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Jasiewicz B, Helenius I. Tumors and infections of the growing spine. J Child Orthop 2023; 17:556-572. [PMID: 38050596 PMCID: PMC10693843 DOI: 10.1177/18632521231215857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing spine differs from the adult spine in several ways. Although tumors and infections cause only a small percentage of pediatric back pain incidences, delayed proper diagnosis and treatment may be disastrous. Benign lesions, such as osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, and aneurysmal bone cyst in the spine, are predominant during the first two decades of life, whereas malignant bony spinal tumors are rare. In the pediatric population, malignant spine tumors include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, lymphoma, and metastatic neuroblastoma. Infections of the growing spine are rare, with the incidence of discitis peaking in patients under the age of 5 years and that of vertebral osteomyelitis peaking in older children. Spondylodiscitis is often a benign, self-limiting condition with low potential for bone destruction. Conservative treatments, including bedrest, immobilization, and antibiotics, are usually sufficient. Spinal tuberculosis is a frequently observed form of skeletal tuberculosis, especially in developing countries. Indications for surgical treatment include neurologic deficit, spinal instability, progressive kyphosis, late-onset paraplegia, and advanced disease unresponsive to nonoperative treatment. Spinal tumors and infections should be considered potential diagnoses in cases with spinal pain unrelated to the child's activity, accompanied by fever, malaise, and weight loss. In spinal tumors, early diagnosis, fast and adequate multidisciplinary management, appropriate en bloc resection, and reconstruction improve local control, survival, and quality of life. Pyogenic, hematogenous spondylodiscitis is the most common spinal infection; however, tuberculosis-induced spondylodiscitis should also be considered. Level of evidence: level 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Jasiewicz
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Zakopane, Poland
| | - Ilkka Helenius
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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2
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Garry C, Ernst A, Langford M, Adams DJ. Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis due to Kingella kingae in an infant. BMJ Case Rep 2023; 16:e254357. [PMID: 37433692 PMCID: PMC10347477 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-254357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis is relatively common but is seldom reported in young children. Kingella kingae is increasingly recognised as a causative agent. We report on an infant who presented with a palmar deep space infection and pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis caused by K. kingae K. kingae is a fastidious, often culture-negative, organism which has been increasingly recognised as a cause of paediatric orthopaedic infections, including flexor tenosynovitis. Clinical suspicion should be heightened, and antibiotic coverage broadened in the setting of a positive physical examination and negative blood cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Garry
- Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
| | - Andrew Ernst
- Orthopedic Surgery, US Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, California, USA
| | - Matthew Langford
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
| | - Daniel J Adams
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
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Pharyngeal Colonization by Kingella kingae, Transmission, and Pathogenesis of Invasive Infections: A Narrative Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030637. [PMID: 35336211 PMCID: PMC8950971 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
With the appreciation of Kingella kingae as a prime etiology of osteoarticular infections in young children, there is an increasing interest in the pathogenesis of these diseases. The medical literature on K. kingae’s colonization and carriage was thoroughly reviewed. Kingella kingae colonizes the oropharynx after the second life semester, and its prevalence reaches 10% between the ages of 12 and 24 months, declining thereafter as children reach immunological maturity. Kingella kingae colonization is characterized by the periodic substitution of carried organisms by new strains. Whereas some strains frequently colonize asymptomatic children but are rarely isolated from diseased individuals, others are responsible for most invasive infections worldwide, indicating enhanced virulence. The colonized oropharyngeal mucosa is the source of child-to-child transmission, and daycare attendance is associated with a high carriage rate and increased risk of invasive disease. Kingella kingae elaborates a potent repeat-in-toxin (RTXA) that lyses epithelial, phagocytic, and synovial cells. This toxin breaches the epithelial barrier, facilitating bloodstream invasion and survival and the colonization of deep body tissues. Kingella kingae colonization and carriage play a crucial role in the person-to-person transmission of the bacterium, its dissemination in the community, and the pathogenesis of invasive infections.
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Current Concepts in Pediatric Septic Arthritis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2021; 29:196-206. [PMID: 33273402 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-20-00835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Septic arthritis continues to present challenges regarding the clinical diagnosis, workup, and definitive management. Urgent management is essential, so treating surgeons must efficiently work through differential diagnoses, identify concomitant infections, and do a timely irrigation and débridement. The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is increasing, typically resulting in a more rapid progression of symptoms with more severe clinical presentation. The diagnostic utility of MRI has resulted in improved detection of concomitant septic arthritis and osteomyelitis, although MRI must not substantially delay definitive management. Early diagnosis followed by urgent irrigation and débridement and antibiotic therapy are essential for satisfactory long-term outcomes. Antibiotics should not be administered until blood cultures and arthrocentesis fluid are obtained, except in rare cases of a septic or toxic patient. Once cultures are obtained, empiric antibiotic therapy should commence and provide coverage for the most likely pathogens, given the patient's age. Laboratory markers, especially C-reactive protein, should be followed until normalization and correlate with resolution of clinical symptoms. Definitive antibiotic selection should be shared with a pediatric infectious disease specialist, who can help guide the duration of treatment.
