Intrapartum use of zidovudine in a large cohort of pregnant women living with HIV in Italy.

Background: Intravenous administration of zidovudine (ZDV) during labour is a key step for vertical HIV transmission (VT) prevention, but there is no evidence of benefit when maternal HIV-RNA at delivery is <50 copies/mL. The aim of this study is evaluating the appropriateness of intrapartum ZDV use in Italy.

Methods: Observational study including mother-infant pairs with perinatal HIV exposure during 2002-2019, enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children.

Off-label use of combined antiretroviral therapy, analysis of data collected by the Italian Register for HIV-1 infection in paediatrics in a large cohort of children.

Background: Early start of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in perinatally HIV-1 infected children is the optimal strategy to prevent immunological and clinical deterioration. To date, according to EMA, only 35% of antiretroviral drugs are licenced in children < 2 years of age and 60% in those aged 2-12 years, due to the lack of adequate paediatric clinical studies on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug safety in children.

Methods: An observational retrospective study investigating the rate and the outcomes of off-label prescription of HAART was conducted on 225 perinatally HIV-1 infected children enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children and followed-up from 2001 to 2018.

Real-World Analysis of Survival and Clinical Events in a Cohort of Italian Perinatally HIV-1 Infected Children From 2001 to 2018.

Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been associated with a steep decrease in mortality and morbidity in HIV-1 infected children. New antiretroviral molecules and drug classes have been developed and the management of HIV-infected children has improved, but recent data on survival are limited. An observational retrospective study investigating changes in mortality and morbidity was conducted on 1,091 perinatally HIV-1 infected children enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children and followed-up from 2001 to 2018.

Missed opportunities to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Italy.

Objectives: Vertical transmission of HIV can be effectively controlled through antenatal screening, antiretroviral treatment and the services provided during and after childbirth for mother and newborn. In Italy, the National Health Service guarantees universal access to prenatal care for all women, including women with HIV infection. Despite this, children are diagnosed with HIV infection every year.

Evaluation of two RNA extraction methods for human Parechovirus detection on pediatric stool specimens.

Background: Human Parechovirus (HPeVs), along with human enteroviruses is associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to assess the performance characteristics of two nucleic acid extraction for HPeV-RNA quantitation, the RNAlev Extraction Kit associated with Maxwell automated nucleic acid extractor (Promega, Milan, Italy) and RNAzol manually protocol.

Methods: A total of 137 fecal specimens previously routinely screened for Rotavirus and Adenovirus were tested for HPeV virus.

Strategies for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Adopted in the "Real-World" Setting: Data From the Italian Register for HIV-1 Infection in Children.

Background: Strategies for prevention of HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) have been continuously optimized. However, cases of vertical transmission continue to occur in high-income countries.

Objectives: To investigate changes in PMTCT strategies adopted by Italian clinicians over time and to evaluate risk factors for transmission.

Risk factors associated with complications/sequelae of acute and subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis: an Italian multicenter study.

Background: Acute/subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis (AHOM/SAHOM) are potentially devastating diseases. Updated information about the epidemiology, management and outcome of AHOM/SAHOM is needed to minimize the risk of complications and sequelae.

Methods: A multicenter study was performed to evaluate retrospectively the management and outcome of AHOM/SAHOM in Italy.

Development of a quantitative real-time PCR assay for sapovirus in children under 5-years-old in Regina Margherita Hospital of Turin, Italy.

Gastroenteritis is a common disease in children. It is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Sapovirus (SaV) is a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis, but it causes milder illness than do rotavirus and norovirus.

Molecular detection of human parechovirus in under-Five-Year-Old Children with gastroenteritis.

Background: Currently, RT-PCR is used widely and considered to be a convenient, useful, and powerful method for molecular diagnosis, to detect pathogens from clinical specimens.

Objectives: In this work we describe the development of an in-house Real-time Taqman PCR assay for quantification of HPeV in stool specimens.

Study Designs: A total of 137 fecal specimens previously screened for rotavirus and adenovirus were tested for HPeV virus.

Indications to Hospital Admission and Isolation of Children With Possible or Defined Tuberculosis: Systematic Review and Proposed Recommendations for Pediatric Patients Living in Developed Countries. [Corrected].

Tuberculosis (TB) is a re-emerging health problem in developed countries. This paper is part of large guidelines on the global management of TB in children, by a group of scientific societies. It describes the indications to hospitalization of children with suspected or diagnosed TB, the isolation measures, hospital discharge, and re-admission into the community.

