Outcomes of a Comprehensive Youth Program for HIV-infected Adolescents in Thailand.

We developed an intervention program for HIV-infected Thai adolescents with two group sessions and two individual sessions, focusing on four strategies: health knowledge, coping skills, sexual risk reduction, and life goals. An audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) was administered to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antiretroviral therapy management, reproductive health, and HIV-associated risk behavior. The program was implemented in two HIV clinics; 165 (84%) adolescents (intervention group) participated in the program; 32 (16%) completed the ACASI without participating in the group or individual sessions (nonintervention group).

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antiretroviral management, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual risk behavior among perinatally HIV-infected youth in Thailand.

More than 30% of perinatally HIV-infected children in Thailand are 12 years and older. As these youth become sexually active, there is a risk that they will transmit HIV to their partners. Data on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of HIV-infected youth in Thailand are limited.

Clinical characteristics and hospital charges among Thai children hospitalized with influenza.

Infants and young children are at high risk for influenza-associated morbidity, mortality, and the need for hospitalization. Only limited information is available regarding the clinical findings, outcomes, and financial burden incurred by Thai children hospitalized with severe influenza, therefore, we examined these areas in this retrospective study. The children were diagnosed with having influenza by either a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or rapid testing.

Cost-utility analysis of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: protection at what price in the Thai context?

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the costs and outcomes of offering the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Thailand compared to the current situation of no PCV vaccination.

Methods: Two vaccination schedules were considered: two-dose primary series plus a booster dose (2+1) and three-dose primary series plus a booster dose (3+1). A cost-utility analysis was conducted using a societal perspective.

Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus meningitis in an infant: a case report and literature review.

A case of 6-week-old male infant with meningitis and concurrent bacteremia caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus (Streptococcus bovis biotype 11.2) is presented. The isolates were susceptible to all beta-lactam antibiotics.

Therapeutic effectiveness of the generic preparation of meropenem (Mapenem) in the treatment of moderate to severe infection in children.

Objective: To compare treatment effectiveness and tolerability between generic meropenem (Mapenem, Siam Pharmaceutical) and the original formulation.

Material And Method: A retrospective review using historical control of children hospitalized at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health was conducted. The demographics, clinical, and treatment outcomes of 180 children receiving generic meropenem were compared with that of 180 children receiving original meropenem.

Risk factors for carbapenem non-susceptibility and mortality in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia in children.

Objective: To examine the risk factors of carbapenem non-susceptibility and mortality among children with Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 180 cases with A. baumannii bacteremia.

Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica septicemia in an infant: a case report.

Septicemia due to Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica is a rare occurrence. We report a fatal case of M. haemolytica septicemia in a seven-month-old infant who presented with prolonged fever, sepsis, and pneumonitis without discernable preceding history of animal bites or contact.

A review on the clinical spectrum and natural history of human influenza.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to provide updated information on the clinical spectrum and natural history of human influenza, including risk factors for severe disease, and to identify the knowledge gap in this area.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE database of the recent literature for the period January 2009 to August 17, 2011 with regard to the abovementioned aspects of human influenza, focusing on A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza.

Results: The clinical spectrum and outcomes of cases of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza have been mild and rather indistinguishable from those of seasonal influenza.

Invasive salmonellosis in urban Thai children: a ten-year review.

Background: Invasive, extraintestinal salmonellosis carries a significant burden of childhood morbidity especially among infants and young children in developing countries.

Objectives: To determine the clinical manifestations, outcomes, laboratory findings and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in patients with invasive salmonellosis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted among children 0-18 years of age diagnosed with invasive salmonellosis receiving care at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, Thailand, from 2001 to 2010.

Antibiotic and systemic therapies for pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-exposed children.

Introduction: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-exposed children. Administration of appropriate empirical antimicrobial and/or adjunctive systemic therapies may improve clinical outcomes.

Methodology: To identify effective antimicrobial and/or adjunctive systemic therapy for pneumonia in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed, uninfected children, we searched for published and unpublished studies from 11 databases including MedLine, Global Health Database, Biological Abstracts (BIOSIS), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the World Health Organization Library Information System, AIDSLine, and the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe, along with additional four regional databases including African Index Medicus, Latin America and Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asian databases.

Invasive Vibrio cholerae non-O1 non-0139 infection in a thalassemic child.

Invasive, extra-intestinal infection with Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 is rare especially among children. Herein the authors report a 12-year-old girl with underlying beta-thalassemia status post-splenectomy presenting with V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 gastroenteritis with concomitant septicemia.