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Yagupsky P, El Houmami N, Fluss R. Outbreaks of Kingella kingae Infections in Daycare Centers Suggest Tissue Tropism of the Causative Strains. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2020; 9:695-700. [PMID: 31925952 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piz099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although Kingella kingae is recognized as an important pediatric pathogen, our knowledge of the virulence factors involved in the invasion of specific host's tissues is limited. Outbreaks of K kingae infections in daycare centers represent natural experiments in which a single virulent strain, introduced into a cohort of susceptible young children, causes multiple infections. If K kingae strains exhibit tissue tropism, the syndromes observed in a given cluster of cases would be relatively homogeneous. METHODS Clinical data of all the K kingae outbreaks known to date were gathered and analyzed. The clinical syndromes diagnosed in the affected attendees were classified as septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, tenosynovitis, soft tissue infection, bacteremia with no focal disease, endocarditis, and meningitis, and computed separately. To assess the similarity of the clinical syndromes detected within outbreaks, we used the Cramer V statistic, which is a measure of the association between 2 nominal variables and, for the purposes of the study, between the detected clinical syndromes and the outbreaks. RESULTS A total of 23 outbreaks involving 61 attendees were identified. The mean±SD attack rate in the affected classrooms was 15.8% ± 4.8%, and the K kingae colonization rate among the attendees was 54.8% ± 25.3%. Seventy-two separate foci of infection were diagnosed. Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis were the most common clinical syndromes and were diagnosed in 26 children each, followed by tenosynovitis in 4 children. The clinical syndromes diagnosed among attendees to the same classroom showed a statistically significant tendency to be similar (P = .015). CONCLUSIONS The distribution of clinical syndromes in clusters of K kingae infections differs from that of sporadic cases. The causative strains combine enhanced virulence and high transmissibility, and show tropism toward bones, joints, and tendon sheaths. This information can be used to identify virulence factors associated with invasion of these specific host tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Yagupsky
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nawal El Houmami
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Vecteurs - Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Marseille, France
| | - Ronen Fluss
- Biostatistics Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
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Management of an outbreak of invasive Kingella kingae skeletal infections in a day care center. Arch Pediatr 2020; 28:12-15. [PMID: 33309121 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kingella kingae (Kk) is frequently responsible for invasive skeletal infections in children aged 3-36months. However, few outbreaks of invasive Kk infections in day care centers have been reported. The objective of the present study was to describe (a) the clinical and laboratory data recorded during an outbreak of invasive Kk skeletal infections, and (b) the management of the outbreak. METHOD Four children from the same day care center were included in the study May and June 2019. We retrospectively analyzed the children's clinical presentation and their radiological and laboratory data. We also identified all the disease control measures taken in the day care center. RESULTS We observed cases of septic arthritis of the wrist (case #1), shoulder arthritis (case #2), knee arthritis (case #3) ans cervical spondylodiscitis (case #4). All cases presented with an oropharyngeal infection and concomitant fever prior to diagnosis of the skeletal infection. All cases were misdiagnosed at the initial presentation. The mean (range) age at diagnosis was 10.75months (9-12). The three patients with arthritis received surgical treatment. All patients received intravenous and then oral antibiotics. In cases 1 and 2, Kk was detected using real-time PCR and a ST25-rtxA1 clone was identified. The outcome was good in all four cases. Four other children in the day care center presented with scabies during this period and were treated with systemic ivermectin. The Regional Health Agency was informed, and all the parents of children attending the day care center received an information letter. The day care center was cleaned extensively. CONCLUSION Our results highlight the variety of features of invasive skeletal Kk infections in children and (given the high risk of transmission in day care centers) the importance of diagnosing cases as soon as possible.
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Evaluation of the impact of the Spanish Consensus Document on the approach to osteoarticular infections in Spain through the Paediatrics Osteoarticular Infections Network (RIOPED). ANALES DE PEDIATRÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2019.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Autore G, Bernardi L, Esposito S. Update on Acute Bone and Joint Infections in Paediatrics: A Narrative Review on the Most Recent Evidence-Based Recommendations and Appropriate Antinfective Therapy. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9080486. [PMID: 32781552 PMCID: PMC7459809 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9080486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute bone and joint infections (BJIs) in children may clinically occur as osteomyelitis (OM) or septic arthritis (SA). In clinical practice, one-third of cases present a combination of both conditions. BJIs are usually caused by the haematogenous dissemination of septic emboli carried to the terminal blood vessels of bone and joints from distant infectious processes during transient bacteraemia. Early diagnosis is the cornerstone for the successful management of BJI, but it is still a challenge for paediatricians, particularly due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and to the poor specificity of the laboratory and imaging first-line tests that are available in emergency departments. Moreover, microbiological diagnosis is often difficult to achieve with common blood cultures, and further investigations require invasive procedures. The aim of this narrative review is to provide the most recent evidence-based recommendations on appropriate antinfective therapy in BJI in children. We conducted a review of recent literature by examining the MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) database using the search engines PubMed and Google Scholar. The keywords used were “osteomyelitis”, OR “bone infection”, OR “septic arthritis”, AND “p(a)ediatric” OR “children”. When BJI diagnosis is clinically suspected or radiologically confirmed, empiric antibiotic therapy should be started as soon as possible. The choice of empiric antimicrobial therapy is based on the most likely causative pathogens according to patient age, immunisation status, underlying disease, and other clinical and epidemiological considerations, including the local prevalence of virulent pathogens, antibiotic bioavailability and bone penetration. Empiric antibiotic treatment consists of a short intravenous cycle based on anti-staphylococcal penicillin or a cephalosporin in children aged over 3 months with the addition of gentamicin in infants aged under 3 months. An oral regimen may be an option depending on the bioavailability of antibiotic chosen and clinical and laboratory data. Strict clinical and laboratory follow-up should be scheduled for the following 3–5 weeks. Further studies on the optimal therapeutic approach are needed in order to understand the best first-line regimen, the utility of biomarkers for the definition of therapy duration and treatment of complications.