Recommendations Concerning the Therapeutic Approach to Immunocompromised Children With Tuberculosis.

Purpose: This article describes the recommendations of a group of scientific societies concerning the therapeutic approach to immunocompromised children with tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: Using the Consensus Conference method, relevant publications in English were identified by a systematic review of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from their inception until December 31, 2014.

Findings: On the basis of their clinical experience and the published evidence, the group of experts concluded that, although immunosuppressed subjects are at greater risk of developing TB, none of the signs or symptoms is sensitive or specific enough to enable a diagnosis.

Recommendations for the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still the world's second most frequent cause of death due to infectious diseases after HIV infection, and this has aroused greater interest in identifying and managing exposed subjects, whether they are simply infected or have developed one of the clinical variants of the disease. Unfortunately, not even the latest laboratory techniques are always successful in identifying affected children because they are more likely to have negative cultures and tuberculin skin test results, equivocal chest X-ray findings, and atypical clinical manifestations than adults. Furthermore, they are at greater risk of progressing from infection to active disease, particularly if they are very young.

The second generation of HIV-1 vertically exposed infants: a case series from the Italian Register for paediatric HIV infection.

Background: In the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) era, the prognosis of children perinatally infected with HIV-1 has significantly improved, so the number of perinatally-infected females entering child-bearing age and experiencing motherhood is increasing.

Methods: A description of the medical history and pregnancy outcomes of women with perinatal acquired HIV-1 infection enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV infection in Children.

Results: Twenty-three women had 29 pregnancies.

The spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis in children: an Italian case series.

Drug-resistant paediatric tuberculosis (TB) is an overlooked global problem. In Italy, the epidemiology of TB has recently changed and data regarding drug-resistant forms in the paediatric setting is scanty. The aim of this case series was to report the cases of drug-resistant TB, diagnosed between June 2006 and July 2010 in four Italian tertiary centres for paediatric infectious diseases, in children and adolescents living in Italy.

A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following influenza virus A-H1N1 infection.

We describe a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) occurring in a three-year old girl with influenza A (H1N1)v infection and manifesting with seizures and ataxia. The brain MRI revealed bilateral hyperintense signal changes in basal ganglia and brain stem. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone bolus followed by tapering steroids and progressively recovered without neurologic sequelae at the latest follow-up.

Drug use and upper gastrointestinal complications in children: a case-control study.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications (UGIC) associated with drug use in the paediatric population.

Methods: This study is part of a large Italian prospective multicentre study. The study population included children hospitalised for acute conditions through the emergency departments of eight clinical centres.

Antiretroviral use in Italian children with perinatal HIV infection over a 14-year period.

Background: Information on the use of new antiretroviral drugs in children in the real setting of clinical fields is largely unknown.

Methods: Data from 2554 combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimens administered to 911 children enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV infection in children, between 1996 and 2009, were analysed. Factors potentially associated with undetectable viral load and immunological response to cART were explored by Cox regression analysis.

In utero exposure to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate does not impair growth and bone health in HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers.

Background: Growth impairment and bone toxicity due to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) fetal exposure has been described mainly in animals. We evaluated growth pattern and bone health in TDF-exposed HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers, defined as seroreverters (SR).

Methods: This was a multicentre observational cross-sectional cohort study enrolling 68 SR who were in utero exposed to an antiretroviral regimen including (TDF+) or not including (TDF-) tenofovir.

Use of linezolid in infants and children: a retrospective multicentre study of the Italian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases.

Objectives: Because of the spread of drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, the use of linezolid for treating severe infections is increasing. However, clinical experience in the paediatric population is still limited. We undertook a multicentre study to analyse the use of linezolid in children.

Clinical features of hospitalised children with 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection.

Clinical features and outcome of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in the paediatric setting is ill-defined. The epidemiologic and clinical features of children with confirmed H1N1 influenza virus infection admitted to an Italian tertiary paediatric hospital from August through December 2009 were evaluated. A total of 63 children (mean age 4.

Final height in patients perinatally infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Introduction: Data concerning final height are completely lacking in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children.

Design: Retrospective evaluation of auxological data up to final height in a cohort of patients with perinatal HIV infection.

Patients And Methods: In 95 Caucasian patients (57 females and 38 males, median age 17.