In vitro activities of colistin and ampicillin/sulbactam against Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of colistin, and ampicillin/sulbactam against A. baumannii isolated from pediatric patients and to compare the susceptibility testing using disc diffusion with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) E-test method.

Material And Method: One hundred strains of A.

Systematic review on the etiology and antibiotic treatment of pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children.

Objectives And Methods: A systematic review of studies that were published between January 1990 and February 2009 on the etiology and antimicrobial or adjunctive systemic management of CAP in HIV-infected children.

Results: Pneumocystis jirovecii had the strongest association with HIV infection, with a summary odds ratio of 10.

Invasive pneumococcal infection in urban Thai children: a 10-year review.

Objective: To determine the disease frequency, demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and drug susceptibility patterns of childhood invasive pneumococcal infections in a hospital setting in Thailand.

Material And Method: A retrospective review was conducted of invasive pneumococcal infections among children aged < 18 years from January 1, 1998 - December 31, 2007 at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH). Medical records of case-patients were reviewed to collect information on demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and drug susceptibility patterns of infecting isolates.

Development of a culturally appropriate health-related quality of life measure for human immunodeficiency virus-infected children in Thailand.

Aim:   Develop a reliable and valid self-report health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children in Thailand.

Methods:   The Thai Quality of Life for HIV-infected Children instrument, the ThQLHC (an HRQOL measure that uses the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory as a generic core and a 17-item HIV-targeted scale), was developed and administered cross-sectionally to 292 HIV-infected children in Thailand. The disease-targeted scale included HIV-related symptoms, ability to adhere with their treatment regimens and self-image.

Health-related Quality of Life of Thai children with HIV infection: a comparison of the Thai Quality of Life in Children (ThQLC) with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ version 4.0 (PedsQL™ 4.0) Generic Core Scales.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Thai Quality of Life in Children (ThQLC) and compare it with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™ 4.0) in a sample of children receiving long-term HIV care in Thailand.

Methods: The ThQLC and the PedsQL™ 4.

In vitro susceptibility pattern of cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Objective: To determine the in vitro activity of various antimicrobial agents including ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, fosfomycin, netilmicin, colistin, and piperacillin/tazobactam against clinical isolates of cephalosporin-resistant gram-negative bacteria.

Material And Method: All clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria obtained from patients receiving care at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH), Bangkok, Thailand, from 2006-2007 were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility. Those resistant to all cephalosporins were further assessed for additional disc susceptibility and MIC test using E-tests.

Understanding the psychosocial needs of HIV-infected children and families: a qualitative study.

Objective: This study aims to engage children living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers in a qualitative assessment to address psychosocial needs pertaining to this population. The purpose is to identify unique situations and concerns they experienced in dealing with the disease and ongoing treatment process.

Material And Method: Individual in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were employed.

Hospital-based epidemiologic survey of malignancies in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Thailand.

To determine the incidence and spectrum of malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children, we surveyed 48 hospitals in Thailand between 1996 and 2000. There were 23 children (14 boys and 9 girls; average age at diagnosis of malignancy, 4.2 years), and the incidence rate was 0.

Thailand's response to the HIV epidemic: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Thailand's comprehensive national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been extensively documented since the beginning of epidemic. Substantial progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS has been made because awareness of the problem was raised. Top-level political commitment and multisectoral strategies mobilized funds and human resources to implement the control program at all levels.

Immunogenicity and safety of two doses of a paediatric hepatitis A vaccine in thai children: comparison of three vaccination schedules.

As fewer children in Thailand are exposed to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and so do not have seroprotective anti-HAV antibodies, they are becoming an important source of HAV transmission. A flexible HAV vaccination schedule would facilitate incorporation of the vaccine into existing immunization programmes, and we compared the immunogenicity and safety of three HAV immunization schedules. An open, randomized, clinical trial was carried out in which healthy children were given a primary dose of the inactivated hepatitis A vaccine, Avaxim 80 paediatric, with a booster dose 6, 12 or 18 months later.

Survival, disease manifestations, and early predictors of disease progression among children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus infection in Thailand.

Objective: To describe survival and signs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in perinatally infected children in Thailand.

Methods: At 2 large Bangkok hospitals, 295 infants born to HIV-infected mothers were enrolled at birth from November 1992 through September 1994 and followed up with clinical and laboratory evaluations every 1 to 3 months for 18 months. Infected children remained in follow-up thereafter.