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Wong M, Williams N, Cooper C. Systematic Review of Kingella kingae Musculoskeletal Infection in Children: Epidemiology, Impact and Management Strategies. PEDIATRIC HEALTH MEDICINE AND THERAPEUTICS 2020; 11:73-84. [PMID: 32158303 PMCID: PMC7048951 DOI: 10.2147/phmt.s217475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Kingella kingae, a pathogen often responsible for musculoskeletal infections in children is the most common cause of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in children 6 to 36 months of age. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of previous studies to determine the proportion of K. kingae in bacteriologically proven musculoskeletal infections among the pediatric population. A secondary objective was to describe the diagnostic strategies and outcome of patients with musculoskeletal infections caused by K. kingae. A systematic review was conducted to identify publications that report on musculoskeletal infections caused by K. kingae in the pediatric population (patients 0 to <18 years old with microbiologic culture and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation of K. kingae and a description of the musculoskeletal infection involved). Of 144 studies included in this review, we sought to determine the proportion of K. kingae pediatric musculoskeletal infections. A total of 711 (30.8%) out of 2308 pediatric cases with culture and/or PCR proven musculoskeletal infections had K. kingae successfully identified from twenty-nine studies. Of the 1070 patients who were aged less than 48 months, K. kingae was the organism identified in 47.6% of infections. We found the average age from the collated studies to be 17.73 months. Of 520 pediatric musculoskeletal patients in which K. kingae infections were identified and where the studies reported the sites of infection, a large proportion of cases (65%) were joint infections. This was followed by 18.4% osteoarticular infection (concomitant bone and joint involvement), with isolated bone and spine at 11.9% and 3.5%, respectively. Twenty-one papers reported clinical and laboratory findings in children with confirmed K. kingae infection. The median temperature reported at admission was 37.9°C and mean was 38.2°C. Fourteen studies reported on impact and treatment, with the majority of children experiencing good clinical outcome and function following antibiotic treatment with no serious orthopaedic sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Women and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Nicole Williams
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Women and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Center for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Celia Cooper
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Women and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Muñoz VL, Porsch EA, St Geme JW. Virulence determinants of the emerging pathogen Kingella kingae. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 54:37-42. [PMID: 32035372 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Kingella kingae is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is a fastidious commensal organism in the oropharynx and is being recognized increasingly as a common cause of osteoarticular infections and other invasive diseases in young children. The pathogenesis of K. kingae disease begins with bacterial adherence to respiratory epithelium, followed by translocation across the epithelial barrier, survival in the bloodstream, and dissemination to distant sites, including bones, joints, and the endocardium, among others. Characterization of the determinants of K. kingae pathogenicity has revealed a novel model of adherence that involves the interplay of type IV pili, a non-pilus adhesin, and a polysaccharide capsule and a novel model of resistance to serum killing and neutrophil killing that involves complementary functions of a polysaccharide capsule and an exopolysaccharide. These models likely apply to other bacterial pathogens as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa L Muñoz
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eric A Porsch
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joseph W St Geme
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Núñez Cuadros E, Calvo Rey C, Saavedra-Lozano J. [Evaluation of the impact of the Spanish consensus document on the approach to osteoarticular infections in Spain through the Paediatrics Osteoarticular Infections Network (RIOPED)]. An Pediatr (Barc) 2020; 93:289-296. [PMID: 31980415 DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In 2014 the Consensus Document produced by the Spanish Paediatric Societies (SEIP-SERPE-SEOP) was published to help in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarticular infections (OAI). In 2015 the RIOPed was considered as a multidisciplinary national network for the investigation into OAI. The aim of this study was to assess the level of adaption to the recommendations established in the Consensus during one year of follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective, national multicentre study was carried out in 37 hospitals between September 2015 and September 2016. The study included patients >16years-old with a diagnosis of OAI, confirmed by microbiological isolation, or probable: septic arthritis (SA) with >40,000 white cells in synovial fluid, or osteomyelitis (OM)/spondylodiscitis (SD) with a compatible imaging test. The results were compared with those obtained in a retrospective study conducted between 2008 and 2012. RESULTS A total of 235 cases were included, of which 131 were OM, 79 SA, 30 OA, and 15 SD. As regards the complementary tests that the Consensus considered mandatory to perform, radiography was carried out on 87.8% of the cases, a blood culture on 91.6%, and culture of the synovial fluid in 99% of SA. A magnetic resonance (MR) was performed on 71% of the OM cases. The choice of intravenous empirical antibiotic treatment was adapted to the recommendations in 65.1% of cases, and in 62.3% for the oral treatment. Surgery was performed in 36.8% of SA cases (85.7% arthrotomy), with a significant decrease compared to the retrospective study (P=.014). Only 58.5% of cases followed the recommendations on the duration of the treatment; however, a lower duration of intravenous treatment was observed. CONCLUSIONS In general, the level of adaptation to the recommendations that were set by the Expert Group, is good for the complementary tests, and acceptable as regards the choice of antibiotic treatment, although inadequate in almost 40% of cases. A decrease in hospital stay was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmeralda Núñez Cuadros
- Hospitalización Pediátrica, Unidad de Reumatología Pediátrica, Unidad Asistencial de Pediatría, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, España
| | - Cristina Calvo Rey
- Servicio de Pediatría y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Fundación IdiPaz. TEDDY Network (European Network of Excellence for Pediatric Clinical Research), Madrid, España; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), España.
| | - Jesús Saavedra-Lozano
- Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), España; Sección de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España
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Lillebo K, Breistein RI, Aamas JV, Kommedal O. The first report on epidemiology of oropharyngeal Kingella kingae carriage in Scandinavian children: K. kingae carriage is very common in children attending day care facilities in Western Norway. APMIS 2019; 128:35-40. [PMID: 31628868 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Kingella kingae colonizes the upper airways in children and has been recognized as the most common causative agent of osteoarticular infections (OAI) in children below 4 years of age. This is the first Scandinavian study to investigate oropharyngeal K. kingae carriage in healthy children. From June 2015 to August 2016, we recruited 198 healthy children aged 11-14 months from routine consultations at health promotion centers in Hordaland County, Norway for a cross-sectional study. After their parents had provided informed consent; demographic data were registered, and an oropharyngeal swab was collected. The oropharyngeal swab was analyzed with a real-time PCR assay specific to K. kingae targeting the RTX toxin locus. Results showed an asymptomatic carriage rate of 12.6%. A striking and highly significant difference was observed between the children that had started attending day care facilities as compared with children still being at home (33.33% vs 8.5%; p < 0.001). K. kingae is prevalent in young children in Norway. This study emphasize that K. kingae should be considered an important etiological agent in OAI. Transmission seems to be facilitated in day care facilities. The correlation between oropharyngeal carriage and OAI needs to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Lillebo
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Emergency Care Clinic, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Oyvind Kommedal
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Abstract
We describe the first case of 2 consecutive acute septic arthritis infections of both knees caused by the same virulent strain of Kingella kingae belonging to the virulent sequence type complex 14, in a 16-month-old boy. Both infections occurred after viral upper respiratory tract infections.
