians' Perspective on Pharmacists Delivering Vaccines to Adults.

Introduction: Since 2009, pharmacists in all 50 states have been authorized to provide vaccinations to adults. The objective of this study was to assess primary care physicians' (PCPs) experiences with and attitudes about pharmacists administering vaccinations.

Methods: Internet and mail survey of PCPs representative of American College of Physicians' and American Academy of Family Physicians' memberships.

Etravirine in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected children 1 year to less than 6 years of age.

Objective: To describe the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of etravirine (ETR) in HIV-infected children 1 to less than 6 years of age.

Design: Phase I/II, open-label, multicenter, dose-finding study.

Methods: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-experienced children in two age cohorts (I: 2 to <6 years; II: 1 to less than 2 years) received weight-based ETR, swallowed whole or dispersed in liquid, with optimized ART including a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor.

Initial Guidance on Use of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children and Adolescents.

Background: In November 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for 2 novel virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody therapies, bamlanivimab and REGN-COV2 (casirivimab plus imdevimab), for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adolescents and adults in specified high-risk groups. This has challenged clinicians to determine the best approach to use of these products.

Methods: A panel of experts in pediatric infectious diseases, pediatric infectious diseases pharmacy, pediatric intensive care medicine, and pediatric hematology from 29 geographically diverse North American institutions was convened.