Epidemiology and outcome of necrotizing fasciitis in children: an active surveillance study of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program

The Thousand Faces of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections: Update on Epidemiology, Symptoms, and Therapy

Invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pyogfenes (iGAS), commonly known as Group A Streptococcus, represent a significant public health concern due to their potential for rapid progression and life-threatening complications. Epidemiologically, invasive GAS infections exhibit a diverse global distribution, affecting individuals of all ages with varying predisposing factors. The pathogenesis of invasive GAS involves an array of virulence factors that contribute to tissue invasion, immune evasion, and systemic dissemination. In pediatrics, in the last few years, an increase in iGAS infections has been reported worldwide becoming a challenging disease to diagnose and treat promptly. This review highlights the current knowledge on pathogenesis, clinical presentations, and therapeutic approaches for iGAS in children.

Epidemiological Situation of Necrotizing Fasciitis and Factors in Thailand and Factors Associated with Its Morbidity and Mortality, 2014-2018

INTRODUCTION

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare skin and soft-tissue bacterial infection with high morbidity and mortality. Knowledge about the prevalence and incidence of NF in Thailand is quite sparse. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of NF in Thailand and factors that may be potentially associated with NF morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using secondary data from Thailand's national health databases between 2014 and 2018 was conducted. Descriptive statistics using median and percentage formats were used. This was complemented by multivariable logistic regression to determine the association between various factors (such as age and underlying diseases) with NF morbidity and mortality. Univariate spatial data analysis was exercised to identify the geographical hot spots in which the disease appeared.

RESULTS

During 2014-2018, we found 90,683 NF cases. About 4.86% of the cases died. The median age for all cases was 59.39 years old. The annual incidence of NF demonstrated an upward trend (from 26.08 per 100,000 population in 2014 to 32.64 per 100,000 population in 2018). The monthly incidence was highest between May and August. A high incidence cluster (as indicated by local Moran's I) was found in the north-eastern region of Thailand. The most infected sites were on the ankles and feet (43.18%) with an amputation rate of 7.99% in all cases. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that the significant risk factor for amputation was a presence of underlying diseases, namely diabetes (OR 7.94, 95% CI 7.34-8.61). Risk factors for mortality included being elderly (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.68-1.98) and a presence of underlying hypertension (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.27), cirrhosis (OR 4.67, 95% CI 4.17-5.21), and malignancy (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.55-2.26).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

As the elderly and those with chronic underlying diseases are likely to face non-preferable health outcomes from NF, healthcare providers should pay great attention to these groups of patients. Early and intensive treatment might be considered in these groups of patients. Further studies that aim to validate the volume of actual NF cases and reported NF cases are recommended.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: A Focused Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Operative Management, Antimicrobial Therapy, and Pediatrics

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis is a major health problem throughout the world. The purpose of this review is to assist providers with the care of these patients through a better understanding of the pathophysiology and management options. Methods: This is a collaborative review of the literature between members of the Surgical Infection Society of North America and World Society of Emergency Surgery. Results: Necrotizing fasciitis continues to be difficult to manage with the mainstay being early diagnosis and surgical intervention. Recognition of at-risk populations assists with the initiation of treatment, thereby impacting outcomes. Conclusions: Although there are some additional treatment strategies available, surgical debridement and antimicrobial therapy are central to the successful eradication of the disease process.

Experience With a Care Process Model in the Evaluation of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infections in a Pediatric Emergency Department

OBJECTIVES

Care process models (CPMs) for certain conditions have improved clinical outcomes in children. This study describes the implementation and impact of a CPM for the evaluation of musculoskeletal infections in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

METHODS

A retrospective pre-post intervention study was performed to analyze the impact of a musculoskeletal infection CPM. Patients were identified retrospectively through electronic order history for imaging of an extremity or joint and recommended laboratory tests. Clinical outcomes evaluated included hospital length of stay (LOS), time to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), time to administration of antibiotics, hospital admission rate, and 30-day readmission rate.

RESULTS

Musculoskeletal infection evaluations completed in the ED were reviewed from 1 year before implementation (n = 383) and 2 years after implementation (n = 1219) of the CPM. A significant improvement in the time to antibiotic administration for all patients (4.3 vs 3.7 hours, P < 0.05) and for patients with confirmed musculoskeletal infections (9.5 vs 4.9 hours, P < 0.05) was observed after the implementation of the CPM. The overall time to MRI (13.2 vs 10.3 hours, P = 0.29) and hospital LOS (4.7 vs 3.7 days, P = 0.11) were improved for all patients but were not statistically significant. The admission rate and 30-day readmission were similar before and after the implementation of the CPM.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of a musculoskeletal infection CPM has standardized the approach to the evaluation and diagnosis of musculoskeletal infections resulting in a significant decrease in the time to administer antibiotics and a downward trend in time to MRI and hospital LOS.

