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Marcuzzi D, Toigo V, Boldrin M, Chitarin G, Dal Bello S, Grando L, Luchetta A, Pasqualotto R, Pavei M, Serianni G, Zanotto L, Agnello R, Agostinetti P, Agostini M, Aprile D, Barbisan M, Battistella M, Berton G, Bigi M, Brombin M, Candela V, Candeloro V, Canton A, Casagrande R, Cavallini C, Cavazzana R, Cordaro L, Cruz N, Dalla Palma M, Dan M, De Lorenzi A, Delogu R, De Muri M, De Nardi M, Denizeau S, Fadone M, Fellin F, Ferro A, Gaio E, Gasparrini C, Gnesotto F, Jain P, La Rosa A, Lopez-Bruna D, Lorenzini R, Maistrello A, Manduchi G, Manfrin S, Marconato N, Mario I, Martini G, Milazzo R, Patton T, Peruzzo S, Pilan N, Pimazzoni A, Poggi C, Pomaro N, Pouradier-Duteil B, Recchia M, Rigoni-Garola A, Rizzetto D, Rizzolo A, Santoro F, Sartori E, Segalini B, Shepherd A, Siragusa M, Sonato P, Sottocornola A, Spada E, Spagnolo S, Spolaore M, Taliercio C, Tinti P, Tomsič P, Trevisan L, Ugoletti M, Valente M, Valisa M, Veronese F, Vignando M, Zaccaria P, Zagorski R, Zaniol B, Zaupa M, Zuin M, Cavenago M, Boilson D, Rotti C, Decamps H, Geli F, Sharma A, Veltri P, Zacks J, Simon M, Paolucci F, Garbuglia A, Gutierrez D, Masiello A, Mico G, Labate C, Readman P, Bragulat E, Bailly-Maitre L, Gomez G, Kouzmenko G, Albajar F, Kashiwagi M, Tobari H, Kojima A, Murayama M, Hatakeyama S, Oshita E, Maejima T, Shibata N, Yamashita Y, Watanabe K, Singh N, Singh M, Dhola H, Fantz U, Heinemann B, Wimmer C, Wünderlich D, Tsumori K, Croci G, Gorini G, Muraro A, Rebai M, Tardocchi M, Giacomelli L, Rigamonti D, Taccogna F, Bruno D, Rutigliano M, Longo S, Deambrosis S, Miorin E, Montagner F, Tonti A, Panin F. Lessons learned after three years of SPIDER operation and the first MITICA integrated tests. Fusion Engineering and Design 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2023.113590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
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Cesca L, Conversano E, Vianello FA, Martelli L, Gualeni C, Bassani F, Brugnara M, Rubin G, Parolin M, Anselmi M, Marchiori M, Vergine G, Miorin E, Vidal E, Milocco C, Orsi C, Puccio G, Peruzzi L, Montini G, Dall'Amico R. How Covid-19 changed the epidemiology of febrile urinary tract infections in children in the emergency department during the first outbreak. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:550. [PMID: 36109739 PMCID: PMC9476415 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03516-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first Covid-19 pandemic affected the epidemiology of several diseases. A general reduction in the emergency department (ED) accesses was observed during this period, both in adult and pediatric contexts. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted on the behalf of the Italian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (SINePe) in 17 Italian pediatric EDs in March and April 2020, comparing them with data from the same periods in 2018 and 2019. The total number of pediatric (age 0-18 years) ED visits, the number of febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnoses, and clinical and laboratory parameters were retrospectively collected. RESULTS The total number of febrile UTI diagnoses was 339 (73 in 2020, 140 in 2019, and 126 in 2018). During the first Covid-19 pandemic, the total number of ED visits decreased by 75.1%, the total number of febrile UTI diagnoses by 45.1%, with an increase in the UTI diagnosis rate (+ 121.7%). The data collected revealed an increased rate of patients with two or more days of fever before admission (p = 0.02), a significant increase in hospitalization rate (+ 17.5%, p = 0.008) and also in values of C reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.006). In 2020, intravenous antibiotics use was significantly higher than in 2018 and 2019 (+ 15%, p = 0.025). Urine cultures showed higher Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis percentages and lower rates of Escherichia coli (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS The first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic had an essential impact on managing febrile UTIs in the ED, causing an absolute reduction of cases referring to the ED but with higher clinical severity. Children with febrile UTI were more severely ill than the previous two years, probably due to delayed access caused by the fear of potential hospital-acquired Sars-Cov-2 infection. The possible increase in consequent kidney scarring in this population should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cesca
- Pediatria - Ospedale Civile S. Maria Degli Angeli Di Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Ester Conversano
- Pediatric Department, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.
