Saliva-based Proteinase K method: A rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for the detection of SARS-COV-2 in children.

Early and accurate detection of viruses in children might help prevent transmission and severe diseases. In this study, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) detection in children was evaluated using saliva specimens with a Proteinase K (PTK)-based RNA preparation, as saliva collection is a simple and noninvasive procedure, even in young children, with fewer concerns about sample contamination. The saliva-based PTK and the conventional paired nasopharyngeal aspiration (NPA)-based detection methods were compared between COVID-19-positive and -negative children.

Optimal Use and Need for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Teicoplanin in Children: A Systematic Review.

Background: Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antimicrobial that treats serious invasive infections caused by gram-positive bacteria, such as the methicillin-resistant . Despite some comparable advantages, there is no guideline or clinical recommendation for teicoplanin in the pediatric population, unlike vancomycin where abundant studies and the recently revised guideline on therapeutic drug level monitoring (TDM) exist.

Methods: The systematic review was performed in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews.

The Changes in Epidemiology of Imipenem-Resistant Bacteremia in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for 17 Years.

Background: infections cause high morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, there are limited data on the changes of long-term epidemiology of imipenem resistance in bacteremia among pediatric ICU (PICU) patients.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on patients with bacteremia in PICU of a tertiary teaching hospital from 2000 to 2016.

Influenza-associated Neurologic Complications in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Republic of Korea.

Background: The rates of influenza-associated neurologic complications are variable among studies, and a difference has been observed between the Western and Asian countries. The study aims to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of influenza-associated neurologic complications.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of hospitalized cases of influenza infection from October 2010 to April 2017 from 3 referral hospitals.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Children at the Emergency Department during the 2018-2019 Season: the First Season School-aged Children Were Included in the Korean Influenza National Immunization Program.

Background: For the 2018-2019 season, the national influenza immunization program expanded to cover children aged from 6 months to 12 years in Korea. This study aimed to analyze vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza in children visiting the pediatric emergency room at a tertiary hospital during the 2018-2019 season.

Methods: Patients tested for influenza antigens from October 1st 2018 to May 31st 2019 at the pediatric emergency room of Samsung Medical Center were included.

Therapeutic Drug Level Monitoring of Teicoplanin in Korean Pediatric Patients with Normal versus Impaired Renal Function.

Background: Teicoplanin is used to treat serious gram-positive infections. Optimal teicoplanin trough levels are considered to be ≥ 10 μg/mL. Despite its wide use in various clinical settings, data on teicoplanin trough level in pediatric patients are limited.

Weight-based vancomycin loading strategy may not improve achievement of optimal vancomycin concentration in patients with preserved renal function.

We performed a retrospective study to evaluate clinical effectiveness of vancomycin loading strategy and factors associated with achieving optimal . Patients administered vancomycin for ≥72 h from January to June 2018 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups: loading (LD) and non-loading (NLD).

A contact investigation after exposure to a child with disseminated tuberculosis mimicking inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important diseases that cause significant mortality and morbidity in young children. Data on TB transmission from an infected child are limited. Herein, we report a case of disseminated TB in a child and conducted a contact investigation among exposed individuals.