A systematic review of necrotising fasciitis in children from its first description in 1930 to 2018

BACKGROUND

Necrotising fasciitis is a rapidly progressing soft-tissue infection with a low incidence that carries a relevant risk of morbidity and mortality. Although necrotising fasciitis is often fatal in adults, its case fatality rate seems to be lower in children. A highly variable clinical presentation makes the diagnosis challenging, which often results in misdiagnosis and time-delay to therapy.

METHODS

We conducted a protocol-based systematic review to identify specific features of necrotising fasciitis in children aged one month to 17 years. We searched 'PubMed', 'Web of Science' and 'SCOPUS' for relevant literature. Primary outcomes were incidence and case fatality rates in population-based studies, and skin symptoms on presentation. We also assessed signs of systemic illness, causative organisms, predisposing factors, and reconstructive procedures as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

We included five studies reporting incidence and case fatality rates, two case-control studies, and 298 cases from 195 reports. Incidence rates varied between 0.022 and 0.843 per 100,000 children per year with a case-fatality rate ranging from 0% to 14.3%. The most frequent skin symptoms were erythema (58.7%; 175/298) and swelling (48%; 143/298), whereas all other symptoms occurred in less than 50% of cases. The majority of cases had fever (76.7%; 188/245), but other signs of systemic illness were present in less than half of the cohort. Group-A streptococci accounted for 44.8% (132/298) followed by Gram-negative rods in 29.8% (88/295), while polymicrobial infections occurred in 17.3% (51/295). Extremities were affected in 45.6% (136/298), of which 73.5% (100/136) occurred in the lower extremities. Skin grafts were necessary in 51.6% (84/162) of the pooled cases, while flaps were seldom used (10.5%; 17/162). The vast majority of included reports originate from developed countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical suspicion remains the key to diagnose necrotising fasciitis. A combination of swelling, pain, erythema, and a systemic inflammatory response syndrome might indicate necrotising fasciitis. Incidence and case-fatality rates in children are much smaller than in adults, although there seems to be a relevant risk of morbidity indicated by the high percentage of skin grafts. Systematic multi-institutional research efforts are necessary to improve early diagnosis on necrotising fasciits.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the neck and head complicated with chronic osteomyelitis: Case report presentation

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Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck in children is very rare.

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Proper early diagnosis and adequate antibiotic therapy played an important role.

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Early aggressive surgical treatment is crucial for an adequate outcome.

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The vacuum-assisted closure and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are very useful to accelerate wound healing.

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A multidisciplinary management is fundamental to increase treatment success.

Introduction

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe infectious condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality and characteristically has a higher incidence in adults; pediatric cases are very rare. In this case report we describe, the clinical presentation, management and outcome of a patient with necrotizing fasciitis of the neck and head complicated with chronic osteomyelitis.

Presentation of the case

An 18 month-old, latin, male, diagnosed with rickets and Crouzon syndrome, twenty-four hours post- craniofacial remodeling surgery presented tissue edema, indurated skin and violaceous and well delimited lesions in the neck and head. The patient developed septic shock, acute osteomyelitis and infection of the cranial grafts. Multiple surgical lavages, debridation of the necrotic tissue and resection of the affected bone, in combination with multiple antibiotics, laboratory test methods, VAC therapy and hyperbaric oxygen were required for successful treatment and full recovery of the patient.

Discussion

Although early antibiotic therapy and critical care are basic for the treatment of patients with NF, early aggressive surgical treatment is crucial for an adequate outcome. Adjuvant treatment for NF such as the Vacuum-assisted closure and the hyperbaric oxygen therapy are very useful to accelerate wound healing. Moreover, special laboratory test methods such as the checkerboard can be used to determine the adequate antimicrobial combination of drugs in the case of multi resistant organisms.

Conclusions

Early diagnosis, adequate antibiotic therapy and aggressive surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue combined with VAC and hyperbaric oxygen therapy played an important role in the successful treatment of NF.

Group B Streptococcal Cellulitis and Necrotizing Fasciitis in Infants: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus regarding approaches to infantile group B streptococcal (GBS) head and neck cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis. We present a case of GBS necrotizing cellulitis and summarize the literature regarding the presentation and management of infantile head and neck GBS cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis.

