Publications by authors named "Sarah J Curtis"
Despite clear testing recommendations for herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in infants, few data exist on the comprehensiveness of HSV testing in practice. In a 23-center study of 112 infants with confirmed HSV disease, less than one-fifth had all recommended testing performed, highlighting the need for increased awareness of and adherence to testing recommendations for this vulnerable population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To identify independent predictors of and derive a risk score for invasive herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.
Methods: In this 23-center nested case-control study, we matched 149 infants with HSV to 1340 controls; all were ≤60 days old and had cerebrospinal fluid obtained within 24 hours of presentation or had HSV detected. The primary and secondary outcomes were invasive (disseminated or central nervous system) or any HSV infection, respectively.
Background: Although neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a potentially devastating infection requiring prompt evaluation and treatment, large-scale assessments of the frequency in potentially infected infants have not been performed.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of infants ≤60 days old who had cerebrospinal fluid culture testing performed in 1 of 23 participating North American emergency departments. HSV infection was defined by a positive HSV polymerase chain reaction or viral culture.
Background: Peripheral intravenous catheterization in children is challenging, and success rates vary greatly. We conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to determine whether the use of ultrasound or near-infrared vascular imaging to guide catheterization would be more effective than the standard approach in achieving successful catheter placement on the first attempt.
Methods: We enrolled a convenience sample of 418 children in a pediatric emergency department who required peripheral intravenous catheterization between June 2010 to August 2012.
Objectives: To describe pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians' reported pain management practices across Canada and explore factors that facilitate or hinder pain management.
Methods: This study was a prospective survey of Canadian pediatric emergency physicians. The Pediatric Emergency Research Canada physician database was used to identify participants, and a modified Dillman's Total Design Survey Method was used for recruitment.
Background: Many children requiring acute care receive suboptimal analgesia.
Objectives: To describe paediatric pain management practices and policies in emergency departments (EDs) in Alberta.
Methods: A descriptive survey was distributed to each of the EDs in Alberta.
Background: Pediatric injury is highly prevalent and has significant impact both physically and emotionally. The majority of pediatric injuries are treated in emergency departments (EDs), where treatment of physical injuries is the main focus. In addition to physical trauma, children often experience significant psychological trauma, and the development of acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although sucrose has been accepted as an effective analgesic agent for procedural pain in neonates, previous studies are largely in the NICU population using the procedure of heel lance. This is the first report of the effect of sucrose, pacifier or the combination thereof for the procedural pain of venipuncture in infants in the pediatric emergency department population.
Methods: The study design was a double (sucrose) and single blind (pacifier), placebo-controlled randomized trial--factorial design carried out in a pediatric emergency department.