The burden of viral infections in pediatric intensive care unit between endemic and pandemic coronavirus infections: A tertiary care center experience

Recent Progress in Human Milk Oligosaccharides and Its Antiviral Efficacy

Gastrointestinal (GI)-associated viruses, including rotavirus (RV), norovirus (NV), and enterovirus, usually invade host cells, transmit, and mutate their genetic information, resulting in influenza-like symptoms, acute gastroenteritis, encephalitis, or even death. The unique structures of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) enable them to shape the gut microbial diversity and endogenous immune system of human infants. Growing evidence suggests that HMOs can enhance host resistance to GI-associated viruses but without a systematic summary to review the mechanism. The present review examines the lactose- and neutral-core HMOs and their antiviral effects in the host. The potential negative impacts of enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) and other GI viruses on children are extensive and include neurological sequelae, neurodevelopmental retardation, and cognitive decline. However, the differences in the binding affinity of HMOs for GI viruses are vast. Hence, elucidating the mechanisms and positive effects of HMOs against different viruses may facilitate the development of novel HMO derived oligosaccharides.

Prevalence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Children Admitted to Pediatric ‎Intensive Care Units in the Middle East: A Systematic Review

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common healthcare-associated disease in intensive care units, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. This systematic review aims to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies for VAP in the Middle East. PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were systematically searched to include the relevant literature. Rayyan QCRI was used throughout this systematic approach. Ten studies, involving a total of 6295 patients diagnosed with VAP, were included in this review. Among these patients, 336 (5.3%) developed VAP. The prevalence of VAP in children and neonates in the Middle East was relatively low. Risk factors associated with VAP development included prematurity, low birth weight, prolonged mechanical ventilation, enteral feeding, intrusive devices such as umbilical catheters, and cardiac operations. All reviewed studies emphasized the importance of infection control measures in reducing the risk of VAP.