| | - Federica Alessandra Vianello
- Pediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione Ca' Granda IRCCS, Policlinico Di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Martelli
- Dipartimento Di Pediatria, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Chiara Gualeni
- Clinica Pediatrica Degli Spedali Civili Di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Bassani
- Unita' Operativa Complessa Di Pediatria, Ospedale Regionale Di Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Milena Brugnara
- Pediatria, Ospedale Universitario Della Donna E del Bambino Di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giulia Rubin
- Unità Operativa Complessa Di Pediatria, Dipartimento Strutturale Materno-Infantile, Ospedale San Bortolo, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Mattia Parolin
- Pediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Mauro Anselmi
- Unità Operativa Complessa Di Pediatria Dolo-Mirano, Dolo, Italy
| | - Mara Marchiori
- Unità Operativa Complessa Di Pediatria E Patologia Neonatale, Ospedale Dell'Angelo Di Mestre, Mestre, Italy
| | - Gianluca Vergine
- Department of Pediatrics, Rimini Infermi Hospital, Rimini, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Miorin
- Struttura Complessa Di Pediatria, Ospedale Civile Di Latisana-Palmanova, Latisana, Italy
| | - Enrico Vidal
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine (DAME), University-Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Cristina Milocco
- Divisione Di Struttura Operativa Complessa Di Pediatria, Ospedale San Polo, Monfalcone, Italy
| | - Cecilia Orsi
- Nefrologia Pediatrica - Ospedale Regina Margherita - Città Della Salute E Della Scienza Di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Puccio
- Pediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione Ca' Granda IRCCS, Policlinico Di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Licia Peruzzi
- Nefrologia Pediatrica - Ospedale Regina Margherita - Città Della Salute E Della Scienza Di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Montini
- Pediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione Ca' Granda IRCCS, Policlinico Di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Giuliana and Bernardo Caprotti Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Dall'Amico
- Pediatria - Ospedale Civile S. Maria Degli Angeli Di Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
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Lazzerini M, Sforzi I, Trapani S, Biban P, Silvagni D, Villa G, Tibaldi J, Bertacca L, Felici E, Perricone G, Parrino R, Gioè C, Lega S, Conte M, Marchetti F, Magista A, Berlese P, Martelossi S, Vaienti F, Valletta E, Mauro M, Dall'Amico R, Fasoli S, Gatto A, Chiaretti A, Dragovic D, Pascolo P, Pilotto C, Liguoro I, Miorin E, Saretta F, Trobia GL, Di Stefano A, Orlandi A, Cardinale F, Lubrano R, Testa A, Binotti M, Moressa V, Barbi E, Armocida B, Mariani I. Characteristics and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 in children tested in the early phase of the pandemic: a cross-sectional study, Italy, 23 February to 24 May 2020. Euro Surveill 2021; 26:2001248. [PMID: 33834960 PMCID: PMC8034058 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.14.2001248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundVery few studies describe factors associated with COVID-19 diagnosis in children.AimWe here describe characteristics and risk factors for COVID-19 diagnosis in children tested in 20 paediatric centres across Italy.MethodsWe included cases aged 0-18 years tested between 23 February and 24 May 2020. Our primary analysis focused on children tested because of symptoms/signs suggestive of COVID-19.ResultsAmong 2,494 children tested, 2,148 (86.1%) had symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Clinical presentation of confirmed COVID-19 cases included besides fever (82.4%) and respiratory signs or symptoms (60.4%) also gastrointestinal (18.2%), neurological (18.9%), cutaneous (3.8%) and other unspecific influenza-like presentations (17.8%). In multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity were: exposure history (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 39.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 17.52-90.55; p < 0.0001), cardiac disease (AOR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.19-5.02; p < 0.0001), fever (AOR: 3.05%; 95% CI: 1.67-5.58; p = 0.0003) and anosmia/ageusia (AOR: 4.08; 95% CI: 1.69-9.84; p = 0.002). Among 190 (7.6%) children positive for SARS-CoV-2, only four (2.1%) required respiratory support and two (1.1%) were admitted to intensive care; all recovered.ConclusionRecommendations for SARS-CoV-2 testing in children should consider the evidence of broader clinical features. Exposure history, fever and anosmia/ageusia are strong risk factors in children for positive SARS-CoV-2 testing, while other symptoms did not help discriminate positive from negative individuals. This study confirms that COVID-19 was a mild disease in the general paediatric population in Italy. Further studies are needed to understand risk, clinical spectrum and outcomes of COVID-19 in children with pre-existing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Lazzerini
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Idanna Sforzi
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandra Trapani
- Department of Health Sciences and Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Biban
- Department of Neonatal and Paediatric Critical Care, Verona University Hospital, Verona Italy
| | - Davide Silvagni
- Department of Neonatal and Paediatric Critical Care, Verona University Hospital, Verona Italy
| | - Giovanna Villa
