Vancomycin Area Under the Curve to Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Ratio for Treatment Effectiveness in Pediatric and Neonatal Staphylococcal Infections: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To review pediatric data on vancomycin exposure threshold against methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted through July 2023. Publications in English that explored vancomycin effectiveness threshold against MRSA, CoNS, or in pediatrics were eligible.

Vaccination and treatment options for SARS-CoV2 infection affecting lactation and breastfeeding.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed considerable challenges to the health of lactating individuals. Vaccination remains one of the most important strategies for prevention of moderate to severe COVID-19 infection and is associated with protective benefits for lactating individuals and their breastfed infants with overall mild side effects. The current recommendations for COVID-19 treatment in lactating individuals includes remdesivir and dexamethasone for hospitalized patients and Paxlovid® (nirmatrelavir + ritonavir) as outpatient treatment in those with mild disease.

bacteremia, meningitis leading to diffuse cerebritis in an adolescent patient undergoing acute myeloid leukemia chemotherapy causing significant morbidity.

Infections with are rare. We present an unusual case of in an immunocompromised host, which is usually considered a low virulence pathogen. The objective of this report is to highlight spectrum of clinical presentations in an immunocompromised individual and discuss various antimicrobial treatment options in the light of lack of definitive treatment guidelines for this organism.

Case Report: Paradoxical Inflammatory Response Syndrome in a Previously Healthy, HIV-Negative, Pediatric Patient With Meningitis.

The immunological response of patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM), particularly those not known to be immunocompromised, has generated an increased interest recently. Although CM is an infection with significant rates of morbidity and mortality, its sequelae may also include a post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome (PIIRS) in patients who have already achieved microbiological control. PIIRS can cause substantial immune-mediated damage to the central nervous system resulting in long-term neurological disability or even death.

Understanding Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted millions of lives worldwide. Molecular assays and serological tests have been approved under EUA (emergency use authorization) by the FDA (food and drug administration), given these unprecedented times. These tests are not only critical for confirming the clinical diagnosis and making therapeutic decisions but also play an important role in the understanding of the epidemiology of the pandemic.

Perinatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Neonatal COVID-19: A 2021 Update.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has swept across the world like an indiscriminating wildfire. Pregnant women and neonates are particularly vulnerable to this infection compared with older children and healthy young adults, with unique challenges in their management. Unfamiliarity with the consequences of this novel virus and lack of high-quality data led to considerable heterogeneity in obstetrical and neonatal management early in the pandemic.

Evaluation of Seasonal Respiratory Virus Activity Before and After the Statewide COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Order in Northern California.

Importance: Public health initiatives that include shelter-in-place orders are expensive and unpopular. Demonstrating the success of these initiatives is essential to justify their systemic or individual cost.

Objective: To examine the association of a shelter-in-place order with lower rates of seasonal respiratory viral activity.

Protecting Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has impacted all patient populations including pregnant mothers. There is an incomplete understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and transmission potential at this time and the resultant anxiety has led to variable breastfeeding recommendations for suspected or confirmed mothers with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Due to the potential concern for transmission of infection from maternal respiratory secretions to the newborn, temporary separation of the maternal-baby dyad, allowing for expressed breast milk to be fed to the infant, was initially recommended but later revised to include breastfeeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics in contrast to international societies, which recommend direct breastfeeding.