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14
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Muñoz VL, Porsch EA, St Geme JW. Kingella kingae Surface Polysaccharides Promote Resistance to Neutrophil Phagocytosis and Killing. mBio 2019; 10:e00631-19. [PMID: 31239373 PMCID: PMC6593399 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00631-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens have evolved strategies that enable them to evade neutrophil-mediated killing. The Gram-negative coccobacillus Kingella kingae is an emerging pediatric pathogen and is increasingly recognized as a common etiological agent of osteoarticular infections and bacteremia in young children. K. kingae produces a polysaccharide capsule and an exopolysaccharide, both of which are important for protection against complement-mediated lysis and are required for full virulence in an infant rat model of infection. In this study, we examined the role of the K. kingae polysaccharide capsule and exopolysaccharide in protection against neutrophil killing. In experiments with primary human neutrophils, we found that the capsule interfered with the neutrophil oxidative burst response and prevented neutrophil binding of K. kingae but had no effect on neutrophil internalization of K. kingae In contrast, the exopolysaccharide resisted the bactericidal effects of antimicrobial peptides and efficiently blocked neutrophil phagocytosis of K. kingae This work demonstrates that the K. kingae polysaccharide capsule and exopolysaccharide promote evasion of neutrophil-mediated killing through distinct yet complementary mechanisms, providing additional support for the K. kingae surface polysaccharides as potential vaccine antigens. In addition, these studies highlight a novel interplay between a bacterial capsule and a bacterial exopolysaccharide and reveal new properties for a bacterial exopolysaccharide, with potential applicability to other bacterial pathogens.IMPORTANCEKingella kingae is a Gram-negative commensal in the oropharynx and represents a leading cause of joint and bone infections in young children. The mechanisms by which K. kingae evades host innate immunity during pathogenesis of disease remain poorly understood. In this study, we established that the K. kingae polysaccharide capsule and exopolysaccharide function independently to protect K. kingae against reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, neutrophil phagocytosis, and antimicrobial peptides. These results demonstrate the intricacies of K. kingae innate immune evasion and provide valuable information that may facilitate development of a polysaccharide-based vaccine against K. kingae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa L Muñoz
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eric A Porsch
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph W St Geme
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Mohanty CB, Fieggen G, Deopujari CE. Pediatric spinal infections-a review of non-tuberculous infections. Childs Nerv Syst 2018; 34:1947-1956. [PMID: 29971483 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-018-3885-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric spinal infection includes spinal epidural abscess, spondylodiscitis and intradural (extramedullary and intramedullary) spinal infections. However, these entities are extremely rare and no clear guidelines exist for their management. Pertinent literature was searched and a detailed narrative review of this topic is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Graham Fieggen
- Division of Neurosurgery, Red Cross War memorial Children's Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Alcobendas R, Remesal A, Murias S, Nuñez E, Calvo C. Outpatients with acute osteoarticular infections had favourable outcomes when they received just oral antibiotics without intravenous antibiotics. Acta Paediatr 2018; 107:1792-1797. [PMID: 29705992 DOI: 10.1111/apa.14373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIM The traditional approach for acute paediatric osteoarticular infections (OAI) has comprised initial intravenous antibiotics followed by prompt oral antibiotics. We assessed how providing just oral antibiotics compared to the traditional two-step approach. METHODS This prospective study was performed at the Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain, from September 2015 to September 2016. We compared 25 outpatients, with good general health and a mean age of 25 months who received just oral antibiotics, with 228 hospitalised children of a similar age who received intravenous and oral antibiotics from other hospitals in the Spanish Network of Osteoarticular Infections. RESULTS The groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, fever, erythrocyte sedimentation rate value, C-reactive protein and diagnosis. The oral group comprised 15 with osteomyelitis, seven with septic arthritis, two with osteoarthritis and one with spondylodiscitis. This group had a lower percentage of Staphylococcus aureus (8% vs 26%, p = 0.06) and higher proportion of Kingella kingae (24% vs 9%, p = 0.017) than the intravenous group. There were complications (24%) and follow-up sequelae (6%) in the intravenous group, but none in the oral group. CONCLUSION Outpatients with OAI who were in good general health had favourable outcomes when they received oral antibiotics without intravenous antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Alcobendas
- Pediatric Rheumatology Unit; Hospital Universitario La Paz; Madrid Spain
| | - Agustín Remesal
- Pediatric Rheumatology Unit; Hospital Universitario La Paz; Madrid Spain
| | - Sara Murias
- Pediatric Rheumatology Unit; Hospital Universitario La Paz; Madrid Spain
| | - Esmeralda Nuñez
- Pediatric Rheumatology Unit; UGC Pediatría; Hospital Materno-Infantil de Málaga; Málaga Spain
| | - Cristina Calvo
- Pediatric and Infectious Disease Department; Fundación IdiPaz; Hospital Universitario La Paz; Madrid Spain
- Translational Research Network in Pediatric Infectious Diseases (RITIP); Madrid Spain
- Task-force in Europe for Drug Development for the Young (TEDDY); Bari Italy
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Detection of Respiratory Colonization by Kingella kingae and the Novel Kingella negevensis Species in Children: Uses and Methodology. J Clin Microbiol 2018; 56:JCM.00633-18. [PMID: 30045866 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00633-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The recognition of the role of Kingella kingae as one of the main etiologic agents of skeletal system infections in young children and the recent discovery of the novel Kingella negevensis species have resulted in an increasing interest in these two emerging pediatric pathogens. Both bacteria colonize the oropharynx and are not detected in nasopharyngeal specimens, and the colonized mucosal surface is their portal of entry to the bloodstream. Although species-specific nucleic acid amplification assays have significantly improved the detection of kingellae and facilitated patients' management, the increasing use of this diagnostic approach has the potential drawback of neglecting culture recovery of these organisms. The isolation of Kingella species enables the thorough genotyping of strains for epidemiological purposes, the study of the dynamics of asymptomatic colonization and person-to-person transmission, the investigation of the pathogenesis of invasive infections, and the determination of antibiotic susceptibility patterns. The culture isolation of pharyngeal strains and their comparison with isolates derived from normally sterile body sites may also aid in identifying virulence factors involved in the transition from colonization to invasive disease which could represent potential targets for a future protective vaccine. The two species are notoriously fastidious, and their isolation from upper respiratory tract specimens requires a short transport time, plating on selective vancomycin-containing blood-agar medium, and incubation under capnophilic and aerobic conditions. The identification of K. kingae and K. negevensis can be performed by a combination of the typical Gram stain and biochemical tests and confirmed and differentiated by molecular assays that target the groEL and mdh genes.
