Publications by authors named "Monica Varas"
Background: In children with cancer and persistent high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN), cytokines/chemokines profiles can guide the differentiation of febrile neutropenia (FN) due to infections and episodes of unknown origin (FN-UO).
Methods: A prospective, multicenter study in Santiago, Chile included patients ≤ 18 years with cancer and HRFN. Clinical and microbiological studies were performed according to validated protocols.
Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus infection responsible for de pandemic in course, is a new clinical and physiopathological entity, whose control is still uncertain till we can provide an effective and universal vaccine. In the beginning it was described as a respiratory disease which affects mainly adults, children can have the disease too and in this group the disease can be different than the adult disease. Acute infection in children is mostly mild and when it requires hospital assistance it resolves with support therapy and without complications most of the time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Viridans group streptococci (VGS) has acquired relevance as a microorganism causing febrile neutropenia, associated with significant morbidity.
Aim: To characterize episodes of bacteremia caused by VGS in children with cancer who developed high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN) during the period from April 2004 to June 2018 in six pediatric hospitals of Santiago, Chile.
Method: Database analysis of 4 successive, prospective and multicentric studies recording clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated strains.
Background: Invasive fungal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN). Repeated serum galactomannan (sGM) measurements have been described as an effective tool to guide therapy in adults under suspicion of invasive aspergillosis. However, the utility of this approach has not been reported in paediatric population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To compare the efficacy of pre-emptive versus empirical antifungal therapy in children with cancer, fever and neutropenia.
Methods: This was a prospective, multicentre, randomized clinical trial. Children presenting with persistent high-risk febrile neutropenia at five hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were randomized to empirical or pre-emptive antifungal therapy.
Background: Microorganisms isolated from blood cultures (BC) in patients with febrile neutropenia (NF) vary over time, requiring systematic monitoring to guide appropriate empirical therapy.
Aim: To identify microorganisms isolated from BC and their antimicrobial resistance profile in children with cancer and high risk NF.
Method: Prospective, multicenter study.
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the survival of children with Wilms tumor and other malignant renal tumors treated with the TWPINDA-99 protocol.
Materials And Methods: Between January 1999 and December 2013, 226 patients were registered on this trial, based on National Wilms Tumor Study-5. Patient characteristics and survival were evaluated.
Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) has proved to be an effective treatment for retinoblastoma, but can be very expensive in developing countries. We report 2 patients from Chile in whom IAC resulted in globe salvation. Both patients had their medical care provided by the public health system and had failed standard therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Leukemia is the most common cancer in Chilean children. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is more prevalent and longer survival compared to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Aims: To describe episodes of febrile neutropenia (FN) in children with AML, determining frequency of infections as agent, focus and evolution, comparing children with ALL episodes.
Background: We previously created a risk prediction model for severe sepsis not clinically apparent during the first 24 hours of hospitalization in children with high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN), which identified 3 variables, age ≥ 12 years, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 90 mg/L and interleukin-8 ≥ 300 pg/mL, evaluated at the time of admission and at 24 hours of hospitalization. The combination of these 3 variables identified a risk for severe sepsis ranging from 8% to 73% with a relative risk of 3.15 (95% confidence interval: 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Infections with varicella-zoster virus (VVZ) in immunocompromised children imply a high mortality. There is no data about VVZ seroprevalence in children with cancer in our country.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of VVZ antibodies in children with cancer who have undergone chemotherapy or have undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
Introduction: Lung infections are a serious complication in children with cancer. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been demonstrated to be an effective procedure for achieving etiologic diagnosis.
Method: We did a retrospective analysis of BAL data performed between November 2005 and October 2008 in children with cancer, severe neutropenia and lung infiltrates for assessing its performance, clinical utility and safety.
Introduction: To determine the etiology of invasive bacterial infection in high risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN) episodes in children with cancer is essential because of the favorable impact on mortality of the early empiric antibiotic treatment.
Objective: To determine the etiology of bacteremia in pediatric patients with cancer and HRFN in the National Child Program of Antineoplastic Drugs during the 2004-2009 period, and compare these agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility with the period 1994-1998 described in a previous study.
Methods: The causative agents of bacteremia were prospectively recorded in patients less than 18 years of age receiving chemotherapy for cancer with HRFN and positive blood cultures admitted to one of the six hospitals from the Child Program of Antineoplastic Drugs network during the period 2004-2009.
Background: Bacterial isolation using conventional microbiologic techniques rarely surpasses 25% in children with clinical and laboratory findings indicative of an invasive bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to determine the role of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from whole blood samples compared with automated blood cultures (BC) in detection of relevant microorganisms causing bacteremia in episodes of high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN) in children with cancer.
Methods: Children presenting with HRFN at 6 hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were invited to participate.
Background: Empiric antifungal treatment has become standard of care in children with cancer and prolonged fever and febrile neutropenia (FN), with the downside that it leads to significant over treatment. We characterized epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory features of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in children with cancer and FN with the aim to identify risk factors for IFD that can aid in better selecting children who require antifungal treatment.
Methods: In a prospective, multicenter study, children admitted with FN at high-risk for sepsis, in 6 hospitals in Santiago, Chile were monitored from admission until the end of the FN episode.
Background: Children under oncological therapy are at risk of infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Aim: To determine the prevalence of infection of HBV in children with cancer who have undergone chemotherapy or have had a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
Material And Methods: Collaborative, multi-centric study.
Background: Severe sepsis is not clinically apparent during the first 24 hours of hospitalization in most children with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN), delaying targeted interventions that could impact mortality. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate biomarkers obtained within 24 hours of hospitalization as predictors of severe sepsis before it becomes clinically evident.
Methods: Children with cancer, admitted with FN at high risk for an invasive bacterial infection in 6 public hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were monitored throughout their clinical course for occurrence of severe sepsis.
Background: Early identification of children with cancer at risk for death during a febrile neutropenic (FN) episode may increase their possibility for survival. Our aim was to identify at the time of admission, clinical and laboratory variables differing significantly among children who survived or died during a FN episode.
Methods: In a prospective, multicenter study, children admitted with a high-risk FN episode were uniformly evaluated at enrollment and managed according to a national consensus protocol.
Purpose: To compare outcome and cost of ambulatory versus hospitalized management among febrile neutropenic children at low risk for invasive bacterial infection (IBI).
Patients And Methods: Children presenting with febrile neutropenia at six hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were categorized as high or low risk for IBI. Low-risk children were randomly assigned after 24 to 36 hours of hospitalization to receive ambulatory or hospitalized treatment and monitored until episode resolution.
Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFI) cause prolonged hospitalizations and increase the possibility of death among patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN). Up to 10% of febrile neutropenic episodes may be caused by IFI.
Aim: To estimate the incidence of IFI among a large group of Chilean children with cancer and FN.
Background: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has become a respected and widely used tool for the assessment of clinical competence in medical education.
Aim: To describe the first experience of an OSCE as a summative assessment in undergraduate Pediatric Internship, in two universities.
Material And Methods: The OSCE was structured by a committee of faculty members of the 5 campi of University of Chile and I campus of the Catholic University.