Disaster and Emergency Preparedness and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Care Programs in Michigan: A Mixed-Methods Analysis.

Background: Historically, the child care industry has been unprepared for emergencies. A previous study identified gaps in Michigan's child care programs' emergency plans. Study objectives were to reassess programs' preparedness plans after introduction of state-mandated emergency plans and to examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on programs' operations.

Comprehensiveness of Testing Among Herpes Simplex Virus Infected Infants: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

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.

Myocarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

A growing number of adolescents are being diagnosed with acute myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations. This case describes an adolescent who presented to the emergency department with chest pain and tachycardia following the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed prior to the return of laboratory studies and revealed depressed left ventricular systolic function.

Predictors of Invasive Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Young Infants.

Objectives: 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.

A Survey of Camp Leadership to Assess Immunization Requirements, Policies, and Practices in a National Cohort of Summer Camps.

This study surveys a national cohort of summer camp leadership to assess camps’ immunization requirements, policies, and practices.

Predicting Adverse Outcomes for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections in Emergency Departments.

Objective: To assess the performance of a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) severity score among children with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections and HUS by stratifying them according to their risk of adverse events. The score has not been previously evaluated in a North American acute care setting.

Study Design: We reviewed medical records of children <18 years old infected with STEC and treated in 1 of 38 participating emergency departments in North America between 2011 and 2015.

Using the MCRISP Network for Surveillance of Pediatric Exanthema in Child Care Centers.

Background: Systematic monitoring of exanthema is largely absent from public health surveillance despite emerging diseases and threats of bioterrorism. Michigan Child Care Related Infections Surveillance Program (MCRISP) is the first online program in child care centers to report pediatric exanthema.

Methods: MCRISP aggregated daily counts of children sick, absent, or reported ill by parents.

Predicting Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Renal Replacement Therapy in Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli-infected Children.

Background: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections are leading causes of pediatric acute renal failure. Identifying hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) risk factors is needed to guide care.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, historical cohort study to identify features associated with development of HUS (primary outcome) and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) (secondary outcome) in STEC-infected children without HUS at initial presentation.

Planning considerations for persons with access and functional needs in a disaster-Part 3: Medical CMIST and recommendations.

Although disasters can affect anyone in a given community or region, those with access and functional needs have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality during an emergency or disaster. There are many unique and complex issues that should be considered when dealing with these individuals in a disaster situation. Who are these individuals, what specific issues should be addressed when considering these members of the population, and what recommendations can be made in order to address their unique needs? How can we include them as part of the all-hazard, comprehensive approach to disaster management? The first part of this three-part series identifies who is included in this population and what are the legal considerations that arise in caring for not only this unique group but also all of the members of the community in a disaster.

Planning considerations for persons with access and functional needs in a disaster-Part 2: Evacuation and sheltering.

Although disasters can affect anyone in a given community or region, those with access and functional needs have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality during an emergency or disaster. There are many unique and complex issues that should be considered when dealing with these individuals in a disaster situation. Who are these individuals, what specific issues should be addressed, and what recommendations can be made in order to address their unique needs? How can we include them as part of the all-hazard, comprehensive approach to disaster management? The first part of this three-part series identifies who is included in this population and what are the legal considerations that arise in caring for not only this unique group but also all of the members of the community in a disaster.

Pediatric Disaster Preparedness.

Children can be victims of mass casualty or illness, but their needs, with respect to their care and recovery are substantially different from adults. Emergency or urgent care physicians must be prepared to evaluate and manage child victims presenting to their facility in numbers or acuity that could significantly overwhelm normal operations. This article presents the general approach to pediatric disaster preparation in the United States, the expectations of emergency department providers, and different methods of disaster triage, and introduces the most likely types of mass illness (some of which are bioweapons or chemical agents) and their management.

Planning considerations for persons with access and functional needs in a disaster-Part 1: Overview and legal.