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, IRCCS Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Jessica Tibaldi
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, IRCCS Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Bertacca
- Pediatric Emergency Unit and Department of Pediatric and Neonatology, Misericordia Hospital, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Enrico Felici
- Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Unit, The Children Hospital, AO SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Perricone
- Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Unit, The Children Hospital, AO SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Roberta Parrino
- Pediatria d'Urgenza e Pronto Soccorso P.O.G. Di Cristina, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Gioè
- Pediatric Infectious diseases, P.O.G. Di Cristina, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sara Lega
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Mariasole Conte
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | | | | | - Paola Berlese
- Department of Pediatrics, Treviso Hospital, Treviso, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Vaienti
- Department of Pediatrics, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Enrico Valletta
- Department of Pediatrics, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Margherita Mauro
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Roberto Dall'Amico
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Gatto
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Danica Dragovic
- Department of Pediatrics, San Polo Hospital, ASUGI, Monfalcone (GO), Italy
| | - Paola Pascolo
- Department of Pediatrics, San Polo Hospital, ASUGI, Monfalcone (GO), Italy
| | - Chiara Pilotto
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine DAME, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Ilaria Liguoro
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine DAME, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | | | - Gian Luca Trobia
- Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Room Unit Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Di Stefano
- Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Room Unit Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital, Catania, Italy
| | - Azzurra Orlandi
- Giovanni XXIII Pediatric Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabio Cardinale
- Giovanni XXIII Pediatric Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Riccardo Lubrano
- Department of Pediatrics Sapienza University of Rome, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Alessia Testa
- Department of Pediatrics Sapienza University of Rome, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Marco Binotti
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | - Valentina Moressa
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Egidio Barbi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
- University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Benedetta Armocida
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Ilaria Mariani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
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Da Dalt L, Bressan S, Scozzola F, Vidal E, Gennari M, La Scola C, Anselmi M, Miorin E, Zucchetta P, Azzolina D, Gregori D, Montini G. Oral steroids for reducing kidney scarring in young children with febrile urinary tract infections: the contribution of Bayesian analysis to a randomized trial not reaching its intended sample size. Pediatr Nephrol 2021; 36:3681-3692. [PMID: 34032923 PMCID: PMC8497283 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-021-05117-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral dexamethasone in reducing kidney scars in infants with a first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). METHODS Children aged between 2 and 24 months with their first presumed UTI, at high risk for kidney scarring based on procalcitonin levels (≥1 ng/mL), were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone in addition to routine care or routine care only. Kidney scars were identified by kidney scan at 6 months after initial UTI. Projections of enrollment and follow-up completion showed that the intended sample size could not be reached before funding and time to complete the study ran out. An amendment to the protocol was approved to conduct a Bayesian analysis. RESULTS We randomized 48 children, of whom 42 had a UTI and 18 had outcome kidney scans (instead of 128 planned). Kidney scars were found in 0/7 and 2/11 patients in the treatment and control groups respectively. The probability that dexamethasone could prevent kidney scarring was 99% in the setting of an informative prior probability distribution (which fully incorporated in the final inference the information on treatment effect provided by previous studies) and 98% in the low-informative scenario (which discounted the prior literature information by 50%). The probabilities that dexamethasone could reduce kidney scar formation by up to 20% were 61% and 53% in the informative and low-informative scenario, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Dexamethasone is highly likely to reduce kidney scarring, with a more than 50% probability to reduce kidney scars by up to 20%. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER EudraCT number: 2013-000388-10; registered in 2013 (prospectively registered) A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liviana Da Dalt
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 4, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Bressan
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 4, 35128, Padova, Italy.
