Resurgence of influenza and enterovirus infections in Taiwan post-COVID-19: A nationwide surveillance study.

Background: The global impact of COVID-19 has prompted profound shifts in public health policies. The epidemiology of respiratory infectious disease may change in the post-covid era. This study investigates the repercussions of these policies on respiratory infectious diseases, specifically the resurgence of severe influenza and enterovirus infections in the post-COVID-19 era.

Jaundice-predominant manifestation of Kawasaki disease in children.

Background: A jaundice-predominant presentation of Kawasaki disease (KD) is atypical.

Methods: A total of 12 children with KD with a predominant manifestation of jaundice at MacKay Children's Hospital were reviewed, along with 42 cases reported in the literature since 1990.

Results: The median age of the 12 patients was 1.

Assessing the utilization of antimicrobial agents in pediatric pneumonia during the era of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: A retrospective, single-center study.

Background And Purpose: Pneumonia and bronchopneumonia are the most common infectious diseases in children. This study aimed to analyze changes in causative pathogens and antibiotic use for bronchopneumonia or pneumonia after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in children.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from 2009 to 2019.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype replacement of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children before and after PCV13 introduction in Taiwan.

Background: Since 2015, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was included in the national immunization program in Taiwan. Subsequently, the serotypes of the main circulating Streptococcus pneumoniae strains have changed. PCV administration is also associated with changes in the antimicrobial susceptibility of S.

Building nomogram plots for predicting urinary tract infections in children less than three years of age.

Background And Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infection in young children. This study aimed to formulate nomogram plots for clinicians to predict UTIs in children aged <3 years by evaluating the risk factors for UTIs in these children.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary medical center from December 2017 to November 2020.

The experience of using FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel for the diagnosis of meningitis and encephalitis in pediatric patients.

Background/purpose: Central nervous system infections can cause severe complications and even death in children. Early diagnosis of the causative pathogen can guide appropriate treatment and improve outcomes. The BioFire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (FA-ME) is a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting 14 pathogens.

SARS-CoV-2 variants - Evolution, spike protein, and vaccines.

Despite the rising natural and vaccines mediated immunity, several countries have experienced a resurgence of the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) due to the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. From Alpha to Omicron, the variants of concern (VOC) have evolved several spike protein mutations that may have an impact on virus characteristics, such as transmissibility and antigenicity. In this review, we describe the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, summarize current knowledge of epidemiological and clinical features of the variants, and discuss the response strategies in terms of vaccines to reduce the burden of COVID-19.

A randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza and enterovirus infection in children.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation can reduce the incidence of influenza and enterovirus infection in Taiwanese children.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial included children aged two to five years between April 2018 and October 2019 from daycare centers. All the participants were randomly assigned to a vitamin D supplementation group (2000 IU/day) or placebo group for one month.

Etiology, clinical features, management, and outcomes of skin and soft tissue infections in hospitalized children: A 10-year review.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the etiology, clinical features, hospital course, and outcomes of hospitalized children with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and to test if clinical and laboratory variables at admission could differentiate between community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and community-acquired methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (CA-MSSA).

Methods: We reviewed the clinical, laboratory, treatment, and outcome data for children hospitalized with SSTIs, aged 0-18 years at MacKay Children's Hospital between 2010 and 2019.

Reducing catheter related bloodstream infection risk of infant with a prophylactic antibiotic therapy before removing peripherally inserted central catheter: A retrospective study.

Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of prescribing antibiotics, specifically a single dose of vancomycin, in reducing the incidence of culture-positive and culture-negative sepsis prior to the removal of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of infants who had PICCs in a tertiary level hospital during the period from 2010 to 2019. The incidence of post-catheter removal clinical sepsis between the groups with or without antibiotics was compared.

To mix or not to mix? A rapid systematic review of heterologous prime-boost covid-19 vaccination.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had an enormous impact worldwide, and vaccination is believed to be the method that will control the pandemic. Several types of vaccines developed using different platforms have been authorized, but the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of heterologous prime-boost vaccination with different vaccines remain largely unclear.

Areas Covered: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, medRxiv, Research Square, and SSRN were searched to investigate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity associated with heterologous vaccination.

Efficacy of clarithromycin-naproxen-oseltamivir combination therapy versus oseltamivir alone in hospitalized pediatric influenza patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of clarithromycin-naproxen-oseltamivir combination therapy to that of oseltamivir therapy alone in hospitalized pediatric influenza patients.

