Vasoplegic Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Literature Review.

Vasoplegic syndrome is a rising problem affecting morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Vasoplegia is a vasodilatory, shocklike syndrome characterized by decreased systemic vascular resistance, normal to high cardiac index, and hypotension refractory to fluid resuscitation and vasopressors. This review describes the presentation, physiology, risk factors, treatments, and implications of vasoplegia after cardiac surgery.

A Curious Case of Croup: Laryngotracheitis Caused by COVID-19.

We describe a case of croup in a 14-month-old boy caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019. The patient presented with classic signs and symptoms consistent with croup. Workup was remarkable for a positive point-of-care test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Expanding Existing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Pediatrics: What Comes Next.

The prevalence of pediatric antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) is increasing in acute care facilities across the United States. Over the past several years, the evidence base used to inform effective stewardship practices has expanded, and regulatory interest in stewardship programs has increased. Here, we review approaches for established, hospital-based pediatric ASPs to adapt and report standardized metrics, broaden their reach to specialized populations, expand to undertake novel stewardship initiatives, and implement rapid diagnostics to continue their evolution in improving antimicrobial use and patient outcomes.

A Brief Resolved Unexplained Event and Congenital Neurosyphilis.

Brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) is a common pediatric problem that presents to ambulatory and emergency settings. Infants presenting with a BRUE can be separated into low- and high-risk groups per recent guidelines. Most low-risk infants who present with a BRUE can be discharged home with anticipatory guidance and education provided to the caregivers; however, high-risk infants should undergo further testing and observation to determine the cause of their event.

Early-Life Exposure to Antibiotics, Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiome, and Risk of Metabolic Disease in Children and Adults.

The intestinal microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract. The microbiome evolves rapidly in early life with contributions from diet, genetics and immunomodulatory factors. Changes in composition of the microbiota due to antibiotics may lead to negative long-term effects including obesity and diabetes mellitus, as evidenced by both animal and large human studies.