Human Parechovirus and Other Enteric Viruses in Childcare Attendees in the Era of Rotavirus Vaccines.

Objective: We studied the prevalence of enteric viruses, including rotavirus, enterovirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and human parechovirus (HPeV), in stool samples of childcare attendees. The prevalence of enteric viruses was described in children with and those without gastroenteritis.

Methods: Children aged 1-19 months were recruited from 2 childcare centers in Tacoma, Washington, from October 2008 through June 2009.

Capsular serotype of Staphylococcus aureus in the era of community-acquired MRSA.

Capsular polysaccharide (CP) plays an important role in the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus, yet the common serotypes of S. aureus isolated from US pediatric patients have not been reported. We investigated capsular serotype as well as methicillin susceptibility, presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and clonal relatedness of pediatric S.

Epidemiology of viral respiratory tract infections in a prospective cohort of infants and toddlers attending daycare.

Background: The epidemiology of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in a daycare cohort has not been explored using molecular techniques.

Objectives: (1) Determine the overall incidence of RTIs in a daycare cohort using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). (2) Determine the relative incidence and impact of specific respiratory viruses, and characterize and compare clinical features associated with these pathogens.

Mupirocin resistance related to increasing mupirocin use in clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a pediatric population.

We investigated the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from pediatric patients demonstrating mupirocin resistance related to mupirocin use at our institution. No mupirocin resistance was found in 98% of isolates, whereas mupirocin prescriptions increased by 110%. Resistance rates remained low despite the increasing use of mupirocin.

Co-infection of the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) with Staphylococcus aureus and influenza A virus results in synergistic disease.

Bacterial super-infection of influenza patients is the primary cause of excess mortality during influenza pandemics, with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) having the highest fatality rate. The cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is an excellent model for both influenza and S.