Adverse events following immunization with DTaP-IPV (Tetraxim) in school-aged children in Taiwan, 2017-2020.

Vaccination has been an effective method to prevent and control diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio diseases in infancy and adults for years. To maintain the protective effect, a DTaP-IPV vaccine, Tetraxim, was introduced into Taiwan's national immunization program for children at 5 years of age after primary series vaccination in infancy in October 2017 replacing a Tdap-IPV. To survey the safety of this vaccine, data between 01 October 2017 and 31 December 2020 from two surveillance systems, the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), were reviewed.

Preliminary Report of Nationwide COVID-19 Vaccine Compensation in Taiwan.

The potential adverse effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations raise public concerns. Data from Taiwan's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) can provide valuable insights. This study analyzed the preliminary application data for COVID-19 vaccine compensation in Taiwan's VICP, focusing on applicants receiving vaccines between March 2021 and June 2022.

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.

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.

Prediction of Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Children With Kawasaki Disease Before Starting Initial Treatment.

Precisely predicting coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) remains a clinical challenge. We aimed to investigate whether coronary dimensions adjusted for body surface area (Z scores) on baseline echocardiography and clinical variables before primary treatment could predict the presence of late CAAs. We conducted a retrospective study including children hospitalized for Kawasaki disease and received intravenous immunoglobulin within 10 days of illness.

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.

Inoculation Age of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Tokyo-172 Strain and Vaccine-related Adverse Reactions in Taiwan Birth Cohort of 2012-2017.

Background: In 2016 in Taiwan, inoculation with the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Tokyo-172 vaccine was postponed from 24 hours after birth to 5-8 months of age. We reviewed BCG-induced adverse reactions reported to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) to identify differences between early and delayed BCG inoculation.

Methods: Clinical presentations of BCG-related adverse reactions reported to VICP for the 2012-2017 birth cohort were reviewed until the end of 2019.

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.

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.

Clinical Manifestations, Management, and Outcomes of Osteitis/Osteomyelitis Caused by Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in Children: Comparison by Site(s) of Affected Bones.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical manifestations, management, and outcomes of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) osteitis/osteomyelitis.

Study Design: We reviewed 71 cases of BCG osteitis/osteomyelitis registered in Taiwan's vaccine injury compensation program (VICP) in 1998-2014. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, treatment, and outcome data were compared according to site(s) of infection.

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.

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.

Acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A ST320 clone: epidemiological and clinical characteristics.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A ST320, a highly multiresistant and virulent clone, has emerged as a common pathogen causing acute otitis media (AOM) in children.

Methods: Patients aged 0-18 years with AOM who presented at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan were prospectively enrolled between December 1, 2009, and November 30, 2012. For each patient, a specimen of middle-ear fluid was obtained and cultured.

Vancomycin dosing and target attainment in children.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the best dosing strategy for vancomycin by studying the associated factors and examining correlations between the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) values and trough concentrations in children.

Methods: Children aged 3 months to 18 years were included if they received vancomycin for more than three doses between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 and had one or more serum vancomycin trough concentrations. Vancomycin clearance (CL) was calculated using the following model: CL = 0.

Risk factor analysis and molecular epidemiology of respiratory adenovirus infections among children in northern Taiwan, 2009-2013.

Background/purpose: Respiratory infections caused by human adenoviruses (HAdV) are worldwide, and have significantly increased recently in Taiwan. This study aimed to clarify the molecular epidemiology and risk factors of HAdV severe infections and pneumonia among Taiwanese children.

Methods: Patients with HAdV infections and hospitalized in a medical center between 2009 and 2013 were divided into severe or nonsevere HAdV infections based on whether or not they received intensive care.

Changing of bloodstream infections in a medical center neonatal intensive care unit.

Background/purpose: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are associated with high mortality and morbidity in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The epidemiology of these infections may change after the application of new infection control policies. The aims of this study are to reveal the changing epidemiology of BSIs in our NICU and inspect the effects of infection control efforts.

Management of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin osteomyelitis/osteitis in immunocompetent children-A systematic review.

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) osteomyelitis/osteitis in immunocompetent children is a rare but serious complication of BCG immunization. Rationale for its treatment is unclear.

Methods: Due to the rarity of this complication, no randomized control trials has ever been conducted to evaluate methods of intervention.