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Mauritz MD, von Both U, Dohna-Schwake C, Gille C, Hasan C, Huebner J, Hufnagel M, Knuf M, Liese JG, Renk H, Rudolph H, Schulze-Sturm U, Simon A, Stehling F, Tenenbaum T, Zernikow B. Clinical recommendations for the inpatient management of lower respiratory tract infections in children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment in Germany. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:987-999. [PMID: 38172444 PMCID: PMC10951000 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05401-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment (SNI) require specialized care due to their complex medical needs. In particular, these patients are often affected by severe and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). These infections, including viral and bacterial etiology, pose a significant risk to these patients, often resulting in respiratory insufficiency and long-term impairments. Using expert consensus, we developed clinical recommendations on the management of LRTIs in children and adolescents with SNI. These recommendations emphasize comprehensive multidisciplinary care and antibiotic stewardship. Initial treatment should involve symptomatic care, including hydration, antipyretics, oxygen therapy, and respiratory support. In bacterial LRTIs, antibiotic therapy is initiated based on the severity of the infection, with aminopenicillin plus a beta-lactamase inhibitor recommended for community-acquired LRTIs and piperacillin-tazobactam for patients with chronic lung disease or tracheostomy. Ongoing management includes regular evaluations, adjustments to antibiotic therapy based on pathogen identification, and optimization of supportive care. Implementation of these recommendations aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of LRTIs in children and adolescents with SNI. What is Known: • Children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment are particularly affected by severe and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). • The indication and choice of antibiotic therapy for bacterial LRTI is often difficult because there are no evidence-based treatment recommendations for this heterogeneous but vulnerable patient population; the frequent overuse of broad-spectrum or reserve antibiotics in this patient population increases selection pressure for multidrug-resistant pathogens. What is New: • The proposed recommendations provide a crucial framework for focused diagnostics and treatment of LRTIs in children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment. • Along with recommendations for comprehensive and multidisciplinary therapy and antibiotic stewardship, ethical and palliative care aspects are taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian David Mauritz
- Paediatric Palliative Care Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital, 45711, Datteln, Germany.
- Department of Children's, Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine , Herdecke University, 58448, WittenWitten, Germany.
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Dohna-Schwake
- Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, and Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Gille
- Department of Neonatology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carola Hasan
- Paediatric Palliative Care Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital, 45711, Datteln, Germany
- Department of Children's, Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine , Herdecke University, 58448, WittenWitten, Germany
| | - Johannes Huebner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Hufnagel
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Faculty, University Medical Centre, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus Knuf
- Department for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Worms Clinic, 67550, Worms, Germany
| | - Johannes G Liese
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Renk
- University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Henriette Rudolph
- Department of Pediatrics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ulf Schulze-Sturm
- University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Simon
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Homburg Saar, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Florian Stehling
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, University Children's Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Tobias Tenenbaum
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Academic Teaching Hospital, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10365, Berlin, Germany
| | - Boris Zernikow
- Paediatric Palliative Care Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital, 45711, Datteln, Germany
- Department of Children's, Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine , Herdecke University, 58448, WittenWitten, Germany
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Schmidt P, Hasan C, Mauritz MD, Simon A, Stening K, Hartenstein-Pinter A, Zernikow B, Wager J. Multidrug-resistant organisms in paediatric palliative care patients - Prevalence, risk factors and the impact of a liberal hygiene concept. J Paediatr Child Health 2022; 58:1352-1358. [PMID: 35426461 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.15980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) deserve special attention in health-care facilities for children with life-limiting conditions because these children have an increased risk for colonisation. To avoid nosocomial transmissions to other inpatients, single-room isolation is usually recommended. In the context of paediatric palliative care (PPC), such isolation counters the aim of participation in social activities for the patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MDRO, the predictive value of risk factors and the incidence of nosocomial infections and nosocomial colonisations on a PPC inpatient unit applying a special hygiene concept that enables participation in social activities through risk-adaption and barrier nursing. METHODS Two-year surveillance with MDRO screening of all intakes (N = 386) of a PPC unit on the day of admission and discharge. To determine the predictive value of pre-defined risk factors, logistic regression analyses were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to determine the predictive power of the number of risk factors on the presence of MDRO. RESULTS The rate of MDRO colonisation at admission was 12.7%; previous positive MDRO screening was the only significant individual risk factor. Over the 2-year period, no MDRO-related nosocomial infections occurred; nosocomial colonisation incidence density was 0.6. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate that patients with at least one risk factor have to be cared for by barrier nursing until MDRO screening results are negative. Following these guidelines prevents nosocomial MDRO transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Schmidt
- Pediatric Palliative Care Centre and German Pediatric Pain Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital Datteln, Witten Herdecke University, Datteln, Germany.,Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Carola Hasan
- Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Maximilian D Mauritz
- Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Arne Simon
- Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University Medical Center and Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Kathrin Stening
- Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Almut Hartenstein-Pinter
- Pediatric Palliative Care Centre and German Pediatric Pain Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital Datteln, Witten Herdecke University, Datteln, Germany.,Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Boris Zernikow
- Pediatric Palliative Care Centre and German Pediatric Pain Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital Datteln, Witten Herdecke University, Datteln, Germany.,Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Julia Wager
- Pediatric Palliative Care Centre and German Pediatric Pain Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital Datteln, Witten Herdecke University, Datteln, Germany.,Department of Children's Pain Therapy and Pediatric Palliative Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
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Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Pediatric Patients with Severe Neurological Impairments: Clinical Observations and Perspectives in a Palliative Care Unit. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9060852. [PMID: 35740789 PMCID: PMC9221664 DOI: 10.3390/children9060852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric palliative care (PPC) patients with a severe neurologic impairment (SNI) suffer considerable morbidity and increased mortality from lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). The indication and choice of antibiotic therapy for bacterial LRTIs are often challenging given the lack of evidence-based treatment recommendations for this vulnerable patient population. We conducted an observational study before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in an eight-bed pediatric palliative care inpatient unit. During two years of surveillance, we diagnosed and treated 33 cases of a bacterial LRTI in patients with an SNI; 5 patients were hospitalized with an LRTI more than once. Two patients died from complications due to LRTIs during hospitalization. Three patients (15%) were colonized with multidrug-resistant organisms. An initial antibiotic treatment failed in one-third of the cases; a successful therapy of the LRTI was achieved with broad-spectrum and extended-spectrum penicillins (n = 13; in combination with β-lactamase inhibitors for n = 5 cases), cephalosporins (n = 13: n = 4 second-generation and n = 9 third-generation cephalosporins; in combination with other substances for n = 5 cases), ciprofloxacin (n = 3), and meropenem plus vancomycin (n = 2) or meropenem (n = 1). A respiratory specimen was obtained in 66.7% of cases with P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae accounting for the majority of the detected species. In most cases, there was no definite confirmation that the LRTI was caused by the species detected. The diagnostics and treatment of bacterial LRTIs in PPC patients with an SNI are challenging. The lack of controlled studies and the heterogeneity of this population often necessitate an individual approach. This lack of controlled studies may partly be compensated by a set of diagnostic and antibiotic stewardship criteria.
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