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Kingella kingae Surface Polysaccharides Promote Resistance to Human Serum and Virulence in a Juvenile Rat Model. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00100-18. [PMID: 29581191 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00100-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kingella kingae is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that is increasingly being recognized as an important cause of invasive disease in young children. The pathogenesis of K. kingae disease begins with colonization of the oropharynx, followed by invasion of the bloodstream, survival in the intravascular space, and dissemination to distant sites. Recent studies have revealed that K. kingae produces a number of surface factors that may contribute to the pathogenic process, including a polysaccharide capsule and an exopolysaccharide. In this study, we observed that K. kingae was highly resistant to the bactericidal effects of human serum complement. Using mutant strains deficient in expression of capsule, exopolysaccharide, or both in assays with human serum, we found that elimination of both capsule and exopolysaccharide was required for efficient binding of IgG, IgM, C4b, and C3b to the bacterial surface and for complement-mediated killing. Abrogation of the classical complement pathway using EGTA-treated human serum restored survival to wild-type levels by the mutant lacking both capsule and exopolysaccharide, demonstrating that capsule and exopolysaccharide promote resistance to the classical complement pathway. Consistent with these results, loss of both capsule and exopolysaccharide eliminated invasive disease in juvenile rats with an intact complement system but not in rats lacking complement. Based on these observations, we conclude that the capsule and the exopolysaccharide have important redundant roles in promoting survival of K. kingae in human serum. Each of these surface factors is sufficient by itself to fully prevent serum opsonin deposition and complement-mediated killing of K. kingae, ultimately facilitating intravascular survival and promoting K. kingae invasive disease.
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20
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Yagupsky P. DiagnosingKingella kingaeinfections in infants and young children. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2017; 15:925-934. [DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2017.1381557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Yagupsky
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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21
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Investigation of Kingella kingae Invasive Infection Outbreaks in Day Care Facilities: Assessment of a Rapid Genotyping Tool Targeting the DNA Uptake Sequence. J Clin Microbiol 2017; 55:2422-2430. [PMID: 28539344 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00271-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of Kingella kingae invasive infections have recently been reported in day care centers. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed that although the invasive strains had widespread dissemination in the day care population, less virulent strains were also circulating in the facilities. However, these typing tools are costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive and provide delayed results. A study was conducted to assess the performance of a rapid and cost-effective genotyping tool targeting the DNA uptake sequence (DUS) in the investigation of outbreaks of K. kingae disease. DUS typing (DUST) patterns of each strain from 7 different clusters were compared to distinguish genotypically linked strains from others. PFGE and, when available, MLST results were used as gold standards. DUST was assessed on 80 K. kingae isolates from Nir-Itzhak (n = 14), Tel-Nof (n = 14), Palmahim (n = 5), Umm-al-Fahm (n = 7), Eilat (n = 8), Nevatim (n = 15) in Israel and Paris, France (n = 17). A unique DUST pattern was involved in the Nir-Itzhak, Palmahim, Umm-al-Fahm, and Paris episodes. Two DUST patterns were found in Eilat, whereas at least 3 were identified in the Tel-Nof and Nevatim episodes. In total, 11 (13.8%) children carried a K. kingae isolate that differed from the outbreak strain. These results were concordant with those obtained with the traditional PFGE and MLST methods. DUST appears to be sensitive and specific in distinguishing the invasive outbreak strain from others in asymptomatic carriers and could be useful to limit unnecessary exposure of the entire day care population to selective antibiotic pressure.