METHODS

The literature was searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Medline (inception to April 2017) by 2 independent review authors. Inclusion criteria encompassed case reports or case series of infants less than 12 months of age with GBS cellulitis of the head and neck or with GBS necrotizing fasciitis without restriction to the head and neck. Data were extracted using tables developed a priori by 2 independent review authors, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus.

RESULTS

An infant presenting at 33 days of age with GBS facial necrotizing fasciitis was successfully treated conservatively with antibiotics. Our literature search identified 40 infants with GBS head and neck cellulitis. Late-onset (98%), male gender (65%) and prematurity (58%) predominated. Penicillin is the main therapy used (97%). The 12 identified cases of necrotizing fasciitis were associated with polymicrobial etiology (36%) and broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Seventy-five percent required debridement, including 4 of 5 (80%) cases involving the head and neck.

CONCLUSIONS

Skin and soft tissue involvement is an uncommon manifestation of late-onset GBS infection which requires antibiotic therapy and possibly surgical debridement cases with necrotizing fasciitis.

Presenting features of extremity necrotizing fasciitis in the pediatric patient: a case-control analysis

This analysis sought to develop a tool for early differentiation between pediatric necrotizing fasciitis (NF) of the extremity and more benign infection. All diagnoses of extremity NF, cellulitis, and abscess from a single institution from 2009 to 2015 were included. Vitals and laboratory values were compared between cohorts using analysis of variance and decision tree analysis. NF was associated with thrombocytopenia, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and tachypnea. Decision tree analysis identified C-reactive protein more than 7.0 to be 100% sensitive and 95.7% specific for differentiating NF from cellulitis or abscess. The results offer quantitative support for clinical suspicion of NF in the evaluation of pediatric extremity infection.

Necrotising fasciitis as a complication of primary varicella infection in an immunocompetent child

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is an infrequent yet significant complication of primary varicella infection in immunocompetent children. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl who presented three days into her chicken pox illness, with a rapidly progressing, severely tender erythematous rash surrounding one chicken pox lesion on her thigh. She required intravenous antibiotics, two surgical debridements, a skin graft and a prolonged stay in the paediatric intensive care unit, but ultimately we were able to save her life and limb. NF is a rare complication of chicken pox that has high morbidity and mortality that requires prompt and specific treatment.

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Hospitalized Children With Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology and outcome of hospitalized children with a diagnosis of necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs).

METHODS

Demographic and outcome data of children 1 month to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of NSTI (International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision diagnosis codes 728.86 and 729.4) were extracted from the Kids' Inpatient Database 2009 and 2012. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to determine the factors affecting mortality. The sample data were weighted to get national estimates.

RESULTS

A total of 446 children with NSTI (prevalence of 1.12/10,000 discharges) were included. Males comprised 54%. The median age was 10 (interquartile range 4-16) years. The mortality rate was 6%. In addition, 29.3% of children with NSTI were discharged to either skilled nursing facilities or to home health care compared with 4.5% of children without NSTI (odds ratio 8.9; 95% confidence interval 7.3-10.9; P < 0001). A bacterial infection was reported in 72.1% of children. An infection with Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Gram-negative bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus areus and polymicrobia was present in 34.5%, 21.8%, 8.6%, 3.9%, 18.7% and 13.6% of cases, respectively. A compartment syndrome, severe sepsis/septic shock and toxic shock were documented in 4.4%, 22.2% and 3.2% of the cases, respectively. Severe sepsis/septic shock, the need for mechanical ventilation and Hispanic race were associated with increased mortality, whereas skin/muscle surgery was associated with lower mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

NSTI in children is associated with high morbidity. The mortality is higher with the presence of severe sepsis/septic shock and among Hispanics and lower with surgical intervention.

A 10-Year Review of Necrotizing Fasciitis in the Pediatric Population: Delays to Diagnosis and Management

OBJECTIVE

To assess the promptness and appropriateness of management in pediatric cases of necrotizing fasciitis (NF).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review examined cases of pediatric NF treated at a pediatric tertiary care center over a 10-year period.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were identified over the 10-year period. The median (25th to 75th centile) times to appropriate antibiotic administration, infectious disease consults, surgical consults and debridement surgeries were 2.6 (2.1-3.2), 7.7 (3.4-24.4), 4.6 (1.7-21.0), and 22.1 (10.3-28.4) hours following assessment at triage. The initial antibiotic(s) administered covered the causative organism in 9 of 12 cases. The median (25th to 75th centile) length of hospital stay was 21 (14.0-35.5) days.

