The Many Faces of Neurological Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection.

This case series explores the various manifestations of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and highlights the challenges involved in their diagnosis and treatment. Neonatal HSV infection is a rare but serious condition that can have significant neurological consequences. The article presents three cases of neonatal HSV infection, all involving the CNS, each characterized by distinct clinical features and outcomes.

Neuroimaging in Tick Paralysis: Looking Outside the Box.

Tick paralysis is a rare but potentially deadly form of muscle paralysis caused by a neurotoxin transmitted through the saliva of gravid, engorged female ticks of various species. Often, there is an initial misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis due to the rarity of the diagnosis, the obscure location of the tick, and the disease's clinical similarity to Guillain-Barre syndrome. We report the case of a 4-year-old girl with tick paralysis in whom the tick was not found until 2 days after hospital admission.

Pharmacokinetics of Ceftazidime in Children and Adolescents with Obesity.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate ceftazidime pharmacokinetics (PK) in a cohort that includes a predominate number of children and adolescents with obesity and assess the efficacy of competing dosing strategies.

Methods: A population PK model was developed using opportunistically collected plasma samples. For each dosing strategy, model-based probability of target attainment (PTA) estimates were computed for study participants using empirical Bayes estimates.

Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of a Long-Acting Broadly Neutralizing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Monoclonal Antibody VRC01LS in HIV-1-Exposed Newborn Infants.

Background: Perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) continues to occur due to barriers to effective antiretroviral prevention that might be mitigated by long-acting broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs).

Methods: An extended half-life bNAb, VRC01LS, was administered subcutaneously at 80 mg/dose after birth to HIV-1-exposed, nonbreastfed (cohort 1, n = 10) and breastfed (cohort 2, n = 11) infants. Cohort 2 received a second dose (100 mg) at 12 weeks.

Infections after Natural Disasters.

Natural disasters, particularly flooding, are associated with many environmental changes, and the chances of infections after a disaster increase. Dead bodies are not associated with increased infections, but many other factors contribute to the increase in infections and possible outbreaks. This article discusses the factors associated with increased risk of infections and the types of infections that may occur after a natural disaster.

Immunogenicity and Efficacy of a Novel Multi-Antigenic Peptide Vaccine Based on Cross-Reactivity between Feline and Human Immunodeficiency Viruses.

For the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine, evolutionarily conserved epitopes between feline and human immunodeficiency viruses (FIV and HIV-1) were determined by analyzing overlapping peptides from retroviral genomes that induced both anti-FIV/HIV T cell-immunity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the FIV-vaccinated cats and the HIV-infected humans. The conserved T-cell epitopes on p24 and reverse transcriptase were selected based on their robust FIV/HIV-specific CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), CD4⁺ CTL, and polyfunctional T-cell activities. Four such evolutionarily conserved epitopes were formulated into four multiple antigen peptides (MAPs), mixed with an adjuvant, to be tested as FIV vaccine in cats.

2018 Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy.

A panel of experts was convened by the Infectious Diseases Society of America to update the 2004 clinical practice guideline on outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) [1]. This guideline is intended to provide insight for healthcare professionals who prescribe and oversee the provision of OPAT. It considers various patient features, infusion catheter issues, monitoring questions, and antimicrobial stewardship concerns.

2018 Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy.

A panel of experts was convened by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to update the 2004 clinical practice guideline on outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) [1]. This guideline is intended to provide insight for healthcare professionals who prescribe and oversee the provision of OPAT. It considers various patient features, infusion catheter issues, monitoring questions, and antimicrobial stewardship concerns.

Infection Prevention and Control in Pediatric Ambulatory Settings.

Since the American Academy of Pediatrics published its statement titled "Infection Prevention and Control in Pediatric Ambulatory Settings" in 2007, there have been significant changes that prompted this updated statement. Infection prevention and control is an integral part of pediatric practice in ambulatory medical settings as well as in hospitals. Infection prevention and control practices should begin at the time the ambulatory visit is scheduled.

The Relationship Between Individual Characteristics and Interest in Using a Mobile Phone App for HIV Self-Management: Observational Cohort Study of People Living With HIV.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major health issue in the United States, and an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV. As part of Healthy People 2020, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has targeted the persistent demographic and geographic disparities in HIV prevalence and management.

Genomic Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Despite infection prevention efforts, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients remain at risk of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Modes of transmission for healthcare-associated (HA) and community-associated (CA) MRSA remain poorly understood and may vary by genotype, hindering the development of effective prevention and control strategies. From 2008-2010, all patients admitted to a level III NICU were screened for MRSA colonization, and all available isolates were spa-typed.

Community-engaged strategies to promote hepatitis B testing and linkage to care in immigrants of Florida.

To improve early identification and linkage to treatment and preventive services for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in persons born in countries with intermediate or high (>2%) HBV prevalence, the University of Florida Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Services (UF CARES) employed community-engaged strategies to implement the Hepatitis B Awareness and Service Linkage (HBASL) program. In this brief report, we present a summary of program components, challenges, and successes. Faith and community-based networks were established to improve HBV testing and screening and to increase foreign born nationals (FBNs) access to HBV care.

Salmonella Infections in Childhood.

Salmonella are gram-negative bacilli within the family Enterobacteriaceae. They are the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Animals (pets) are an important reservoir for nontyphoidal Salmonella, whereas humans are the only natural host and reservoir for Salmonella Typhi.

Immunization Update V.

With all the new vaccines and strategies for prevention, the most important challenge that one continues to talk about globally and at home is the one presented by ongoing transmission of diseases for which excellent vaccines already exist. As pediatricians, this presents a constant reminder to keep the conversation about the importance of vaccine-preventable diseases with the patients and their families going at every possible opportunity possible. One needs to constantly remind oneself that every case of a vaccine-preventable disease is a missed opportunity for prevention.

Whole-genome sequencing for outbreak investigations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the neonatal intensive care unit: time for routine practice?

BACKGROUND Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at increased risk for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition. Outbreaks may be difficult to identify due in part to limitations in current molecular genotyping available in clinical practice. Comparison of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may identify epidemiologically distinct isolates among a population sample that appears homogenous when evaluated using conventional typing methods.

Conserved epitopes on HIV-1, FIV and SIV p24 proteins are recognized by HIV-1 infected subjects.

Cross-reactive peptides on HIV-1 and FIV p24 protein sequences were studied using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from untreated HIV-1-infected long-term survivors (LTS; >10 y of infection without antiretroviral therapy, ART), short-term HIV-1 infected subjects not on ART, and ART-treated HIV-1 infected subjects. IFNγ-ELISpot and CFSE-proliferation analyses were performed with PBMC using overlapping HIV-1 and FIV p24 peptides. Over half of the HIV-1 infected subjects tested (22/31 or 71%) responded to one or more FIV p24 peptide pools by either IFNγ or T-cell proliferation analysis.