Altered cardiac rhythm in infants with bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Background: Although the most frequent extra-pulmonary manifestations of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection involve the cardiovascular system, no data regarding heart function in infants with bronchiolitis associated with RSV infection have yet been systematically collected. The aim of this study was to verify the real frequency of heart involvement in patients with bronchiolitis associated with RSV infection, and whether infants with mild or moderate disease also risk heart malfunction.

Methods: A total of 69 otherwise healthy infants aged 1-12 months with bronchiolitis hospitalised in standard wards were enrolled.

Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in a multidisciplinary University hospital in Italy.

Background: Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs) in order to reduce the morbidity associated with influenza in healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current vaccination status of the HCWs in one of Italy's largest multidisciplinary University Hospitals.

Methods: Between February 1 and March 31, 2006, we carried out a cross-sectional study of influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs at the University Hospital Fondazione IRCCS "Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena", Milan, Italy.

Safe administration of an inactivated virosomal adjuvanted influenza vaccine in asthmatic children with egg allergy.

In order to evaluate whether the virosomal adjuvanted influenza vaccine that has been shown to have the lowest egg protein content (Inflexal V, Berna Biotech) could be administered to children with even severe egg allergy without any risk of allergic reactions, we used epicutaneous skin testing with the undiluted vaccine in 88 asthmatic children (44 with and 44 without egg allergy), none of whom had a positive response. They were then vaccinated with the whole dose of Inflexal V intramuscularly in a one-dose protocol, and the occurrence of any immediate or delayed adverse events were actively monitored for 28 days. The results showed the safety of the administration, and demonstrated that Inflexal V can be safely given without performing a vaccine skin test in children with any kind of egg allergy.

Association between high nasopharyngeal viral load and disease severity in children with human metapneumovirus infection.

Background: Previous studies have shown that viral genotype and viral load may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of viral infections.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate these aspects of hMPV infections in children and their household contacts.

Study Design: Between 1 November 2003 and 31 March 2004, we prospectively studied 2060 children attending our Emergency Department for acute reasons.

Impact of human bocavirus on children and their families.

This study was planned to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of the illnesses associated with human bocavirus (hBoV) in children with acute disease. We prospectively enrolled all subjects aged less than 15 years attending an emergency room in Milan, Italy, on Wednesdays and Sundays between 1 November 2004 and 31 March 2005 for any acute medical reason, excluding surgical diseases and trauma. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at admission to detect hBoV; influenza A and B viruses; respiratory syncytial virus; human metapneumovirus; parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3, and 4; rhinovirus; adenovirus; and coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1 by real-time PCR.

Attitudes and knowledge regarding influenza vaccination among hospital health workers caring for women and children.

This cross-sectional study of 340 obstetrics/gynecology, 123 neonatology, and 244 pediatric health care workers (HCWs) was designed to evaluate compliance with recommendations concerning the use of influenza vaccine during pregnancy and among pediatric subjects. The results clearly show that only a marginal number of the HCWs in all three fields currently recommend vaccine use for pregnant women and healthy young children. Moreover, all of the HCWs were seriously deficient in terms of their general knowledge of influenza prevention and their own personal vaccination coverage was low.

Immunogenicity, safety and tolerability of meningococcal C CRM197 conjugate vaccine administered 3, 5 and 11 months post-natally to pre- and full-term infants.

A total of 79 pre-term infants with a gestational age > or =32 weeks and 74 full-term infants were studied in order to evaluate the immunogenicity, safety and tolerability of meningococcal C (MenC)-CRM(197) conjugate vaccine administered 3, 5 and 11 months post-natally. The evoked immune response seemed to be substantially similar in the pre- and full-term infants, and there were only clinically marginal differences in safety and tolerability between the groups. The results support the use of two doses of MenC-CRM(197) vaccine at 3 and 5 months of age for primary immunisation, with a booster dose being given at about 1 year.

Impact of human coronavirus infections in otherwise healthy children who attended an emergency department.

This prospective clinical and virological study of 2,060 otherwise healthy children aged <15 years of age (1,112 males; mean age +/- SD, 3.46 +/- 3.30 years) who attended the Emergency Department of Milan University's Institute of Pediatrics because of an acute disease excluding trauma during the winter season 2003-2004 was designed to compare the prevalence and clinical importance of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) in children.

Acute tonsillopharyngitis associated with atypical bacterial infection in children: natural history and impact of macrolide therapy.

This study evaluated the natural history of acute tonsillopharyngitis associated with atypical bacterial infections, showing that Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae organisms are frequently found in children with acute tonsillopharyngitis. The study also demonstrated, for what we believe to be the first time, that, unless adequately treated, acute tonsillopharyngitis associated with infection with M. pneumoniae and C.

Evaluation of a rapid bedside test for the quantitative determination of C-reactive protein.

Regardless of its origin, any condition associated with inflammation is accompanied by an increase in serum C-reactive protein levels. This study compared the results of a rapid test for the bedside assay of C-reactive protein (QuikRead CRP, Orion Corporation, Orion Diagnostica, Espoo, Finland) with those of a standard laboratory assay in samples taken from 231 children aged less than 14 years (126 males; median age 4.7 years) attending the Emergency Department of Milan University's Institute of Pediatrics because of acute respiratory infection.

Role of atypical bacteria and azithromycin therapy for children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Background: The aim of this study of 352 patients, 1-14 years of age, with acute respiratory infections and a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs), and 208 healthy subjects was to evaluate whether Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae played a role in causing acute respiratory episodes among children with RRTIs and whether specific antibiotic treatment for these bacteria could improve the acute episodes and reduce recurrences.

Methods: The patients were blindly randomized to receive azithromycin (10 mg/kg/d for 3 days weekly, for 3 weeks) together with symptom-specific agents or symptom-specific agents alone. Acute M.