Although disasters can affect anyone in a given community or region, those with access and functional needs have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality during an emergency or disaster. There are many unique and complex issues that should be considered when planning and caring for these individuals in a disaster situation. Who are these individuals, what specific issues should be addressed when considering these members of the population, and what recommendations can be made to address their unique needs? How can we include them as part of the all-hazard, comprehensive approach to disaster management? The first part of this three-part series identifies who is included in this population and what are the legal considerations that arise in caring for, not only this unique group but also all the members of the community in a disaster.

Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Infants Undergoing Meningitis Evaluation.

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.

Assessing Disaster Preparedness Among Select Children's Summer Camps in the United States and Canada.

Objective: Children's summer camps are at risk for multiple pediatric casualties during a disaster. The degree to which summer camps have instituted disaster preparedness is unknown. We assessed disaster preparedness among selected camps nationally for a range of disasters.

Disaster Preparedness Among Michigan's Licensed Child Care Programs.

Objective: This study aimed to assess if Michigan child care directors have created disaster management plans, and if local resources were used to develop and implement plans.

Methods: From December 2013 to March 2014, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation conducted a survey of licensed child care programs in Michigan. An online survey regarding disaster preparedness and training resources was distributed to the directors of a convenience sample of registered child care centers among the Early Childhood Investment Corporation's statewide network of 11 resource centers.

The case of the missing testicle: blunt scrotal trauma in the pediatric emergency department.

Serious blunt scrotal trauma in the pediatric population is rare and can pose significant danger to the viability of the testes. The following case describes an adolescent boy who presented with a single testis in his scrotum after low-impact perineal trauma, consistent with testicular dislocation. The literature regarding scrotal trauma includes few cases of testicular dislocation from low-impact perineal trauma.

Milk and molasses enemas: clearing things up.

Introduction: We aimed to describe current nursing practice and clarify the safest and most effective dose of milk and molasses enemas used to relieve constipation in pediatric patients presenting to a suburban pediatric emergency department.

Methods: We surveyed emergency nurses about current practice in administration of milk and molasses enemas. In addition, we identified consecutive patients aged 2 to 17 years with a discharge diagnosis of constipation or abdominal pain between 2009 and 2012.

Assessing the validity evidence of an objective structured assessment tool of technical skills for neonatal lumbar punctures.

Background: The lumbar puncture (LP) is a procedural competency deemed necessary by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Residency Review Committees. The emergency department (ED) is a primary site for residents to be evaluated performing neonatal LPs. Current evaluation methods lack validity evidence as assessment tools.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to transdermal fentanyl overdose.

Children with altered mental status who present to the emergency department have a broad differential diagnosis. We report a case of a 19-month-old girl who presented in coma and who was later found to have a fentanyl patch adhered to her back. She was found to have changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging consistent with a toxic spongiform leukoencephalopathy but had a good neurologic outcome.

Accuracy of non-contact infrared thermometry versus rectal thermometry in young children evaluated in the emergency department for fever.

Objective: We evaluated the accuracy of a non-contact infrared thermometer compared with a rectal thermometer.

Methods: Two hundred patients, ages 1 month to 4 years, were included in the study. Each child underwent contemporaneous standard rectal thermometry and mid forehead non-contact infrared thermometry.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cricoid pressure of ED personnel at a large U.S. teaching hospital.

Introduction: Application of cricoid pressure (CP) is an important step during rapid sequence intubation. Previous surveys of anesthesia personnel showed a knowledge deficiency in the recommended level of cricoid force. There has been no previous attempt to assess the adequacy of knowledge of ED personnel in the application of CP.

Pandemic influenza and acute care centers: taking care of sick patients in a nonhospital setting.

The ongoing spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Southeast Asia has raised concern about a worldwide influenza pandemic and has made clear the need to plan in advance for such an event. The federal government has stressed the importance of planning and, in particular, has asked hospitals and public health agencies to develop plans to care for patients outside of traditional healthcare settings. These alternative or acute care centers (ACCs) would be opened when hospitals, emergency departments (EDs), and clinics are overwhelmed by an influenza pandemic.