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Outbreaks of Invasive Kingella kingae Infections in Daycare Facilities: Approach to Investigation and Management. J Pediatr 2017; 182:14-20. [PMID: 27939255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Al-Qwbani M, Jiang N, Yu B. Kingella kingae-Associated Pediatric Osteoarticular Infections: An Overview of 566 Reported Cases. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2016; 55:1328-1337. [PMID: 26869328 DOI: 10.1177/0009922816629620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to summarize clinical experience with Kingella kingae-associated pediatric osteoarticular infections (OAIs). We reviewed 566 cases in the English literature from 2000 to June 2014. More than 80% of the patients were diagnosed between 4 months and 4 years of age, and the male to female ratio was 1.14:1. The most frequent preceding illness was upper respiratory tract infections (82%). The top 3 OAIs types were septic arthritis (73.1%), osteomyelitis (15.7%), and spondylodiscitis (5.4%), and the most affected sites of these types were knee (46%), calcaneus (20%), and L4/5 disc (70%). All cases where polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used were PCR positive, no reported cases of positive cultures for K kingae with negative PCR. The duration of antibiotics use ranged from 2 to 4 weeks. Beta-lactam antibiotics were the most frequently used intravenously and orally. The clinical efficacy was favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Al-Qwbani
- 1 Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Jiang
- 1 Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Yu
- 1 Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Olijve L, Podmore R, Anderson T, Walls T. High rate of oropharyngeal Kingella kingae carriage in New Zealand children. J Paediatr Child Health 2016; 52:1081-1085. [PMID: 27586302 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to describe the burden of disease and estimated rates of oropharyngeal carriage of Kingella kingae among New Zealand children. We compared polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture for the detection of this microorganism with a view to further development and implementation of K. kingae PCR in Christchurch Hospital. METHODS Oropharyngeal swabs from children between 6 and 48 months of age were analysed by culture to estimate carriage rates of K. kingae. Samples of a subgroup of children between 12 and 24 months of age were also tested by PCR. In addition, a retrospective review was performed on all cases of invasive K. kingae disease and children with osteoarticular infections. RESULTS Oropharyngeal cultures were positive for K. kingae in specimens from 4 out of 176 children (2.3%). PCR was significantly more sensitive and by PCR, the carriage rate rose to 22.9% (95% CI = 9.4-33.9%) (n = 48). From 2005 to 2015, 17 children between 6 and 48 months of age were identified with invasive infections due to K. kingae. Seventy-four children were found to have an osteoarticular infection. Most of these were culture-negative with a microbiological diagnosis made in only 15 cases (20.3%), only one due to K. kingae. CONCLUSIONS We found a very high carriage rate of K. kingae in New Zealand children and poor performance of K. kingae culture. It is likely that many cases of invasive K. kingae infections remain undetected. We recommend the use of a K. kingae PCR in all children under 4 years of age with a possible osteoarticular infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laudi Olijve
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Roslyn Podmore
- Microbiology Department, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Trevor Anderson
- Microbiology Department, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Tony Walls
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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26
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Principi N, Esposito S. Infectious Discitis and Spondylodiscitis in Children. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:539. [PMID: 27070599 PMCID: PMC4848995 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17040539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In children, infectious discitis (D) and infectious spondylodiscitis (SD) are rare diseases that can cause significant clinical problems, including spinal deformities and segmental instabilities. Moreover, when the infection spreads into the spinal channel, D and SD can cause devastating neurologic complications. Early diagnosis and treatment may reduce these risks. The main aim of this paper is to discuss recent concepts regarding the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric D and SD. It is highlighted that particular attention must be paid to the identification of the causative infectious agent and its sensitivity to antibiotics, remembering that traditional culture frequently leads to negative results and modern molecular methods can significantly increase the detection rate. Several different bacterial pathogens can cause D and SD, and, in some cases, particularly those due to Staphylococcus aureus, Kingella kingae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Brucella spp., the appropriate choice of drug is critical to achieve cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Principi
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Kingella kingae outbreaks occur sporadically in childcare centers but remain poorly understood and difficult to identify. METHODS To provide the basis of a better knowledge of K. kingae outbreaks patterns that may help to guide identification and management strategies, we collected epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data from all reported K. kingae outbreaks, and those from 2 new Israel outbreaks in 2014. RESULTS Nine outbreaks were identified in the USA, Israel and France from 2003 to 2014. Twenty-seven children with a median age of 14 ± 4.1 months were affected, male:female ratio of 1.4:1. Outbreaks demonstrated seasonal patterns from the 10th to the 45th weeks, a mean duration of 13.1 ± 8.4 days, a mean attack rate of 17.3 ± 5.1% and a case-fatality rate of 3.7% (1/27). Seventy-four percentage of children had fever (20/27), and the mean values of white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level were 14.6 ± 4.5 × 10/L and 23.8 ± 24.1 mg/L, respectively. Osteoarticular infections accounted for 88.9% of cases (24/27), bacteremia 7.4% (2/27), endocarditis 3.7% (1/27) and meningitis 3.7% (1/27). Specific real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated higher performance than culture methods in the diagnosis of case patients and investigations of oropharyngeal K. kingae carriage among close contacts, and multilocus sequence typing methods revealed that ST-6 and ST-25 invasive strains were responsible for multiple country-dependent outbreaks. Coviral infections were identified in the majority of K. kingae outbreaks, notably those causing oral ulcers. CONCLUSIONS K. kingae outbreaks displayed severe K. kingae diseases that were poorly confirmed with culture methods. We argue for the use of genomic technologies to investigate further K. kingae outbreaks.
