Recommendation for immune prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen for young children hospitalized with bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Most infections occur below 1 year of age, and almost all children have been infected before 2 years of age. Monoclonal antibodies targeting RSV, such as palivizumab and nirsevimab, are accessible for preventing infection.

Predominance of Auditory but not Vestibular Deficits in the Mouse Model of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the auditory and vestibular consequences of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection in a C57BL/6 mouse model established by intraperitoneal inoculation and designed to mimic clinical phenotypes.

Methods: A cCMV infection model was established by intraperitoneal inoculation of murine cytomegalovirus into C57BL/6 mice. Auditory and vestibular function were assessed by auditory brainstem response, open field, swim, and rotarod tests.

Clinical Characteristics and Severity Predictors of Pediatric Adenovirus Infections.

Adenovirus infections impose a significant disease burden on children and can result in poor clinical outcomes, thus requiring intensive care and potentially leading to fatality. We retrospectively analyzed pediatric adenovirus cases from 2018 to 2023 at a children's hospital in Taiwan and collected data regarding patients' clinical symptoms, imaging results, and laboratory findings. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of severe cases requiring intensive care.

Postacute COVID-19 fatigue, dyspnea and reduced activity in children and adolescents.

Background: This study aimed to quantify fatigue, dyspnea, and physical activity and identify associated factors in children and adolescents with postacute COVID-19 syndrome.

Methods: A prospective cohort study included 74 participants aged 6-18 years with postacute COVID-19 symptoms and 120 age- and sex-matched controls without SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Participants completed questionnaires assessing fatigue, dyspnea, and physical activity and underwent pulmonary function tests.

Recommendation for the use of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen for young children hospitalized with bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Most infections occur below 1 year of age. RSV is also a significant viral pathogen for adults with respiratory tract infection.

Signatures of lower respiratory tract microbiome in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia using shotgun metagenomic sequencing.

Background: Severe community-acquired pneumonia was associated with high morbidity and mortality in children. However, species-level microbiome of lower airway was sparse, and we used shotgun metagenomic next-generation sequencing to explore microbial signatures.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study to recruit children under 18 who required admission to an intensive care unit for community-acquired pneumonia between December 2019 and February 2022.

Increased post-COVID-19 behavioral, emotional, and social problems in Taiwanese children.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has remarkably impacted children's mental health. Investigating whether COVID-19-related behavioral changes persist after recovery from the acute phase of infection warrants investigation. The present study aimed to identify children's behavioral/emotional and social adjustment problems after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan.

Background: Since April 2022, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has caused a notable increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. During the acute phase of infection, some children required admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU). This study aimed to analyze their clinical presentations and outcomes while exploring associated factors.

Multicenter registry of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and Paired comparison with Kawasaki disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics to differentiate multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki disease (KD) in Taiwan, an island with a delayed cluster of MIS-C and a high incidence of KD. Additionally, we studied risk factors for developing severe complications in patients with MIS-C.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, cohort, and observational study that linked data on patients with MIS-C between May and December 2022 and patients with KD between 2019 and 2021 from 12 medical centers.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of severe human parainfluenza virus infection in hospitalized children.

Background: Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) commonly cause childhood respiratory illness requiring hospitalization in Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate clinical severity and identify risk factors predisposing to severe disease in hospitalized children with HPIV infection.

Methods: We included hospitalized patients with lab-confirmed HPIV infection from 2007 to 2018 and collected their demographic and clinical characteristics.

High incidence of cerebrovascular lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric COVID-19 during omicron outbreak - A retrospective case series.

Background: The incidence of pediatric hospitalizations has significantly increased since the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Changes of characteristics in respiratory and neurological symptoms have been reported. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study to characterize the MRI change in children with an emphasis on the change of cerebral vasculatures.

Risk Factors for Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Hospitalized Children.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children. Starting in December 2010, RSV monoclonal antibody (RSV mAb) was endorsed by Taiwan National Health Insurance and given to children with prematurity and/or congenital heart diseases, which are considered high-risk factors for severe RSV diseases. Investigating other important contributing risk factors is warranted.

Adverse events from HPV vaccination in Taiwan.

The safety of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has been evaluated continuously in pre-licensure clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance systems, and observational studies. Most studies have found no significant association between serious adverse events and HPV vaccination. However, these studies have focused on Western populations; similar studies focusing on Asian populations are insufficient.

Clinical manifestations and risk factors of shock in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a novel disease associated with COVID-19. The COVID-19 epidemic peaked in May 2022 in Taiwan, and we encountered our first case of MIS-C in late May 2022. We aimed to present patients' clinical manifestations and identify risk factors for shock.

Outcomes of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia before and after national pneumococcal immunization in Taiwan.

Objective: In Taiwan, the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children declined after the catch-up primary vaccination programs and the full national immunization program (NIP) with PCV13. The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) before and after the NIP.

Methods: The study included patients aged 3 months to 17 years who were diagnosed with CAP and treated at the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2007 and 2019.

Viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections in a previously low COVID-19 prevalence region: Effects of vaccination status, antiviral agents, and age.

Background: In Taiwan, the prevalence of COVID-19 was low before April 2022. The low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the population of Taiwan provides an opportunity for comparison with fewer confounding factors than other populations globally. Cycle threshold (Ct) value is an easily accessible method for modeling SARS-CoV-2 dynamics.

Differential clinical characteristics and performance of home antigen tests between parents and children after household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron variant pandemic.

Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant pandemic struck Taiwan in April 2022. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) play an important role in providing rapid results during a pandemic. However, self-collected samples by the children's caregivers without the supervision of medical personnel raise some concerns.

Application of nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction respiratory and pneumonia panels in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious clinical concern. A lack of accurate diagnosis could hinder pathogen-directed therapeutic strategies. To solve this problem, we evaluated clinical application of nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in children with severe CAP.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bacteremia in pediatric patients.

Background/purpose: Clinical data on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) bacteremia in the pediatric population are limited. This study investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric CRE bacteremia.

Methods: Clinical data on bacteremia caused by carbapenem-susceptible and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic and national public restrictions on Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenges pediatric health globally by limited medical accessibility. In response to COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan, public restrictions were applied and the Level 3 alert was announced from May to July in 2021 for local outbreak. This study aims to analyze patients' clinical features and outcomes in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) during the COVID-19 epidemic with the Level 3 alert in Taiwan.