Group D streptococcal bacteremia in children. A review of 72 cases in 12 years

Risk Factors and Outcomes for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Bloodstream Infection in Children

Background and objective. Enterococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs) cause morbidity and mortality in children. This study aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics of enterococcal BSI, to determine the risk factors for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) BSI, and to compare outcomes of VRE BSI and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus (VSE) BSI in this population. Methods. A retrospective cohort study at a 418-bed tertiary care children's hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, examined the epidemiological characteristics of children hospitalized with enterococcal BSI during the period from 2001 through 2006. A nested case-control study compared patients with VRE BSI with control patients with VSE BSI. Analysis included regression modeling to identify independent risk factors for VRE BSI. Results. We identified 339 patients with enterococcal BSI during the study period, including 39 patients with VRE infection. Fifty-three patients (16%) died before hospital discharge. Risk factors for VRE included long-term receipt of mechanical ventilation (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.40 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.28-6.48]), receipt of immunosuppressive medications during the preceding 30 days (adjusted OR, 2.88 [95% CI, 1.40-20.78]), use of vancomycin during the 2 weeks before onset of bacteremia (adjusted OR per day of vancomycin use, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.14-1.38]), and older age (adjusted OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.03-1.14]). VRE BSI was not associated with an increased length of stay after onset of bacteremia (0.77 days [95% CI, 0.55-1.07 days]). Mortality was higher for VRE BSI, but the difference was not statistically significant (adjusted OR, 1.94 [95% CI, 0.78-4.8]). Conclusion. Most enterococcal BSI in children was caused by VSE. Risk factors for VRE BSI included receipt of vancomycin, long-term receipt of mechanical ventilation, immunosuppression, and older age. Differences in length of stay and mortality were not detected.

Good practice in continence care: development of nurse-led service

The implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice is often alluded to in the literature; however, the development of these interventions is rarely documented. Within continence care, there is a larger body of relevant literature on which primary clinical interventions can be based. The Leicestershire Medical Research Council (MRC) Incontinence Study is a series of inter-related studies exploring the epidemiology of urinary symptoms, including incontinence, and evaluating service provision and treatment options for these symptoms. This article describes one aspect of the Leicestershire study, namely the development of evidence-based intervention protocols for use in a new nurse-led continence service. This service is currently being evaluated in a randomised controlled trial.

Enterococcal bacteremia in children: a review of seventy-five episodes in a pediatric hospital

BACKGROUND

Enterococcal bacteremia is being increasingly reported. Although there have been a number of recent studies of enterococcal bacteremia in adults, there are few studies involving children. We carried out a prospective study to determine the epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of such bacteremia in children.

METHODS

Clinical and microbiologic data were recorded prospectively for all episodes of enterococcal bacteremia occurring during a 3-year period between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 1997.

RESULTS

Seventy-five episodes of enterococcal bacteremia occurring in children at our institution during a 3-year period were prospectively analyzed. Serious underlying disease was present in 67 (89.3%) episodes, and in 48 (64.%) episodes patients had received antibiotics during the 2 weeks preceding enterococcal bacteremia. Forty-seven (62.7%) episodes were nosocomial in origin and 26 (34.7%) were polymicrobial. Fifty (66.7%) episodes occurred in children 1 year old or less. A source of bacteremia was identified in 33 (44%) episodes, intravascular device being the most common identifiable source. Of the 73 isolates identified to species level, there were 36 Enterococcus faecium, 36 Enterococcus faecalis and one Enterococcus avium. In 60 (80%) episodes appropriate anti-enterococcal therapy was given. The overall mortality rate was 7.5%. Four clinical patterns of infection were identified: self-limited bacteremia, 16.0%; low grade sepsis with a favorable outcome after specific therapy, 65.3%; severe and prolonged infection associated with a high mortality rate, 14.7%; and fulminant neonatal sepsis in previously healthy babies, 4.0%.

CONCLUSION

Enterococcal bacteremia in children comprises a heterogeneous group. Bacteremias that are mild and self-limited and respond promptly to antibiotic therapy appear to be more common in children.