Methods: This prospective, single-blind study included children aged 1-18 years hospitalized with influenza, in MacKay Children's Hospital, Taiwan, between December 2017 and December 2019. The primary outcomes were the time to defervescence and decrease of the Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS) during hospitalization.

Validation of genome-wide associated variants for Kawasaki disease in a Taiwanese case-control sample.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that affects infants and young children. Considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that there is a genetic basis for KD susceptibility. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several genetic variants associated with KD.

Effects of influenza vaccine and sun exposure time against laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations among young children during the 2012-13 to 2015-16 influenza seasons.

Background: Influenza is a major cause of acute respiratory infection burden worldwide, leading to many hospitalizations. An annual influenza vaccine is believed to be the best way to prevent influenza-related illnesses. We focused on the efficacies of other possible preventive measures such as increasing sun exposure time and dietary supplements to prevent these illnesses.

Clinical features of neonatal listeriosis in Taiwan: A hospital-based study.

Background: Neonatal listeriosis is a major cause of mortality in newborn; however, there is limited information about this disease in Taiwan. The aim of our study was to identify the outcome determinants, clinical features, and incidence of pregnancy-associated listeriosis, which includes both neonatal and maternal listeriosis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of neonatal and maternal patients with pregnancy-associated listeriosis at two hospitals in Taiwan from January 2000 to December 2018.

Childhood otitis media: Relationship with daycare attendance, harsh parenting, and maternal mental health.

Psychological stress has been linked to developmental problems and poor health in children, but it is unclear whether it is also related to otitis media (OM). As part of a long-term study surveying the characteristics of childcare and development in Taiwan, we analyzed the relationship between OM and sources of psychological stress in children, such as poor maternal mental health and harsh parental discipline. We analyzed the data of 1998 children from the "Kids in Taiwan: National Longitudinal Study of Child Development & Care (KIT) Project" at the age of 3 years.

The diagnostic value of serological studies in pediatric patients with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common pathogen of respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients. Serological studies are traditional methods for the diagnosis. However, early diagnosis of M.

Respiratory tract infections in children with tracheostomy.

Background: Children with tracheostomy are at increased risk for respiratory tract infections, yet the risk involved in tracheostomy related infections is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of children who underwent tracheostomy between January 2002 and December 2016 at a teaching hospital in Taipei. Demographics, underlying disease, indication for tracheostomy, laboratory data and management, and long-term outcome data were collected.

The epidemiology of non-typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis and Campylobacter gastroenteritis in pediatric inpatients in northern Taiwan.

Background: Campylobacter and Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) are the two most common bacterial pathogens associated with acute gastroenteritis in children. This study aims to elucidate the epidemiology of Campylobacter and NTS gastroenteritis and develop a scoring system to differentiate them.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 886 children ≤18 years of age, hospitalized due to acute gastroenteritis with stool culture-proven Campylobacter or NTS infection from July 2012 to December 2015.

Predictive value of Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen activation for Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and severity in pediatric lobar pneumonia.

Background: Most cases of complicated pneumonia in children are caused by pneumococcal infections. Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TA) is present on erythrocytes, platelets and glomeruli, and it can be activated during pneumococcal infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of TA activation for pneumococcal infection and association with the severity of complicated pneumonia.

Adaptation of influenza A (H7N9) virus in primary human airway epithelial cells.

Influenza A (H7N9) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with pandemic potential. To understand its adaptation capability, we examined the genetic changes and cellular responses following serial infections of A (H7N9) in primary human airway epithelial cells (hAECs). After 35 serial passages, six amino acid mutations were found, i.

A National Seroepidemiologic Survey of Pertussis Among School Children in Taiwan.

Background: In 2009, a booster dose of acellular pertussis vaccine for children at or before entry to elementary school was added to the national immunization program in Taiwan, which includes pertussis vaccination at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age. In 2013, a study to assess the level of humoral immunity against pertussis in elementary and junior high school children and adolescents was conducted.

Methods: A multistage stratified systematic sampling method was applied to randomly selected grade 1 to 9 school children for testing.

Redistribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes After Nationwide 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Program in Children in Northern Taiwan.

Background: After the introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) against Streptococcus pneumoniae, public health officials in Taiwan monitored a decline in circulating vaccine serotypes and the emergence of nonvaccine serotypes in children with invasive pneumococcal disease. A gradually expanded PCV13 national immunization program was launched in 2013 in Taiwan. Here, we evaluate the changes in the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes and antimicrobial nonsusceptibility in children during the evolution of vaccination policy.