Changes in the Use of Antibiotics for Methicillin-Resistant Bloodstream Infections in Children: A 5-Year Retrospective, Single Center Study.

Monitoring antibiotic use in the pediatric population is a challenge, especially when determining a relationship between specific pathogens, infections, and antibiotic use. We retrospectively analyzed the consumption of anti-methicillin-resistant (MRSA) drugs from 2017 to 2021 at Istituto Giannina Gaslini by means of defined daily dose (DDD) adopted for adults by World Health Organization. We observed a statistically significant increase in the use of daptomycin and ceftaroline, combined with a decrease in the use of vancomycin.

Antibiotic defined daily dose in pediatrics. A single center study to proof the principle that a specific pediatric definition could be not needed.

Objectives: To evaluate if a specific pediatric defined daily dose (PeDDD) can be replaced with the defined daily dose (DDD) indicated by World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods: The 50th percentile of body weight for age of children admitted from 2016 to 2020 at Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy, was used to calculate PeDDD for vancomycin at 40mg/kg and meropenem at 60mg/kg. Data obtained were then used to calculate the PeDDD number based on the amount of drugs delivered quarterly from 2012 to 2016.

The role of pharmacies in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation process: A nationwide survey by Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Midollo Osseo.

What Is Known And Objective: The aim of this survey, conducted by the Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO), was to evaluate the involvement of pharmacists in the haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) program in Italian adult and paediatric centres.

Methods: A 63-item online questionnaire was developed and sent to the Italian Transplant Programs on behalf of GITMO.

Results And Discussion: Overall, 54.

Current research in empirical therapy for febrile neutropenia in cancer patients: what should be necessary and what is going on.

Introduction: Fever is an important complication in neutropenic patients and standard of care calls for empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics, followed by 'empirical' antifungal therapy in persisting fever. Emergence of infections due to resistant bacteria, especially Gram-negatives, and usefulness of empirical antifungal therapy represent the major concerns in this field.

Areas Covered: Clinical trials registered in 5 international databases were referred for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of empirical antibacterial therapy or empirical antifungal therapy in neutropenic cancer patients.

Invasive mould infections in newborns and children.

Invasive mould infections represent important complications of different pediatric conditions. Epidemiology and clinical features vary according to the type of underlying conditions that determine the risk of invasive mycosis. No pediatric study has specifically evaluated the efficacy of prophylaxis or therapy invasive moulds infections, while pediatric dosages for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis are available for drugs that produced positive results in clinical trials undertaken in adults.

Catheter-related bacteremia caused by methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci with elevated minimal inhibitory concentration for vancomycin.

Treatment of bacteremia caused by methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci with vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration ≥2 mg/L frequently requires central venous catheter removal in children with cancer. There are few data supporting efficacy and safety of antibiotic catheter lock or use of daptomycin or linezolid for this indication in children.

Pegfilgrastim in children with severe congenital neutropenia.

Two pediatric patients affected by severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) were treated with 100 mcg/L/dose every 9-12 days within a pilot study (Observatory of the Italian Ministry of Health, Eudract Code 2005-003096-20) on the use of pegfilgrastim in patients with chronic neutropenia. Both children increased their absolute neutrophil count, reduced their infectious load, and improved their quality of life. Serum concentrations of G-CSF observed in pegfilgrastim mirrored those seen in filgrastim.