Hypervirulent Strains of Neisseria meningitidis and Clinical Manifestations in Children With Invasive Meningococcal Disease.

Background: Hypervirulent clonal complex (cc) have been associated with higher incidence and case fatality rate of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations of the hypervirulent cc of meningococcus in children.

Methods: Retrospective study in patients hospitalized by IMD microbiologically confirmed at three children's tertiary health care centers in Santiago, Chile, between 2010 and 2018.

Deep immunophenotyping reveals biomarkers of multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children in a Latin American cohort.

Background: Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a life-threatening disease that occurs 2-5 weeks after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exposure and is characterized by severe multisystemic inflammation. Early recognition of MIS-C is key to prognosis; therefore, establishing clinical and laboratory biomarkers that predict complications is urgently needed.

Objective: We characterized the immune response and clinical features of patients with acute MIS-C and determined biomarkers of disease in a cohort of 42 Latin American patients.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 2: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology].

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there is great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 1: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology].

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach.

FilmArray® Meningoencephalitis panel in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections: stewardship and cost analysis in a paediatric hospital in Chile.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) infection has been an ongoing concern in paediatrics. The FilmArray® Meningoencephalitis (FAME) panel has greater sensitivity in identifying the aetiology of CNS infections. This study's objective was to compare the aetiological identification and hospitalization costs among patients with suspected CNS infection before and after the use of FAME.

[Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin associated methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection: a report of two pediatric cases].

Staphylococcus aureus colonizes the nasopharynx in one third of healthy individuals and is also responsible for several infections in pediatrics such as endocarditis, pneumonia and osteoarticular infections. It has several virulence mechanisms, such as Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which is an exotoxin that causes cell death. It is commonly related to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and more serious pulmonary and musculoskeletal infections.

A prospective, multi-center study of Candida bloodstream infections in Chile.

Background: Active surveillance is necessary for improving the management and outcome of patients with candidemia. The aim of this study was to describe epidemiologic and clinical features of candidemia in children and adults in tertiary level hospitals in Chile.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, laboratory-based survey study of candidemia in 26 tertiary care hospitals in Chile, from January 2013 to October 2017.

[Enterobacteriaceae susceptibility to piperacillin/tazobactam in a Chilean pediatric hospital].

Introduction: Enterobacteriaceae are a group of gram-negative rods that can cause serious infections in humans. A susceptibility in Klebsiella pneumoniae of 79.4% to piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZO) is reported in pediatric hospitals in Chile.

Potential effectiveness of copper surfaces in reducing health care-associated infection rates in a pediatric intensive and intermediate care unit: A nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background: Studies have consistently shown that copper alloyed surfaces decrease the burden of microorganisms in health care environments. This study assessed whether copper alloy surfaces decreased hospital-associated infections in pediatric intensive and intermediate care units.

Methods: Admitted infants were assigned sequentially to a room furnished with or without a limited number of copper alloyed surfaces.

[Aspergillus fumigatus mediastinitis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient after heart surgery].

Postsurgical aspergillosis occurs primarily in immunocompetent patients whose main predisposing factor is the loss of skin and mucosal integrity during surgery. Local infection tends to be destructive and refractory to treatment and relapses are common. It is important to consider aspergillosis in the differential diagnosis of slowly progressive and destructive surgical site infections with negative bacterial cultures.

Novel nonsense mutation in the katA gene of a catalase-negative Staphylococcus aureus strain.

We report the first description of a rare catalase-negative strain of Staphylococcus aureus in Chile. This new variant was isolated from blood and synovial tissue samples of a pediatric patient. Sequencing analysis revealed that this catalase-negative strain is related to ST10 strain, which has earlier been described in relation to S.

Copper surfaces are associated with significantly lower concentrations of bacteria on selected surfaces within a pediatric intensive care unit.

Background: Health care-associated infections result in significant patient morbidity and mortality. Although cleaning can remove pathogens present on hospital surfaces, those surfaces may be inadequately cleaned or recontaminated within minutes. Because of copper's inherent and continuous antimicrobial properties, copper surfaces offer a solution to complement cleaning.

[Risk factor of intestinal colonization with vancomycin resistant Enterococcus spp in hospitalized pediatric patients with oncological disease].

Background: The isolation of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp (ERV) has increased significantly within the last few years, along with the risk of infection and dissemination of these bacteria. Our aim was to determine risk factors (RF) for intestinal colonization in hospitalized pediatric patients with oncological disease at Hospital de Niños Roberto del Río.

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2013 a transversal study was performed with 107 rectal swabs and processed with a PCR for ERV.

[Community associated-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (SAMR-AC): comunication of the first four pediatric cases in the Roberto del Rio Children's Hospital].

Staphylococcus aureus is a known pathogen in pediatric patients that produces skin infections, cutaneous abscess, cellulitis and osteoarticular infections. Most of these infections are produced by a meticilin susceptible strain. The community associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was published for the first time in 1993, ever since then is has been recognized as a cosmopolite pathogen.

[Antibiotic susceptibility patterns among Shigella sonnei, isolated during three different periods in Región Metropolitana, Chile].

Background: Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis improves clinically and microbiologically with antibacterial treatment; however choosing a useful drug is a universal challenge because of in vitro susceptibility of S. sonnei frequently evolves to be resistant.

Objective: To evaluate in vitro susceptibility of S.

Rapid diagnosis of diarrhea caused by Shigella sonnei using dipsticks; comparison of rectal swabs, direct stool and stool culture.

Background: We evaluated a dipstick test for rapid detection of Shigella sonnei on bacterial colonies, directly on stools and from rectal swabs because in actual field situations, most pathologic specimens for diagnosis correspond to stool samples or rectal swabs.

Methodology/principal Findings: The test is based on the detection of S. sonnei lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-side chains using phase I-specific monoclonal antibodies coupled to gold particles, and displayed on a one-step immunochromatographic dipstick.

[Bacteremia in cancer patients. Experience in a pediatric hospital].

Unlabelled: The use of intensive chemotherapy has improved survival of children with cancer. However, this is associated to severe and maintained neutropenia, increasing risks of severe infections like bacteremia.

Aim: To update information on microorganisms involved in bloodstream infections in cancer patients and their antimicrobial resistance patterns during the last 3 years in our hospital, comparing it with our previous experience and with other Chilean centres.

A new multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci from rectal swabs.

Objectives: This study describes the diagnostic performance of a recently available multiplex PCR-based kit for the simultaneous detection and identification of Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, vanA, vanB, vanC1 and vanC2/C3 genes, directly from rectal swabs constituting the most complete existing molecular assay currently available.

Methods: The diagnostic performance of this assay was evaluated by a multicenter study involving three independent public hospitals and consisted in the analysis of 187 rectal swabs from patients at high risk for vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization.

Results: When bacteria culture was used as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicted values for the assay were 96.

Differential time to positivity and quantitative cultures for noninvasive diagnosis of catheter-related blood stream infection in children.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) is necessary to make a decision about removal of the catheter. Differential time to positivity (DTP) and the ratio of quantitative cultures (RQC) between central and peripheral blood cultures have not been evaluated against a strict standard in children, namely catheter tip culture.

Objective: Our aim is to compare DTP and RQC in the diagnosis of catheter tip-confirmed catheter-related infection in children.