Predicting acute kidney injury with an artificial intelligence-driven model in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is among the most common complications following cardiac surgery in adult and pediatric patients, significantly affecting morbidity and mortality. Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Machine Learning (ML) can be used to predict outcomes. AKI diagnosis anticipation may be an ideal target of these methods.

The Prevalence of Carbapenemase-Producing Microorganisms and Use of Novel Cephalosporins for the Treatment of Severe Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Background: The spread of carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) is an increasingly serious threat globally, especially in vulnerable populations, such as intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Currently, the antibiotic options for CROs are very limited, particularly in pediatric settings. We describe a cohort of pediatric patients affected by CRO infections, highlighting the important changes in carbapenemase production in recent years and comparing the treatment with novel cephalosporins (N-CEFs) to Colistin-based regimens (COLI).

Effective Rapid Diagnosis of Bacterial and Fungal Bloodstream Infections by T2 Magnetic Resonance Technology in the Pediatric Population.

Children are prone to bloodstream infections (BSIs), the rapid and accurate diagnosis of which is an unmet clinical need. The T2MR technology is a direct molecular assay for identification of BSI pathogens, which can help to overcome the limits of blood culture (BC) such as diagnostic accuracy, blood volumes required, and turnaround time. We analyzed results obtained with the T2Bacteria (648) and T2Candida (106) panels in pediatric patients of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital between May 2018 and September 2020 in order to evaluate the performance of the T2Dx instrument with respect to BC.

Vancomycin prophylaxis in paediatric patients following cardiac surgery: a retrospective evaluation of trough levels and associated variables.

Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring during vancomycin administration is recommended. However, little information is available in case of paediatric vancomycin prophylaxis. The aim of this study was to analyse vancomycin trough levels on postoperative day (POD) 2 and 3 after paediatric cardio-surgery to assess the clinical predictors and outcomes associated with vancomycin concentrations and to evaluate whether adjustments are effective to target optimal levels.

Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in children is a serious condition with an important impact on morbidity and mortality. Onset can be insidious and it is frequently unrecognized in the early phase when the therapeutic opportunities are theoretically more effective.

Summary: The present review focuses on the most recent epidemiology studies and the progress in pediatric AKI (pAKI) research.

Incidence of healthcare-associated infections in a pediatric population with an extracorporeal ventricular assist device.

During the last decade, ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become a precious tool to support children with end-stage heart failure. However, thromboembolic events, bleeding, and infections may have a considerable impact on outcome. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in nine patients supported by EXCOR Pediatric (Berlin Heart [BH]) VAD in a pediatric cardiosurgical intensive care unit between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2011 (27 months).

Balloon atrial septostomy and pre-operative brain injury in neonates with transposition of the great arteries: a systematic review and a meta-analysis.

Objective: To perform a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the effects of balloon atrial septostomy on peri-operative brain injury in neonates with transposition of the great arteries.

Data Source: We conduct a systematic review of the literature to identify all observational studies that included neonates born with transposition of the great arteries who had peri-operative evidence of brain injury.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: The search strategy produced three prospective and two retrospective cohort studies investigating the association between balloon atrial septostomy and brain injury totalling 10,108 patients.

Cerebral NIRS as a marker of superior vena cava oxygen saturation in neonates with congenital heart disease.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) (rSO2c) and superior vena cava venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) in newborn patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Background: NIRS is a noninvasive method to monitor hemoglobin oxygen saturation using nonpulsatile oximetry.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed perioperative data from 100 newborn patients who underwent cardiac surgery for CHD.

Acute upper airway obstruction caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia soft tissue infection.

A previously healthy 71-y-old male developed acute upper airway obstruction caused by a Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection of the mucocutaneous and soft tissue of the neck. Ventilator support was provided via a small-calibre endotracheal tube. Stenotrophomonas was susceptible only to levofloxacin and cotrimoxazole.