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Guitart C, Bobillo-Perez S, Rodríguez-Fanjul J, Carrasco JL, Brotons P, López-Ramos MG, Cambra FJ, Balaguer M, Jordan I. Lung ultrasound and procalcitonin, improving antibiotic management and avoiding radiation exposure in pediatric critical patients with bacterial pneumonia: a randomized clinical trial. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:222. [PMID: 38581075 PMCID: PMC10998368 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01712-y] [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] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pneumonia is a major public health problem with an impact on morbidity and mortality. Its management still represents a challenge. The aim was to determine whether a new diagnostic algorithm combining lung ultrasound (LUS) and procalcitonin (PCT) improved pneumonia management regarding antibiotic use, radiation exposure, and associated costs, in critically ill pediatric patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia (BP). METHODS Randomized, blinded, comparative effectiveness clinical trial. Children < 18y with suspected BP admitted to the PICU from September 2017 to December 2019, were included. PCT was determined at admission. Patients were randomized into the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) if LUS or chest X-ray (CXR) were done as the first image test, respectively. Patients were classified: 1.LUS/CXR not suggestive of BP and PCT < 1 ng/mL, no antibiotics were recommended; 2.LUS/CXR suggestive of BP, regardless of the PCT value, antibiotics were recommended; 3.LUS/CXR not suggestive of BP and PCT > 1 ng/mL, antibiotics were recommended. RESULTS 194 children were enrolled, 113 (58.2%) females, median age of 134 (IQR 39-554) days. 96 randomized into EG and 98 into CG. 1. In 75/194 patients the image test was not suggestive of BP with PCT < 1 ng/ml; 29/52 in the EG and 11/23 in the CG did not receive antibiotics. 2. In 101 patients, the image was suggestive of BP; 34/34 in the EG and 57/67 in the CG received antibiotics. Statistically significant differences between groups were observed when PCT resulted < 1 ng/ml (p = 0.01). 3. In 18 patients the image test was not suggestive of BP but PCT resulted > 1 ng/ml, all of them received antibiotics. A total of 0.035 mSv radiation/patient was eluded. A reduction of 77% CXR/patient was observed. LUS did not significantly increase costs. CONCLUSIONS Combination of LUS and PCT showed no risk of mistreating BP, avoided radiation and did not increase costs. The algorithm could be a reliable tool for improving pneumonia management. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT04217980.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmina Guitart
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llogregat, Spain
| | - Sara Bobillo-Perez
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llogregat, Spain
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Fanjul
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - José Luis Carrasco
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Brotons
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Francisco José Cambra
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mònica Balaguer
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llogregat, Spain.
| | - Iolanda Jordan
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llogregat, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Huerta-Calpe S, Salas B, Inarejos Clemente EJ, Guitart C, Balaguer M, Jordan I. Sono-Elastography: An Ultrasound Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement to Guide Bacterial Pneumonia Diagnosis in Children. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1335. [PMID: 37628334 PMCID: PMC10453076 DOI: 10.3390/children10081335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Lung ultrasound (LUS) is, at present, a standard technique for the diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) and other lung pathologies. Its protocolised use has replaced chest radiography and has led to a drastic reduction in radiation exposure in children. Despite its undeniable usefulness, there are situations in which certain quantitative measurements could provide additional data to differentiate the etiology of some pulmonary processes and thus adapt the treatment. Our research group hypothesises that several lung processes such pneumonia may lead to altered lung tissue stiffness, which could be quantified with new diagnostic tests such as lung sono-elastography (SE). An exhaustive review of the literature has been carried out, concluding that the role of SE for the study of pulmonary processes is currently scarce and poorly studied, particularly in pediatrics. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the technical aspects of SE and to explore its potential usefulness as a non-invasive diagnostic technique for ALRTI in children by implementing an institutional image acquisition protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Huerta-Calpe
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (S.H.-C.); (C.G.); (M.B.)
- Immune and Respiratory Dysfunction Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bárbara Salas
- Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (B.S.); (E.J.I.C.)
| | - Emilio J. Inarejos Clemente
- Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (B.S.); (E.J.I.C.)
| | - Carmina Guitart
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (S.H.-C.); (C.G.); (M.B.)
- Immune and Respiratory Dysfunction Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mònica Balaguer
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (S.H.-C.); (C.G.); (M.B.)