| | | | - Enrico Vidal
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 4, 35128 Padova, Italy ,Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine (DAME), University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Monia Gennari
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), S. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio La Scola
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Department of Woman, Child and Urological Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant‘Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Miorin
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine (DAME), University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Pietro Zucchetta
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Danila Azzolina
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Dario Gregori
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Montini
- Pediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy ,Giuliana and Bernardo Caprotti Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
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5
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Parri N, Magistà AM, Marchetti F, Cantoni B, Arrighini A, Romanengo M, Felici E, Urbino A, Da Dalt L, Verdoni L, Armocida B, Covi B, Mariani I, Giacchero R, Musolino AM, Binotti M, Biban P, Fasoli S, Pilotto C, Nicoloso F, Raggi M, Miorin E, Buonsenso D, Chiossi M, Agostiniani R, Plebani A, Barbieri MA, Lanari M, Arrigo S, Zoia E, Lenge M, Masi S, Barbi E, Lazzerini M. Characteristic of COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients: early findings from two Italian Pediatric Research Networks. Eur J Pediatr 2020; 179:1315-1323. [PMID: 32495147 PMCID: PMC7269687 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-020-03683-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Detailed data on clinical presentations and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in Europe are still lacking. In this descriptive study, we report on 130 children with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed by 28 centers (mostly hospitals), in 10 regions in Italy, during the first months of the pandemic. Among these, 67 (51.5%) had a relative with COVID-19 while 34 (26.2%) had comorbidities, with the most frequent being respiratory, cardiac, or neuromuscular chronic diseases. Overall, 98 (75.4%) had an asymptomatic or mild disease, 11 (8.5%) had moderate disease, 11 (8.5%) had a severe disease, and 9 (6.9%) had a critical presentation with infants below 6 months having significantly increased risk of critical disease severity (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 29.1). Seventy-five (57.7%) children were hospitalized, 15 (11.5%) needed some respiratory support, and nine (6.9%) were treated in an intensive care unit. All recovered.Conclusion:This descriptive case series of children with COVID-19, mostly encompassing of cases enrolled at hospital level, suggest that COVID-19 may have a non-negligible rate of severe presentations in selected pediatric populations with a relatively high rates of comorbidities. More studies are needed to further understand the presentation and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in children with special needs. What is Known: • There is limited evidence on the clinical presentation and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in Europe, and almost no evidence on characteristics and risk factors of severe cases. What is New: • Among a case series of 130 children, mostly diagnosed at hospital level, and with a relatively high rate (26.2%) of comorbidities, about three-quarter had an asymptomatic or mild disease. • However, 57.7% were hospitalized, 11.5% needed some respiratory support, and 6.9% were treated in an intensive care unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Parri
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, Meyer University Children’s Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Barbara Cantoni
- Healthcare Professional Department Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Arrighini
- Pediatric Emergency Department, Presidio Ospedale dei Bambini, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Felici
- Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Unit, The Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Antonio Urbino
- Department of Pediatric Emergency, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital - A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Liviana Da Dalt
- Department for Woman and Child Health-Pediatric Emergency Department, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucio Verdoni
- Department of Pediatrics, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Benedetta Armocida
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | - Benedetta Covi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ilaria Mariani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Musolino
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Binotti
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | - Paolo Biban
- Department of Neonatal and Paediatric Critical Care, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Pilotto
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine DAME, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Danilo Buonsenso
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Anna Plebani
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, Filippo Del Ponte Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, Varese, Italy
| | | | - Marcello Lanari
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, S. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Serena Arrigo
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Filippo Del Ponte, Varese, Italy
| | - Elena Zoia
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital V. Buzzi, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Lenge
- Clinical Trial Office, Children’s Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Child Neurology Unit and Laboratories, Neuroscience Department, Children’s Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Functional and Epilepsy Neurosurgery Unit, Neurosurgery Department, Children’s Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Masi
