Rapid Decompensation to Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Children with Osteomyelitis: A Report of Three Cases.

Case: We present 3 pediatric cases of osteomyelitis with delayed diagnosis, which resulted in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and complicated hospital stays.

Conclusion: These 3 cases illustrate that early treatment of osteomyelitis is imperative in order to avoid fatal complications, which can occur with SIRS. Subtle signs and symptoms should not be dismissed.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a pediatric intensive care unit: risk factors.

Background: Both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae have become significant causes of disease, both in health care and community settings.

Objectives: All patients admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) currently had a rapid test for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) performed as per hospital guidelines. This study looked at risk factors for colonization.

Haemophilus influenzae type B meningitis in a previously healthy child.

Vaccines have proven successful in virtually eradicating certain infectious diseases that typically attack the pediatric population. Since 1988, when the conjugate vaccine was introduced, the incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type B disease was reduced dramatically. However, immunization rates have decreased in certain parts of the country because of a combination of vaccine shortage and widespread parental perception that vaccines are harmful.

Cutaneous methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a suburban community hospital pediatric emergency department.

Background: Studies on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have typically focused on pediatric and adult populations at urban tertiary care hospitals. Limited data exist on MRSA rates in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) in suburban community hospital pediatric emergency departments (PED).

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of MRSA in SSTIs in a contemporary suburban community hospital PED population.

Treatment of pediatric febrile neutropenia in the era of vancomycin-resistant microbes.

Purpose: The increasing frequency of Gm(+) infections in febrile neutropenic (FN) patients has resulted in increased use of vancomycin (VN). Likely as a result, VN-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) has become a significant concern in FN patients. We sought to understand how the emergence of VN resistant microbes has changed the antibiotic management of pediatric FN.