Adenovirus Pneumonitis and Disseminated Viremia in a Neonate Successfully Treated With Steroids, Cidofovir and Ecmo.

A 5-day-old neonate was admitted with chest radiograph showing right-lung opacification. This, together with a severe adenovirus (AdV) viremia (11.8 million copies/mL), indicated severe adenovirus pneumonitis.

Mycobacterium canettii Tuberculosis Lymphadenopathy in a 3-Year-old Child.

A 3-year-old male originating from Djibouti presented with a cervical mass evolving for 2 months. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy was suspected based on biopsy results, and he improved quickly on standard antituberculous quadritherapy. Subsequently some features of the mycobacterium that grew in culture were unusual.

Does the fibrinogen/albumin ratio predict the prognosis of pregnancies with abortus imminens?

Objectives: To investigate the fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR) of pregnant women with abortus imminens (AI) and its prognostic value for predicting spontaneous abortion.

Methods: A total 102 early pregnancies, 52 had been diagnosed with AI and 50 ages and body mass index matched healthy control pregnant women were included in this prospective observational study conducted in the Research and Training Hospital, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey between September 2019 and August 2020. Fibrinogen/albumin values were compared between AI and control group.

Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam Against Contemporary Pathogens From Urinary Tract Infections and Intra-abdominal Infections Collected From US Children During the 2016-2019 INFORM Surveillance Program.

Background: Antibacterial activity of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) was evaluated against bacterial isolates from children in the United States with a urinary tract infection (UTI) or intra-abdominal infection (IAI) during the 2016-2019 International Network for Optimal Resistance Monitoring program. Prevalence of isolates and susceptibility to CAZ-AVI in pediatric and adult patients were compared.

Methods: Bacterial isolates were collected from children with a UTI or IAI at 70 US medical centers from 2016 to 2019.

The Clinical Presentation of Pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections-A Single Center Cohort.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired upper and lower respiratory infections in school-age children; however, there is increasing recognition that younger children are also affected. Clinical manifestations vary from asymptomatic, to severe complicated pneumonia sometimes with extrapulmonary manifestations.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all MP positive pediatric patients admitted to the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center.

Bordetella pertussis Infection in Infants and Young Children in Shanghai, China, 2016-2017: Clinical Features, Genotype Variations of Antigenic Genes and Macrolides Resistance.

Background: The global resurgence of pertussis in countries with high vaccination coverage has been a concern of public health.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for Bordetella pertussis culture from children with suspected pertussis. Clinical and vaccination information were reviewed through electronic medical chart and immunization record.

Group B Streptococcal Neonatal and Early Infancy Infections in Iceland, 1976-2015.

Background: Despite a risk-based peripartum chemoprophylaxis approach in Iceland since 1996, Streptococcus agalactiae [group B streptococci (GBS)] remains an important cause of early-onset [<7 days, early-onset disease (EOD)] and late-onset disease (LOD; 7 days to 3 months).

Methods: We studied GBS invasive disease in children <1 year in Iceland in 1976-2015. Bacteria (n = 98) were characterized by susceptibility to a panel of antimicrobials, capsular serotyping, resistance genes, surface protein and pilus-locus profiling and multilocus sequence typing.

Cellular requirements for iron-sulfur cluster insertion into the antiviral radical SAM protein viperin.

Viperin (RSAD2) is an interferon-stimulated antiviral protein that belongs to the radical -adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme family. Viperin's iron-sulfur (Fe/S) cluster is critical for its antiviral activity against many different viruses. CIA1 (CIAO1), an essential component of the cytosolic iron-sulfur protein assembly (CIA) machinery, is crucial for Fe/S cluster insertion into viperin and hence for viperin's antiviral activity.

Cocolonization of Pneumococcal Serotypes in Healthy Children Attending Day Care Centers: Molecular Versus Conventional Methods.

Objectives: Pneumococci are common colonizer, especially of children, and cocolonization of different serotypes is an important factor for intraspecies genetic exchange. The aim of this study was to analyze pneumococcal carriage and serotype distribution in unvaccinated healthy children in Iceland and compare conventional culture methods and molecular methods using DNA extracted directly from the samples.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 514 children aged 2-6 year attending day care centers in Reykjavik in 2009.

Roll-Plate Alone Does Not Demonstrate Colonization In Silicone Neonatal Catheters.

We compared roll-plate, sonication and slicing for the detection of colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection (C-RBSI) in 90 silicone neonatal peripherally inserted central catheters. Colonization was detected by roll-plate, sonication and slicing in 3.4%, 6.

Clinical and Microbiology Profile and Outcome of Diarrhea by Coccidian Parasites in Immunocompetent Children.

Background: Several studies have reported prevalence of pediatric coccidian parasitic diarrhea, but there is little information about their clinical profile, management and outcome. This study reviews the clinical profile and treatment outcome of coccidian parasitic diarrhea in immunocompetent children.

Methods: Five thousand one hundred and twenty-three immunocompetent children younger than 15 years of age presenting with acute diarrhea to a tertiary care pediatric hospital during a period of 4 years (2009-2012) were included in the study.

Performance of the Simplexa™ Flu A/B & RSV Direct Kit on respiratory samples collected in saline solution.

Background: Molecular assays for diagnosis of influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with short turnaround time are of considerable clinical importance. We have evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Simplexa(™) Flu A/B & RSV Direct Kit, which has a run time of 60 min, using different types of respiratory samples collected from patients with a suspected respiratory tract infection, including materials not previously evaluated on this kit.

Methods: In total, 210 clinical respiratory samples were analyzed using both the Simplexa direct assay and a laboratory-developed assay (LDA).

Need for species-specific detection for the diagnosis of amoebiasis in a non-endemic setting.

The diagnosis of amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is traditionally based on microscopy. However, the specificity of this method may be questioned, especially in areas where infections by E. histolytica are rare.

Nocardiosis at the turn of the century.

Nocardia species is an uncommon pathogen that affects both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients. The clinical and microbiologic spectrum of nocardiosis has changed recently due to the widespread use of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, the emergence of new types of immunosuppressed patients, and the improved identification of isolates using molecular techniques. Nocardia asteroides was traditionally considered the predominant organism, and prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole was considered almost universally protective.

Recurrent Escherichia coli bloodstream infections: epidemiology and risk factors.

Patients with recurrent episodes of Escherichia coli bloodstream infection (REC-BSI) have been described previously only in small studies. We report on the incidence, clinical significance, and predisposing conditions of REC-BSI in a general hospital from 1992 to 2005. All patients with E.

Open-ended assignments and student responsibility.

An inquiry-based laboratory course was created in an effort to increase student responsibility in learning and to improve teaching in areas related to molecular medicine. Authentic medical cases with both scientific and clinical aspects formed the basis of a project-oriented course that also included student laboratory work focused on the disease-related proteins. Students used basic biochemical techniques to develop and test hypotheses relating their results to the clinical findings.