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, Meyer University Children’s Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Egidio Barbi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Science, Department of Pediatrics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marzia Lazzerini
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
| | - on behalf of the CONFIDENCE and COVID-19 Italian Pediatric Study Networks
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, Meyer University Children’s Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Community Pediatrics, Ravenna, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Ravenna Hospital, Ravenna, Italy
- Healthcare Professional Department Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Pediatric Emergency Department, Presidio Ospedale dei Bambini, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Unit, The Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
- Department of Pediatric Emergency, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital - A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Department for Woman and Child Health-Pediatric Emergency Department, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Lodi Hospital, Lodi, Italy
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara, Italy
- Department of Neonatal and Paediatric Critical Care, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
- Paediatric Unit, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantua, Italy
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine DAME, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Family Pediatrician, Udine, Italy
- ICU, Pain Therapy Unit, Rovereto Hospital, Trento, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Latisana-Palmanova, ASUFC, Udine, Italy
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, ASL 4 Liguria, Lavagna, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale San Jacopo, Pistoia, Italy
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, Filippo Del Ponte Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, Varese, Italy
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, S. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Filippo Del Ponte, Varese, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital V. Buzzi, Milan, Italy
- Clinical Trial Office, Children’s Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Child Neurology Unit and Laboratories, Neuroscience Department, Children’s Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Functional and Epilepsy Neurosurgery Unit, Neurosurgery Department, Children’s Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Science, Department of Pediatrics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Gortani G, Pederiva F, Ammar L, Miorin E, Tonin G, Dobbiani G, Marcuzzi E, Barbi E. Ogilvie syndrome in a 8 year old girl after laparoscopic appendectomy. BMC Pediatr 2019; 19:82. [PMID: 30894155 PMCID: PMC6425584 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-019-1457-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ogilvie's syndrome is described in the adult population, but rarely seen in children. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of a girl who suffered acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after laparoscopic appendectomy. CONCLUSIONS Ogilvie's syndrome, although rare in the pediatric population, should be considered as possible diagnosis after a surgical procedure in presence of persisting subocclusive symptoms and radiological signs of massive colonic dilatation without mechanical obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gortani
- Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Pederiva
- Pediatric Surgery, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Lydie Ammar
- Radiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Elena Marcuzzi
- Pediatric Care Unit, Hospital of Palmanova, Udine, Italy
| | - Egidio Barbi
- Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.,University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Arigliani M, Castriotta L, Pusiol A, Titolo A, Petoello E, Brun Peressut A, Miorin E, Elkina I, Marzona F, Cucchiaro D, Spanghero E, Pavan M, Arigliani R, Mercer SW, Cogo P. Measuring empathy in pediatrics: validation of the Visual CARE measure. BMC Pediatr 2018; 18:57. [PMID: 29439733 PMCID: PMC5812057 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-018-1050-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Empathy is a key element of “Patient and Family Centered Care”, a clinical approach recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, there is a lack of validated tools to evaluate paediatrician empathy. This study aimed to validate the Visual CARE Measure, a patient rated questionnaire measuring physician empathy, in the setting of a Pediatric Emergency Department (ED). Methods The empathy of physicians working in the Pediatric ED of the University Hospital of Udine, Italy, was assessed using an Italian translation of the Visual Care Measure. This test has three versions suited to different age groups: the 5Q questionnaire was administered to children aged 7–11, the 10Q version to those older than 11, and the 10Q–Parent questionnaire to parents of children younger than 7. The internal reliability, homogeneity and construct validity of the 5Q and 10Q/10Q–Parent versions of the Visual Care Measure, were separately assessed. The influence of family background on the rating of physician empathy and satisfaction with the clinical encounter was also evaluated. Results Seven physicians and 416 children and their parents were included in the study. Internal consistency measured by Cronbach’s alpha was 0.95 for the 10Q/10Q–Parent versions and 0.88 for the 5Q version. The item-total correlation was > 0.75 for each item. An exploratory factor analysis showed that all the items load onto the first factor. Physicians’ empathy scores correlated with patients’ satisfaction for both the 10Q and 10Q–Parent questionnaires (Spearman’s rho = 0.7189; p < 0.001) and for the 5Q questionnaire (Spearman’s rho = 0.5968; p < 0,001). Trust in the consulting physician was lower among immigrant parents (OR 0.43. 95% CI 0.20–0.93). Conclusions The Visual Care Measure is a reliable second-person test of physician empathy in the setting of a Pediatric Emergency Room. More studies are needed to evaluate the reliability of this instrument in other pediatric settings distinct from the Emergency Room and to further evaluate its utility in measuring the impact of communication and empathy training programmes for healthcare professionals working in pediatrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Arigliani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Luigi Castriotta