CONCLUSIONS

The large variability in the care of these patients speaks to the range of their presenting symptomatology. The lack of a standardized approach to the pediatric patient with suspected NF results in delays in management and suboptimal antibiotic choice.

Management and Novel Adjuncts of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) have been recognized for millennia and continue to impose considerable burden on both patient and society in terms of morbidity, death, and the allocation of resources. With improvements in the delivery of critical care, outcomes have improved, although disease-specific therapies are lacking. The basic principles of early diagnosis, of prompt and broad antimicrobial therapy, and of aggressive debridement have remained unchanged. Clearly novel and new therapeutics are needed to combat this persistently lethal disease. This review emphasizes the pillars of NSTI management and then summarizes the contemporary evidence supporting the incorporation of novel adjuncts to the pharmacologic and operative foundations of managing this disease.

Laboratory evaluation for pediatric patients with suspected necrotizing soft tissue infections: A case-control study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Optimal outcomes for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) depend on rapid diagnosis and management. The Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score is a validated diagnostic tool for adult NSTI, but its value for children remains unknown. We hypothesized that modification of the LRINEC score may increase its diagnostic accuracy for pediatric NSTI.

METHODS

We performed a case-control study of pediatric patients (age <18) with NSTI (cases) and patients with severe soft tissue infections prompting surgical consultation (controls). The LRINEC score was calculated for cases and controls and compared to a modified, pediatric LRINEC (P-LRINEC) score. Diagnostic accuracy was analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2014, 20 cases and 20 controls were identified at two children's hospitals. Median LRINEC score was 3.5 (1-8) for cases and 2 (1-7) for controls (p=0.03). The P-LRINEC was comprised of serum CRP >20 (sensitivity=95% (95%CI 79-100%)) and serum sodium <135 (specificity=95% (95%CI 82-100%)). Area under ROC curves was 0.70 (95%CI 0.54-0.87) for the LRINEC score and 0.84 (95%CI 0.72-0.96) for the P-LRINEC score (p=0.06).

CONCLUSION

The P-LRINEC is a simplified version of the LRINEC score utilizing only CRP and sodium and may provide superior accuracy in predicting pediatric NSTI.

Children with dermatological conditions admitted to paediatric intensive care: analysis of a national clinical audit database

There is little published literature about dermatological conditions in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs). The aim of this study was to describe the range of skin disorders in children admitted to PICUs in the UK and Ireland using data from a national audit. An analysis was conducted using data for 2002 - 2010 from the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet). In total, 999 admissions of 882 children were identified, representing 0.8% of all PICU admissions. The most frequent dermatological conditions were skin infections, including cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis, and inflammatory conditions. In 28% of cases, the dermatological diagnosis was considered the reason for PICU admission, in 35% it was a manifestation of systemic disease and in 37% it was considered incidental. Overall mortality was similar to the general PICU population, with 52 deaths (5.2%), but was greater in children with vascular/haematological conditions.

Liver cirrhosis as a real risk factor for necrotising fasciitis: a three-year population-based follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is often found in patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, alcoholism, malignancy or liver cirrhosis. However, it remains unknown whether liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of NF. This study aimed to determine whether liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of NF, and to identify the relationship between severity of liver cirrhosis and occurrence of NF.

METHODS

The National Health Insurance Research Database, maintained by Taiwan's National Health Insurance programme, was retrospectively analysed, and the hospitalisation data of 40,802 cirrhotic patients and 40,865 randomly selected, age‑ and gender‑matched non‑cirrhotic control patients was collected. The medical records of all patients were individually followed for a three‑year period from the patients' first hospitalisation in 2004.

RESULTS

During the three‑year follow‑up period, there were 299 (0.7%) cirrhotic patients with NF and 160 (0.4%) non‑cirrhotic patients with NF. Cox regression analysis showed that liver cirrhosis was a risk factor for the occurrence of NF during the study period (hazard ratio 1.982; p < 0.001). Among cirrhotic patients, those with complicated liver cirrhosis had a higher risk for the occurrence of NF than patients with non‑complicated liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio 1.320; p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Cirrhotic patients had a higher risk for the occurrence of NF than non‑cirrhotic patients, and the risk for NF was especially high among patients with complicated liver cirrhosis.

Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Chest Wall: Report of Pediatric Cases

Necrotizing fasciitis is a soft tissue infection uncommonly described in children and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not treated early and aggressively. Reports of cases involving the upper torso are rare in general. In adults, necrotizing fasciitis is most commonly described in the abdomen, perineum, and extremities. For children, particularly neonates, necrotizing fasciitis most commonly involves the trunk presenting as omphalitis. In this report, we describe 2 pediatric cases of necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall that presented within 6 months from each other at Los Angeles County Hospital/University of Southern California Pediatric Emergency Department. Both cases involved previously healthy children with above normal body mass indices of 36 and 25.6, respectively. These cases are noteworthy because of the rarity of necrotizing fasciitis among children especially in the chest wall, atypical presentation with nonspecific symptoms which made the diagnosis challenging, and suggestion that obesity may be a potential risk factor. Despite the rarity of this disease, the information presented in these cases may aid in raising the index of suspicion for diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis.

Twenty Years of Medically-Attended Pediatric Varicella and Herpes Zoster in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine if reductions in medically-attended pediatric varicella and herpes zoster occurred in Ontario, Canada, after publicly-funded varicella immunization was implemented in 2004.

METHODS

For fiscal years (FY) 1992-2011, we examined data on varicella and herpes zoster physician office visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations (including for varicella-associated skin and soft tissue infections [SSTI]), and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, among those aged <18 years. The pre-vaccine, privately-available, and vaccine program eras were FY1992-1998, FY1999-2003, and FY2004-2011, respectively. We used Poisson regressionand Kruskal-Wallis tests (all at the p<0.05 level of significance), and compared rates using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Incidence of varicella office visits declined over the study period from a high of 25.1/1,000 in FY1994 to a low of 3.2/1,000 in FY2011. ED visits and hospitalizations followed similar patterns of decreasing rates later in the study period. IRRs comparing the vaccine program versus pre-vaccine eras were 0.29 (95%CI: 0.26-0.32) for office visits, 0.29 (95%CI: 0.21-0.40) for ED visits, and 0.41 (95%CI: 0.10-1.69) for hospitalizations. Annual declines in varicella office visits were 7.7%, 9.1%, 8.4%, and 8.4% per year among children aged <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-11 years, and ≥12 years, respectively (all p<0.001). Age-specific rates of varicella-associated SSTI declined significantly among children <12 years (p<0.001) and rates of ICU admissions decreased significantly for children <1 year (p = 0.02). (p<0.001) over the study period. For children aged 5-17 years, herpes zoster office visits decreased whereas ED visits increased (both p<0.001) and there was a small, non-significant (p = 0.07), decrease in hospitalizations.

CONCLUSION

Medically-attended varicella decreased during the study period, particularly since varicella vaccine was publicly-funded. Results suggest immunization program-related changes in varicella epidemiology, including herd effects, demonstrated by reductions in varicella in program-ineligible age groups. We did not observe a consistent impact on herpes zoster.

Going Out on a Limb: Do Not Delay Diagnosis of Necrotizing Fasciitis in Varicella Infection

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare complication of varicella zoster (chicken pox) infection. Its diagnosis can be delayed or missed, which increases mortality and morbidity, because it initially presents similarly to cellulitis. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with a swollen leg, the difficulties in the diagnosis of NF, and a review of the literature. Necrotizing fasciitis complicating varicella zoster in children is associated with 3.4% mortality, although this rises to 13.6% in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Seventy-one percent of cases are confirmed as being caused by group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus. The association of NF with chicken pox is discussed along with the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment options. Necrotizing fasciitis is a surgical emergency and should be considered by all emergency department acute care practitioners in cases of varicella in which fever is enduring and swelling or pain is disproportionate. Because of the difficulty in diagnosis, senior opinion should be sought early.

Fatal Necrotizing Fasciitis in a Child following a Blunt Chest Trauma

Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious soft tissue infection rarely occurring in children after blunt trauma. Due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, a high index of suspicion is necessary for prompt diagnosis and treatment. We describe a 6-year-old Costa Rican girl who died secondary to multiple complications following a posttraumatic necrotizing fasciitis.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections in the intensive care unit

Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a severe illness that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is often caused by a wide spectrum of pathogens and is most frequently polymicrobial. Care for patients with necrotizing soft tissue infection requires a team approach with expertise from critical care, surgery, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation specialists. The early diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infection is challenging, but the keys to successful management of patients with necrotizing soft tissue infection are early recognition and complete surgical debridement. Early initiation of appropriate broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy must take into consideration the potential pathogens. Critical care management components such as the initial fluid resuscitation, end-organ support, pain management, nutrition support, and wound care are all important aspects of the care of patients with necrotizing soft tissue infection. Soft tissue reconstruction should take into account both functional and cosmetic outcome.