- Immune and Respiratory Dysfunction Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iolanda Jordan
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (S.H.-C.); (C.G.); (M.B.)
- Immune and Respiratory Dysfunction Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
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Guitart C, Rodríguez-Fanjul J, Bobillo-Perez S, Carrasco JL, Inarejos Clemente EJ, Cambra FJ, Balaguer M, Jordan I. An algorithm combining procalcitonin and lung ultrasound improves the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in critically ill children: The PROLUSP study, a randomized clinical trial. Pediatr Pulmonol 2022; 57:711-723. [PMID: 34921717 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung ultrasound (LUS) and procalcitonin (PCT) are independently used to improve accuracy when diagnosing lung infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of a new algorithm combining LUS and PCT for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. METHODS Randomized, blinded, comparative effectiveness clinical trial. Children <18 years old with suspected pneumonia admitted to pediatric intensive care unit were included, and randomized into experimental group (EG) or control group (CG) if LUS or chest X-Ray (CXR) were done as the first pulmonary image, respectively. PCT was determined. In patients with bacterial pneumonia, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of LUS, CXR, and of both combined with PCT were analyzed and compared. Concordance between the final diagnosis and the diagnosis concluded through the imaging test was assessed. RESULTS A total of 194 children, with a median age of 134 (interquartile range [IQR]: 39-554) days, were enrolled, 96 randomized into the EG and 98 into the CG. Bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 97 patients. Sensitivity and specificity for bacterial pneumonia diagnosis were 78% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 70-85) and 98% (95% CI: 93-99) for LUS, 85% (95% CI: 78-90) and 53% (95% CI: 43-62) for CXR, 90% (95% CI: 83-94) and 85% (95% CI: 76-91) when combining LUS and PCT, and 95% (95% CI: 90-98) and 41% (95% CI: 31-52) when combining CXR and PCT. The positive predictive value for LUS and PCT was 88% (95% C:I 79%-93%) versus 68% (95% CI: 60-75) for CXR and PCT. The concordance between the final diagnosis and LUS had a kappa value of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.62-0.75) versus 0.34 (95% CI: 0.21-0.45) for CXR, (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The combination of LUS and PCT presented a better accuracy for bacterial pneumonia diagnosis than combining CXR and PCT. Therefore, its implementation could be a reliable tool for pneumonia diagnosis in critically ill children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmina Guitart
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Fanjul
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Sara Bobillo-Perez
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José L Carrasco
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Francisco J Cambra
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mònica Balaguer
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Immunological and Respiratory Disorders in the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iolanda Jordan
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain
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A training plan to implement lung ultrasound for diagnosing pneumonia in children. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:1115-1121. [PMID: 34969992 PMCID: PMC9586858 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung ultrasound (LUS) for critical patients requires trained operators to perform them, though little information exists on the level of training required for independent practice. The aims were to implement a training plan for diagnosing pneumonia using LUS and to analyze the inter-observer agreement between senior radiologists (SRs) and pediatric intensive care physicians (PICPs). METHODS Prospective longitudinal and interventional study conducted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital. Following a theoretical and practical training plan regarding diagnosing pneumonia using LUS, the concordance between SRs and the PICPs on their LUS reports was analyzed. RESULTS Nine PICPs were trained and tested on both theoretical and practical LUS knowledge. The mean exam mark was 13.5/15. To evaluate inter-observer agreement, a total of 483 LUS were performed. For interstitial syndrome, the global Kappa coefficient (K) was 0.51 (95% CI 0.43-0.58). Regarding the presence of consolidation, K was 0.67 (95% CI 0.53-0.78), and for the consolidation pattern, K was 0.82 (95% CI 0.79-0.85), showing almost perfect agreement. CONCLUSIONS Our training plan allowed PICPs to independently perform LUS and might improve pneumonia diagnosis. We found a high inter-observer agreement between PICPs and SRs in detecting the presence and type of consolidation on LUS. IMPACT Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been proposed as an alternative to diagnose pneumonia in children. However, the adoption of LUS in clinical practice has been slow, and it is not yet included in general clinical guidelines. The results of this study show that the implementation of a LUS training program may improve pneumonia diagnosis in critically ill patients. The training program's design, implementation, and evaluation are described. The high inter-observer agreement between LUS reports from the physicians trained and expert radiologists encourage the use of LUS not only for pneumonia diagnosis, but also for discerning bacterial and viral patterns.
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