- Institute of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Istituto Igiene, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Anna Pusiol
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Annachiara Titolo
- University of Udine School of Medicine, Piazzale M. Kolbe, 3 - 33100 Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Enrico Petoello
- University of Udine School of Medicine, Piazzale M. Kolbe, 3 - 33100 Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Brun Peressut
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Clinica Chirurgica, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Miorin
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Iana Elkina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Federico Marzona
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Davide Cucchiaro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Elisa Spanghero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Matteo Pavan
- University of Trieste, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università degli Studi di Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Raffaele Arigliani
- Pediatric Primary Care, ASL Benevento, Via Giuseppe Piermarini, 12, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - Stewart W Mercer
- General Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, Scotland
| | - Paola Cogo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, Unit of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Udine, ASUI Udine, Pediatria, P.zzale S. Maria Misericordia 1, 33100, Udine, Italy
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Vidal E, Miorin E, Zucchetta P, Benetti E, Longo G, Meneghesso D, Parolin M, Murer L. Usefulness of 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan in the diagnosis and follow-up of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis in children. Clin Kidney J 2017; 10:655-660. [PMID: 28979776 PMCID: PMC5622892 DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symptoms and signs of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) are nonspecific; therefore, renal biopsy is often necessary to clarify the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow-up of ATIN. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of five patients (nine renal units) with a median age of 14 years who underwent DMSA scan after a clinical and/or biopsy-proven diagnosis of ATIN. The exam was performed within 1 month after disease onset and repeated at a median time of 12 months after the acute phase. RESULTS DMSA renal scans performed during the acute phase allowed the discovery of suggestive findings, including diffuse reduction of the renal uptake of radionuclide and presence of multiple 'cold' focal lesions in a corticomedullary distribution. The follow-up scintigraphy resulted normal in two patients who were treated with steroids and in one patient who presented a mild renal dysfunction in the acute phase. By contrast, the control scan showed persistent renal damage in one patient who was further readmitted because of hypertension and in one renal transplanted patient who presented a Stage 3 acute kidney injury in the acute phase. CONCLUSIONS DMSA renal scan might be a reliable tool for an early non-invasive diagnosis of ATIN in children and might be particularly useful in those patients who are not candidates for a kidney biopsy. Moreover, DMSA scan gives accurate follow-up evaluation, as it allows monitoring of the evolution of acute renal parenchymal inflammation with potential risk of renal scar formation. Due to the small sample size, our findings warrant further validation in a larger study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Vidal
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Zucchetta
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Benetti
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Germana Longo
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Meneghesso
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Parolin
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Murer
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Vassallo E, Angella G, Caniello R, Deambrosis S, Inzoli F, Miorin E, Pedroni M. Effects of Nitrogen Concentration on Microstructure of Tungsten Coatings Synthesized by Plasma Sputtering Method. J Fusion Energ 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10894-015-9945-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Ferrario A, Battiston S, Boldrini S, Sakamoto T, Miorin E, Famengo A, Miozzo A, Fiameni S, Iida T, Fabrizio M. Mechanical and Electrical Characterization of Low-resistivity Contact Materials for Mg2Si. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2015.05.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Vassallo E, Caniello R, Deambrosis S, Dellasega D, Ghezzi F, Laguardia L, Miorin E, Passoni M. Removing of Mixed Coatings by Plasma Discharges. J Fusion Energ 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10894-013-9623-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Miorin E, Montagner F, Battiston S, Fiameni S, Fabrizio M. ZnO:Al thin films deposited by RF-magnetron sputtering with tunable and uniform properties. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2011; 11:2191-2195. [PMID: 21449368 DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2011.3542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Nanostructured, high quality and large area Al-doped ZnO (ZnO:Al) thin films were obtained by radiofrequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The sample rotation during deposition has resulted in excellent spatial distribution of thickness and electro-optical properties compared to that obtained under static conditions. ZnO:Al thin films are employed in a large number of devices, including thin film solar cells, where the uniformity of the properties is a key factor for a possible up-scaling of the research results to industrially relevant substrate sizes. A chemical post etching treatment was employed achieving tunable surface nanotextures to generate light scattering at the desired wavelength for improved cell efficiency. Since the film resistivity is only slightly increased by the etching, this post-deposition step allows separating the optimization of electro-optical properties from light scattering behavior. The thin films were characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, UV-VIS spectroscopy, four probe and van der Paw techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Miorin