Type 2 diabetes, medication-induced diabetes, and monogenic diabetes in Canadian children: a prospective national surveillance study

OBJECTIVE

To determine in Canadian children aged <18 years the 1) incidence of type 2 diabetes, medication-induced diabetes, and monogenic diabetes; 2) clinical features of type 2 diabetes; and 3) coexisting morbidity associated with type 2 diabetes at diagnosis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This Canadian prospective national surveillance study involved a network of pediatricians, pediatric endocrinologists, family physicians, and adult endocrinologists. Incidence rates were calculated using Canadian Census population data. Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate demographic and clinical features.

RESULTS

From a population of 7.3 million children, 345 cases of non-type 1 diabetes were reported. The observed minimum incidence rates of type 2, medication-induced, and monogenic diabetes were 1.54, 0.4, and 0.2 cases per 100,000 children aged <18 years per year, respectively. On average, children with type 2 diabetes were aged 13.7 years and 8% (19 of 227) presented before 10 years. Ethnic minorities were overrepresented, but 25% (57 of 227) of children with type 2 diabetes were Caucasian. Of children with type 2 diabetes, 95% (206 of 216) were obese and 37% (43 of 115) had at least one comorbidity at diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first prospective national surveillance study in Canada to report the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and also the first in the world to report the incidence of medication-induced and monogenic diabetes. Rates of type 2 diabetes were higher than expected with important regional variation. These results support recommendations that screening for comorbidity should occur at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Invasive group A streptococcal disease: Management and chemoprophylaxis

Given the potentially devastating consequences of severe invasive group A streptococcal disease, attention has been directed toward the role of chemoprophylaxis and the optimization of management strategies. In response to this issue, Canadian guidelines were previously developed. However, the uptake of these recommendations is variable across Canada. The present document summarizes key components of the recommendations for use by Canadian physicians. The importance of penicillin in the treatment of group A streptococcal disease is reaffirmed, and the role of clindamycin is discussed. In addition, in situations in which chemoprophylaxis may be considered, the preferred agents are summarized.

Genetic commonality of macrolide-resistant group A beta hemolytic streptococcus pharyngeal strains

Background

Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) pharyngitis is a common childhood illness. Penicillin remains the gold standard therapy, but macrolides are indicated for the penicillin allergic patient, and are often used for convenience.

Methods

We conducted a surveillance study of children with pharyngitis and positive streptococcal rapid antigen testing from 10/05 to 10/06 at 2 sites (A & B). Demographics, treatment, and resistance data was collected and compared to previous data from 2002. Erythromycin (EM) resistance was determined by disk diffusion and E-test on 500 isolates. Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to measure genetic relatedness of isolates. StatXact version 8 software (Cytel Inc., Cambridge, MA) was utilized to perform Fisher's exact test and exact confidence interval (CI) analysis.

Results

There were no differences in resistance rates or demographic features, with the exception of race, between sites A & B. EM resistance was 0 in 2002, 3.5% in 2005-06 at site A, and 4.5% in 2005-06 at site B. 3/7 and 3/9 had inducible resistance at A and B respectively. 8 isolates had relatedness ≥80%, 5 of which were 88% homologous on PFGE.

Conclusion

Community macrolide resistance has increased following increased macrolide use. These results may have treatment implications if use continues to be high.

Varicella-related deaths in children and adolescents--Germany 2003-2004

AIM

Although varicella is acknowledged as a rare cause of death in children, there are few comprehensive data with respect to the clinical course leading to death.

METHODS

A nationwide, active surveillance was carried out in Germany for children up to age 17 years who were admitted to a paediatric hospital for varicella or associated complications, including deaths.

RESULTS

A total of 10 children with varicella-associated death were reported over period of 2 years, yielding a mortality rate of 0.4/1 000 000 children per year. Three deaths occurred in children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia and disseminated varicella, two shortly after diagnosis of leukaemia and therefore not preventable, and one during remission with an untypical presentation. Two children died with a congenital varicella syndrome. There was no death in children with neonatal varicella. Four other cases were related to varicella pneumonia or septicaemia and one to myocarditis.

CONCLUSION

In a population with no general varicella vaccination programme, varicella accounted for a small but not negligible risk for death in immunocompetent and immunocompromised children. Together these data point to the importance of a thoroughly implemented, general varicella vaccination programme.

Should the UK introduce varicella vaccine?

Perspective on the paper by Cameron et al (see page 1062)