Ventilator-Associated Events in Neonates and Children--A New Paradigm.

Objectives: To identify a pediatric ventilator-associated condition definition for use in neonates and children by exploring whether potential ventilator-associated condition definitions identify patients with worse outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study and a matched cohort analysis.

Setting: Pediatric, cardiac, and neonatal ICUs in five U.

Infection prevention practices in neonatal intensive care units reporting to the national healthcare safety network.

Background: Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at high risk for healthcare-associated infections. Variability in reported infection rates among NICUs exists, possibly related to differences in prevention strategies. A better understanding of current prevention practices may help identify prevention gaps and areas for further research.

Donor-derived West Nile virus infection in solid organ transplant recipients: report of four additional cases and review of clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features.

We describe four solid-organ transplant recipients with donor-derived West Nile virus (WNV) infection (encephalitis 3, asymptomatic 1) from a common donor residing in a region of increased WNV activity. All four transplant recipients had molecular evidence of WNV infection in their serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Serum from the organ donor was positive for WNV IgM but negative for WNV RNA, whereas his lymph node and spleen tissues tested positive for WNV by RT-PCR.

Outbreak of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infections in patients receiving parenteral nutrition prepared by a compounding pharmacy.

Background: Compounding pharmacies often prepare parenteral nutrition (PN) and must adhere to rigorous standards to avoid contamination of the sterile preparation. In March 2011, Serratia marcescens bloodstream infections (BSIs) were identified in 5 patients receiving PN from a single compounding pharmacy. An investigation was conducted to identify potential sources of contamination and prevent further infections.

Microsporidiosis acquired through solid organ transplantation: a public health investigation.

Background: Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a microsporidial species most commonly recognized as a cause of renal, respiratory, and central nervous system infections in immunosuppressed patients, was identified as the cause of a temporally associated cluster of febrile illness among 3 solid organ transplant recipients from a common donor.

Objective: To confirm the source of the illness, assess donor and recipient risk factors, and provide therapy recommendations for ill recipients.

Design: Public health investigation.

West Nile virus RNA in tissues from donor associated with transmission to organ transplant recipients.

We identified West Nile virus (WNV) RNA in skin, fat, muscle, tendon, and bone marrow from a deceased donor associated with WNV transmission through solid organ transplantation. WNV could not be cultured from the RNA-positive tissues. Further studies are needed to determine if WNV can be transmitted from postmortem tissues.

A confirmed Ehrlichia ewingii infection likely acquired through platelet transfusion.

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease that ranges in severity from asymptomatic infection to fatal sepsis. Ehrlichiosis acquired from transfusion of blood products has not been documented in the literature to date. A case of Ehrlichia ewingii infection likely transmitted by transfusion of leukoreduced platelets is described, and public health implications are discussed.

Device-associated infections among neonatal intensive care unit patients: incidence and associated pathogens reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network, 2006-2008.

Objective: To describe rates and pathogen distribution of device-associated infections (DAIs) in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients and compare differences in infection rates by hospital type (children's vs general hospitals).

Patients And Setting: Neonates in NICUs participating in the National Healthcare Safety Network from 2006 through 2008.

Methods: We analyzed central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), umbilical catheter-associated bloodstream infections (UCABs), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among 304 NICUs.

Practice guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity.

Obesity affects one third of children and adolescents, many of whom already have serious medical consequences. Therefore primary care providers must deliver clinical service that incorporates preventive practices, improves early diagnosis, and evaluates co-morbid conditions. In addition physicians must become more knowledgeable about changing practice in treating overweight and obese children.