[Characterization of episodes of febrile neutropenia in children with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Introduction: 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.

Prospective validation of a risk prediction model for severe sepsis in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia.

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.

[Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus in children with cancer in six hospitals in Santiago, Chile].

Unlabelled: 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.

[Cancer, febrile neutropenia and pulmonary images: Findings in bronchoalveolar lavage in children].

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.

[Bloodstream infections in children with cancer and high risk fever and neutropenia episodes in six hospitals of Santiago, Chile between 2004 and 2009].

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.

Frequency and clinical outcome of respiratory viral infections and mixed viral-bacterial infections in children with cancer, fever and neutropenia.

Background: The role of respiratory viral infections (RVIs) as a cause of overall fever and neutropenia (FN) episodes in children with cancer has been less characterized than bacterial infections. We conducted a study aimed to determine the frequency of RVI in children with low compared with high risk for invasive bacterial infection (IBI) FN episodes and compare the clinical outcome of RVI and mixed RV-bacterial infections.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter study in children with cancer and FN admitted to pediatric hospitals in Chile between May 2009 and January 2011.

Diagnosis of bacteremia in febrile neutropenic episodes in children with cancer: microbiologic and molecular approach.

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.

Risk factors associated with invasive fungal disease in children with cancer and febrile neutropenia: a prospective multicenter evaluation.

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.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of single-dose intravenous ertapenem in infants, children, and adolescents.

Background: Ertapenem is a carbapenem antibiotic with broad spectrum activity and a pharmacokinetic profile that favors once-daily administration in adults.

Objectives: This investigation was designed to evaluate the dose-exposure profile of ertapenem in children from infancy through adolescence.

Methods: Eighty-four children (3 months-16 years) requiring antibiotic therapy were enrolled in this multicenter trial.

[Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus in children with cancer under chemotherapy in 6 hospitals of Santiago, Chile].

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.

Predictors of severe sepsis not clinically apparent during the first twenty-four hours of hospitalization in children with cancer, neutropenia, and fever: a prospective, multicenter trial.

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.

Admission clinical and laboratory factors associated with death in children with cancer during a febrile neutropenic episode.

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.

[Trends of etiology of acute bacterial meningitis in Chilean children from 1989 to 1998. Impact of the anti-H influenzae type b vaccine].

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis still has a high mortality and rate of complications.

Aim: To assess the impact of anti H influenzae vaccination on the epidemiology of acute bacterial meningitis in Chilean children.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study of hospital discharge records of patients with acute bacterial meningitis.

[Benzathine penicillin G and miocamycin in the treatment of children with streptococcal pharyngitis: a controlled therapeutic trial].

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriologic effectiveness of miocamycin (Miocamin, Merck) as compared to benzathine penicillin G in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. One hundred forty nine patients (aged 2 to 15 years) with culture proven Group A streptococcal pharyngitis were randomly assigned to receive miocamycin (15 mg/kg/day bid per os) or one injection of 600,000 or 1,200,000 units of benzathine penicillin G. The clinical response was similar in both groups, in terms of fever duration (16 +/- 14 hours with miocamycin vs 13 +/- 13 hours with penicillin) and normalization of appetite (87.