Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: a report of three years experience.

Although outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is practiced internationally, there is a paucity of data regarding outcomes of paediatric OPAT. A retrospective analysis, of 3 years experience (January 2010 to 2013) was performed at a tertiary paediatric Respiratory unit. There were 362 OPAT courses administered to 32 children, of which 30 had cystic fibrosis and the remaining two had recurrent pneumonia.

Successful treatment of idiopathic pulmonary capillaritis with intravenous cyclophosphamide.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH), a subtype of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare condition, first described by Virchow in 1864. Historically, it manifests in children in the first decade of life with the combination of hemoptysis, iron deficiency anemia, and alveolar infiltrates on chest radiograph. More recently, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage has been classified by the absence or presence of pulmonary capillaritis (PC), the latter carrying a potential for a poorer outcome.

Voriconazole in the treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in cystic fibrosis.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) can cause a significant clinical deterioration in patients with cystic fibrosis. There is very little research in the current literature with regard to alternatives for treatment, apart from long courses of steroids. We conducted a retrospective review of all our patients with ABPA treated with the antifungal voriconazole and found there was a significant drop in IgE levels post treatment as well as a decrease in steroid dosing.

The adequacy of dietary fibre intake in 5-8 year old children.

Despite its health implications, the fibre intake of Irish children is unknown. The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey indicated that 77% of Irish adults do not consume adequate fibre and surveys of children and adolescents in Canada and Sweden have confirmed suboptimal fibre intake in these groups. This study undertook to assess fibre intake and the incidence of constipation in Irish children aged 5-8 years.