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Yagupsky P, Ben-Ami Y, Trefler R, Porat N. Outbreaks of Invasive Kingella kingae Infections in Closed Communities. J Pediatr 2016; 169:135-9.e1. [PMID: 26545728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the results of the epidemiologic investigation of outbreaks of invasive Kingella kingae infections among attendees at daycare facilities located in 4 closed communities in Israel. STUDY DESIGN The preschool-aged population of communities with clusters of Kingella cases had oropharyngeal cultures performed. K kingae isolates from infected patients and healthy contacts were genotyped by pulsed field gel electrophoresis to determine the spread of outbreak strains. RESULTS The affected closed communities (3 military bases and 1 "kibbutz" commune) were characterized by tight social and family networks and intensive mingling. The outbreaks affected 9 of 51 attendees (attack rate: 17.6%) age 8-19 months (median: 12 months), within a 21-day period. Cases included skeletal system infections (n = 8) and bacteremia (n = 1); K kingae isolates were confirmed by the use of blood culture vials and selective media. Clinical presentation was mild and acute-phase reactants were usually normal or only moderately elevated. Thirty out of 55 (54.5%) asymptomatic children carried the outbreak strains. Analysis of the 3 clusters in which the entire preschool-aged population was cultured revealed that 31 of 71 (43.7%) children younger than 24 months of age were colonized with K kingae organisms compared with 8 of 105 (7.6%) older children (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Clusters of invasive K kingae infections characterized by sudden onset, high attack rate, and wide dissemination of the outbreak strain can occur in daycare facilities and closed communities. Because the mild clinical presentation of invasive K kingae infections and the fastidious nature of the organism, a high index of suspicion and use of sensitive detection methods are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Yagupsky
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | | | - Ronit Trefler
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nurith Porat
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Principi N, Esposito S. Kingella kingae infections in children. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:260. [PMID: 26148872 PMCID: PMC4494779 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-0986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improvements in culture techniques and molecular detection methods have led to findings indicating that, particularly in infants and young children, Kingella kingae is a significantly more important pathogen than previously thought. However, despite this, the pediatric community is still largely unaware of the existence of this organism. The aim of this review is therefore to summarise current knowledge of the epidemiology, transmission, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of K. kingae infections in children. DISCUSSION K. kingae is a common coloniser of the oropharynx, can be transmitted from child to child, and can cause outbreaks of infection. Invasive infections almost exclusively occur in children aged between six months and four years of age, and involve mainly joints and bone, less frequently the endocardium, and very rarely other localisations. With the exception of bacteremia and endocarditis, which can be followed by severe complications, the diseases due to K. kingae are usually accompanied by mild to moderate clinical signs and symptoms, and only slightly altered laboratory data. Moreover, they generally respond to widely used antibiotics, although resistant strains are reported. However, the mild symptoms and limited increase in the levels of acute phase reactants create problems because K. kingae disease may be confused with other clinical conditions that have a similar clinical picture. CONCLUSIONS Although K. kingae was identified more than 50 years ago, it is poorly known by pediatricians and is not systematically sought in laboratories. Education is therefore necessary in order to reduce the risk of outbreaks, permit the early identification of K. kingae infections, and allow the prompt prescription of adequate therapeutic regimens capable of avoiding the risk of a negative evolution in those cases in which this elusive pathogen can cause significant clinical problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Principi
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
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Ruttan TK, Higginbotham E, Higginbotham N, Allen CH, Hauger S. Invasive Kingella kingae Resulting in a Brodie Abscess. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2015; 4:e14-6. [PMID: 26407421 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piu046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy K Ruttan
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, United States
| | - Eric Higginbotham
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, United States
| | - Nicole Higginbotham
- Department of Neurosurgery, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, United States
| | - Coburn H Allen
- Departments of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, United States
| | - Sarmistha Hauger
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, United States
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An outbreak of Kingella kingae infections associated with hand, foot and mouth disease/herpangina virus outbreak in Marseille, France, 2013. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2015; 34:246-50. [PMID: 25742075 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000000572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outbreaks of invasive Kingella kingae infections recently emerged as a new public health concern in daycare centers in Europe, USA and Israel. Despite this, no trigger factor has been yet identified, preventing the setting up of rational measures of control and prevention. We report an outbreak of K. kingae infections associated with hand, foot and mouth disease/herpangina outbreak, and we define the research and policy priorities. METHODS From April 22 to May 07, 2013, 5 toddlers presented successive osteo-articular infections in a daycare center in Marseille, France. Real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the cpn60 gene of K. kingae was used to investigate suspected cases and the prevalence of oropharyngeal K. kingae carriage of their close contacts. RESULTS The attack rate of the K. kingae infections outbreak was 23.7% (5/21) with no fatality. Positive real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the cpn60 gene of K. kingae confirmed the diagnosis in 3 cases and revealed a rate of K. kingae oropharynx carriage in the index classroom of 94.4% (17/18) among daycare attendees not given antibiotic during the previous month, and of 76.9% (10/13) among staff in close contact. The eradication rate of K. kingae was 21.4% (3/14) among classmates after oral administration of rifampicin, and eradication occurred spontaneously in 83.3% (5/6) of the staff. Clinical and epidemiological features of the herpangina outbreak were consistent with that of an emerging European Coxsackievirus-A6 outbreak. CONCLUSIONS Hand, foot and mouth disease/herpangina virus outbreak enables triggering a K. kingae infections outbreak. Our findings offer support for new guidelines of K. kingae infections outbreaks management and emphasize the need for further research.
