Respiratory viruses associated with severe mechanically ventilated pneumonia in children

Are lung ultrasound features more severe in infants with bronchiolitis and coinfections?

Background

The lung ultrasound (LUS) score can be a useful tool to predict the need for respiratory support and the length of hospital stay in infants with bronchiolitis.

Objective

To compare lung ultrasound features in neonates and infants up to three months of age with bronchiolitis to determine whether LUS scores (range 0-36) differ in infants with coinfections or not.

Methods

Neonates and infants younger than three months admitted to neonatal units from October 2022 to March 2023, who underwent lung ultrasound evaluation on admission, were included in this retrospective study.

Results

We included 60 patients who underwent LUS evaluation at admission. Forty-two infants (70.0%) had a single viral infection. Eighteen infants (30.0%) had a coinfection: fifteen infants (25.0%) had more than one virus at PCR; one infant (1.7%) had both a viral coinfection and a viral-bacteria coinfection; two infants (3.3%) had viral-bacteria coinfection. Infants with a single viral infection and those with coinfections had similar LUS scores globally and in different lung zones. An LUS score higher than 8 was identified to significantly predict the need for any respiratory support (p = 0.0035), whereas an LUS score higher than 13 was identified to significantly predict the need for mechanical ventilation (p = 0.024).

Conclusion

In our small cohort of neonates and infants younger than three months hospitalized with bronchiolitis, we found no statistically significant differences in the LUS score on admission between patients with a single viral infection and those with multiple infections.

Molecular epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in children with acute respiratory illnesses in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Globally, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common etiologic agent of acute respiratory illnesses in children. However, its burden has not been well addressed in developing countries. We aimed to estimate the molecular epidemiology of RSV in children less than 18 years of age with acute respiratory infections in Africa by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Global Index Medicus databases to identify studies published from January 1, 2002, to April 27, 2022, following the PRISMA 2020 guideline. We assessed the study quality using the Joanna Brigg's Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. We conducted a qualitative synthesis by describing the characteristics of included studies and performed the quantitative synthesis with random effects model using STATA-14. We checked for heterogeneity with Q statistics, quantified by I², and determined the prediction interval. We performed subgroup analyses to explain the sources of heterogeneity and assessed publication biases by funnel plots augmented with Egger's test.

Results

Eighty-eight studies with 105 139 participants were included in the review. The overall pooled prevalence of RSV in children <18 years of age was 23% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 20, 25%). Considerable heterogeneity was present across the included studies. The adjusted prediction interval was found to be 19%-27%. Heterogeneities were explained by subgroups analyses. The highest prevalence of RSV was found among inpatients, 28% (95% CI = 25, 31%) compared with inpatients/outpatients and outpatients, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01). The RSV estimate was also highest among those with acute lower respiratory tract illnesses (ALRTIs), 28% (95% CI = 25, 31%) compared with acute upper respiratory tract illnesses (AURTIs) and both acute upper/lower respiratory manifestations, with statistically different prevalence (P < 0.01). RSV infection estimates in each sub-region of Africa were statistically different (P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in RSV infections by designs, specimen types, and specimen conditions, despite them contributing to heterogeneity.

Conclusions

We found a high prevalence of RSV in pediatric populations with acute respiratory tract illnesses in Africa, highlighting that the prevention and control of RSV infections in children deserve more attention.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42022327054.

Study on the Application of the Concept of Childlike Interest with Refined Nursing Intervention in the Treatment of Children with Severe Pneumonia

Objectives

To analyze the application of childlike concept with refined nursing intervention in the treatment of children with severe pneumonia.

Methods

100 cases of children with severe pneumonia admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to June 2021 were selected and divided into the control group and the observation group, in which the control group was given refined nursing care and the observation group was given the childlike concept with refined nursing intervention to compare the treatment effects of patients in both groups. The clinical indexes such as recovery time of body temperature, disappearance time of pulmonary rales, recovery time of heart rate, disappearance time of cough, and hospitalization time, were compared between the two groups.

Results

Compared with the control group, the time to recovery of body temperature, time to disappearance of pulmonary rales, time to recovery of heart rate, time to disappearance of cough, and hospitalization time were significantly lower in the observation group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the compliance rate of patients in the observation group was significantly lower, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the total effective rate of patients in the observation group was significantly higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the overall satisfaction rate of patients in the observation group was significantly higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of univariate analysis showed that the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in terms of economic conditions, payment method, child's condition, child's age, comorbid underlying diseases, and nursing care method, and the results of logistic multifactor regression analysis showed that the payment method of self-payment, child's critical condition, and comorbid underlying diseases were the most important factors affecting the anxiety of the family members of children with severe pneumonia. risk factors for the occurrence of anxiety in the families of children with severe pneumonia, and the method of care was a protective factor (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The concept of childlike fun and refined nursing interventions can effectively improve the treatment effect of children with severe pneumonia, improve patients' condition, increase patients' compliance and satisfaction, and reduce the risk of anxiety and other negative emotions of the child's family members.