- CNR-Institute for Energetics and Interphases, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
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Pecile P, Miorin E, Romanello C, Vidal E, Contardo M, Valent F, Tenore A. Age-related renal parenchymal lesions in children with first febrile urinary tract infections. Pediatrics 2009; 124:23-9. [PMID: 19564279 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2008-1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to define the association between age and the occurrence of acute pyelonephritis and renal scars. METHODS Between 1999 and 2002, all children 0 to 14 years of age consecutively seen with a first febrile urinary tract infection were enrolled in the study. (99m)Tc-Dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy was performed within 5 days after admission for the detection of renal parenchymal involvement. The presence of vesicoureteral reflux was assessed by using cystography performed 1 month after the infection. If the acute scan results were abnormal, then follow-up (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scanning was performed after 6 months, to assess the frequency of scars. RESULTS A total of 316 children were enrolled in the study (190 children <1 year, 99 children 1-4 years, and 27 children 5-14 years of age). (99m)Tc-Dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy revealed that 59% of the children had renal involvement in the acute phase of infection. The frequency of kidney involvement in infants <1 year of age (49%) was significantly lower than that in children 1 to 4 years of age (73%) and >5 years of age (81%). Of the 187 children with positive acute (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan results, 123 underwent repeat scintigraphy after 6 months. Renal scars were found for 28% of children <1 year, 37% of children 1 to 4 years, and 53% of children 5 to 14 years of age. No significant differences in the frequency of scars and the presence or absence of vesicoureteral reflux were noted. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm that acute pyelonephritis and subsequent renal scarring occur only in some children with first febrile urinary tract infections. Children <1 year of age with febrile urinary tract infections have a lower risk of parenchymal localization of infection and renal scarring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pecile
- Department of Pediatrics, DPMSC, University of Udine, School of Medicine, Udine, Italy
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common problem among children. The diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis is a challenge, particularly during infancy. The distinction between acute pyelonephritis and UTI without renal involvement is very important, because renal infection may cause parenchymal scarring and thus requires more aggressive investigation and follow-up monitoring. However, this distinction is not easy among children, because common clinical findings and laboratory parameters are nonspecific, especially among young children. In an attempt to differentiate acute pyelonephritis from febrile UTI without renal lesions in a group of 100 children, we measured serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), a new marker of infection. The objective of the study was to determine the accuracy of PCT measurements, compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements, in diagnosing acute renal involvement during febrile UTI and in predicting subsequent scars, as assessed with 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy. DESIGN Serum CRP levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, leukocyte counts, and PCT levels were measured for 100 children, 1 month to 13 years of age, admitted for suspected febrile UTI (first episode). Renal parenchymal involvement was evaluated with DMSA scintigraphy within 5 days after admission. The DMSA study was repeated 6 months later if the initial results were abnormal. RESULTS The mean PCT level was significantly higher in acute pyelonephritis than in UTI without renal lesions (4.48 +/- 5.84 ng/mL vs 0.44 +/- 0.30 ng/mL). In these 2 groups, the mean CRP levels were 106 +/- 68.8 mg/L and 36.4 +/- 26 mg/L, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rates were 79.1 +/- 33 mm/hour and 58.5 +/- 33 mm/hour, and leukocyte counts were 18 492 +/- 6839 cells/mm3 and 16 741 +/- 5302 cells/mm3, respectively. For the prediction of acute pyelonephritis, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT measurements were 83.3% and 93.6%, respectively; CRP measurements had a sensitivity of 94.4% but a specificity of only 31.9%. Positive and negative predictive values for prediction of renal involvement with PCT measurements were 93.7% and 83% and those with CRP measurements were 61.4% and 83.3%, respectively. When inflammatory markers were correlated with the severity of the renal lesions, as assessed with DMSA scintigraphy, a highly significant correlation with both PCT and CRP levels was found. However, when the 2 parameters were correlated with renal scarring in follow-up scans, a significant positive association was found only for PCT levels. CONCLUSIONS Serum PCT levels may be a sensitive and specific measure for early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis and determination of the severity of renal parenchymal involvement. Therefore, this measurement could be useful for the treatment of children with febrile UTIs, allowing prediction of patients at risk of permanent parenchymal renal lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pecile
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Piazzale S.M. della Misericovolio Udine 33100, Italy.
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