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Grivea IN, Michoula AN, Basmaci R, Dailiana ZH, Tsimitselis G, Bonacorsi S, Syrogiannopoulos GA. Kingella kingae sequence type-complex 14 arthritis in a 16-month-old child in Greece. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2015; 34:107-8. [PMID: 25105896 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000000503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe the first case of Kingella kingae arthritis in a 16-month-old girl in Greece, which has been diagnosed by novel molecular techniques. A joint aspiration of her knee was performed before the initiation of antibiotics, as well as on the 5th and 14th day of empiric antimicrobial therapy. The synovial fluid white blood cell count decreased from 65,000 to 1500 cells/mm, but the percentage of neutrophils remained 90% in all 3 specimens. Molecular analysis of the synovial fluid specimens by real-time polymerase chain reaction and multilocus sequence typing enabled us to reveal the presence of K. kingae belonging to the international sequence type-complex 14, which persisted up to the fifth day of antibiotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna N Grivea
- From the *Departments of Pediatrics, University of Thessaly, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, General University Hospital, Larissa, Greece; †Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité; ‡AP-HP, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris, France; Departments of §Orthopedic Surgery; and ¶Radiology, University of Thessaly, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, General University Hospital, Larissa, Greece
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Abstract
Kingella kingae is a common etiology of pediatric bacteremia and the leading agent of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children aged 6 to 36 months. This Gram-negative bacterium is carried asymptomatically in the oropharynx and disseminates by close interpersonal contact. The colonized epithelium is the source of bloodstream invasion and dissemination to distant sites, and certain clones show significant association with bacteremia, osteoarthritis, or endocarditis. Kingella kingae produces an RTX (repeat-in-toxin) toxin with broad-spectrum cytotoxicity that probably facilitates mucosal colonization and persistence of the organism in the bloodstream and deep body tissues. With the exception of patients with endocardial involvement, children with K. kingae diseases often show only mild symptoms and signs, necessitating clinical acumen. The isolation of K. kingae on routine solid media is suboptimal, and detection of the bacterium is significantly improved by inoculating exudates into blood culture bottles and the use of PCR-based assays. The organism is generally susceptible to antibiotics that are administered to young patients with joint and bone infections. β-Lactamase production is clonal, and the local prevalence of β-lactamase-producing strains is variable. If adequately and promptly treated, invasive K. kingae infections with no endocardial involvement usually run a benign clinical course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Yagupsky
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Major intercontinentally distributed sequence types of Kingella kingae and development of a rapid molecular typing tool. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 52:3890-7. [PMID: 25143574 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01609-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Kingella kingae is the most common etiology of osteoarticular infections in young children, is a frequent cause of bacteremia in those younger than 4 years, and has been involved in clusters of invasive infections among daycare center attendees, the population structure of the species has not been systematically studied. Using multilocus sequence typing, we investigated the genetic diversity of the largest intercontinental collection of K. kingae strains to date. To facilitate typing of bacterial isolates, we developed a novel genotyping tool that targets the DNA uptake sequence (DUS). Among 324 strains isolated from asymptomatic carriers and patients from Israel, Europe, North America, and Australia with various invasive forms of the disease from 1960 to 2013, we identified 64 sequence types (STs) and 12 ST complexes (STcs). Five predominant STcs, comprising 72.2% of all strains, were distributed intercontinentally. ST-6 was the most frequent, showing a worldwide distribution, and appeared genotypically isolated by exhibiting few neighboring STs, suggesting an optimal fitness. ST-14 and ST-23 appeared to be the oldest groups of bacteria, while ST-25 probably emerged more recently from the highly evolutive ST-23. Using the DUS typing method, randomly chosen isolates were correctly classified to one of the major STcs. The comprehensive description of K. kingae evolution would help to detect new emerging clones and decipher virulence and fitness mechanisms. The rapid and reproducible DUS typing method may serve in the initial investigation of K. kingae outbreaks.
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Abstract
During the past decade, transmission of the bacterium Kingella kingae has caused clusters of serious infections, including osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, bacteremia, endocarditis, and meningitis, among children in daycare centers in the United States, France, and Israel. These events have been characterized by high attack rates of disease and prevalence of the invasive strain among asymptomatic classmates of the respective index patients, suggesting that the causative organisms benefitted from enhanced colonization fitness, high transmissibility, and high virulence. After prophylactic antibacterial drugs were administered to close contacts of infected children, no further cases of disease were detected in the facilities, although test results showed that some children still carried the bacterium. Increased awareness of this public health problem and use of improved culture methods and sensitive nucleic acid amplification assays for detecting infected children and respiratory carriers are needed to identify and adequately investigate outbreaks of K. kingae disease.
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Abstract
To evaluate the intrafamilial oropharyngeal transmission of Kingella kingae, we conducted a prospective study among pairs of siblings. We found that 55% of children who suffered from osteoarticular infections due to K. kingae, and 40% of asymptomatic carriers of K. kingae had siblings with positive oropharyngeal carriage.
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Abstract
The course of the spondylodiscitis' infantile form is characterized by a mild-to-moderate clinical and biologic inflammatory response. Unfortunately, blood and disk/vertebral aspiration cultures show a high percentage of negative results. However, detecting Kingella kingae DNA in the oropharynx provided reasonable suspicion, to our opinion, that this microorganism is responsible for the spondylodiscitis.
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Starr KF, Porsch EA, Heiss C, Black I, Azadi P, St. Geme JW. Characterization of the Kingella kingae polysaccharide capsule and exopolysaccharide. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75409. [PMID: 24098695 PMCID: PMC3787102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that Kingella kingae produces a polysaccharide capsule. In an effort to determine the composition and structure of this polysaccharide capsule, in the current study we purified capsular material from the surface of K. kingae strain 269-492 variant KK01 using acidic conditions to release the capsule and a series of steps to remove DNA, RNA, and protein. Analysis of the resulting material by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc), 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo), and galactose (Gal). Further analysis by NMR demonstrated two distinct polysaccharides, one consisting of GalNAc and Kdo with the structure →3)-β-GalpNAc-(1→5)-β-Kdop-(2→ and the other containing galactose alone with the structure →5)-β-Galf-(1→. Disruption of the ctrA gene required for surface localization of the K. kingae polysaccharide capsule resulted in elimination of GalNAc and Kdo but had no effect on the presence of Gal in bacterial surface extracts. In contrast, deletion of the pamABCDE locus involved in production of a reported galactan exopolysaccharide eliminated Gal but had no effect on the presence of GalNAc and Kdo in surface extracts. Disruption of ctrA and deletion of pamABCDE resulted in a loss of all carbohydrates in surface extracts. These results establish that K. kingae strain KK01 produces a polysaccharide capsule with the structure →3)-β-GalpNAc-(1→5)-β-Kdop-(2→ and a separate exopolysaccharide with the structure →5)-β-Galf-(1→. The polysaccharide capsule and the exopolysaccharide require distinct genetic loci for surface localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly F. Starr
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Eric A. Porsch
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christian Heiss
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ian Black
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joseph W. St. Geme
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Two atypical cases of Kingella kingae invasive infection with concomitant human rhinovirus infection. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51:3137-9. [PMID: 23784119 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01134-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe two atypical cases of Kingella kingae infection in children diagnosed by PCR, one case involving a soft tissue abscess and one case a femoral Brodie abscess. Both patients had concomitant human rhinovirus infection. K. kingae strains, isolated from an oropharyngeal swab, were characterized by multilocus sequence typing and rtxA sequencing.
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