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Ropers F, Bossuyt P, Maconochie I, Smit FJ, Alves C, Greber-Platzer S, Moll HA, Zachariasse J. Practice variation across five European paediatric emergency departments: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e053382. [PMID: 35361639 PMCID: PMC8971764 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053382] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare paediatric healthcare practice variation among five European emergency departments (EDs) by analysing variability in decisions about diagnostic testing, treatment and admission. DESIGN AND POPULATION Consecutive paediatric visits in five European EDs in four countries (Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, UK) were prospectively collected during a study period of 9-36 months (2012-2015). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Practice variation was studied for the following management measures: lab testing, imaging, administration of intravenous medication and patient disposition after assessment at the ED. ANALYSIS Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for general patient characteristics and markers of disease severity. To assess whether ED was significantly associated with management, the goodness-of-fit of regression models based on all variables with and without ED as explanatory variable was compared. Management measures were analysed across different categories of presenting complaints. RESULTS Data from 111 922 children were included, with a median age of 4 years (IQR 1.7-9.4). There were large differences in frequencies of Manchester Triage System (MTS) urgency and selected MTS presentational flow charts. ED was a significant covariate for management measures. The variability in management among EDs was fairly consistent across different presenting complaints after adjustment for confounders. Adjusted OR (aOR) for laboratory testing were consistently higher in one hospital while aOR for imaging were consistently higher in another hospital. Iv administration of medication and fluids and admission was significantly more likely in two other hospitals, compared with others, for most presenting complaints. CONCLUSIONS Distinctive hospital-specific patterns in variability of management could be observed in these five paediatric EDs, which were consistent across different groups of clinical presentations. This could indicate fundamental differences in paediatric healthcare practice, influenced by differences in factors such as organisation of primary care, diagnostic facilities and available beds, professional culture and patient expectations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Ropers
- Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Bossuyt
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amstersdam, Netherlands
| | - Ian Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Frank J Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Claudio Alves
- General Paediatrics, Emergency Unit, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca EPE, Amadora, Portugal
| | - Susanne Greber-Platzer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Henriette A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joany Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Nijman RG, Oostenbrink R, Moll HA, Casals-Pascual C, von Both U, Cunnington A, De T, Eleftheriou I, Emonts M, Fink C, van der Flier M, de Groot R, Kaforou M, Kohlmaier B, Kuijpers TW, Lim E, Maconochie IK, Paulus S, Martinon-Torres F, Pokorn M, Romaine ST, Calle IR, Schlapbach LJ, Smit FJ, Tsolia M, Usuf E, Wright VJ, Yeung S, Zavadska D, Zenz W, Levin M, Herberg JA, Carrol ED. A Novel Framework for Phenotyping Children With Suspected or Confirmed Infection for Future Biomarker Studies. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:688272. [PMID: 34395340 PMCID: PMC8356564 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.688272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The limited diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers in children at risk of a serious bacterial infection (SBI) might be due to the imperfect reference standard of SBI. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a new classification algorithm for biomarker discovery in children at risk of SBI. Methods: We used data from five previously published, prospective observational biomarker discovery studies, which included patients aged 0- <16 years: the Alder Hey emergency department (n = 1,120), Alder Hey pediatric intensive care unit (n = 355), Erasmus emergency department (n = 1,993), Maasstad emergency department (n = 714) and St. Mary's hospital (n = 200) cohorts. Biomarkers including procalcitonin (PCT) (4 cohorts), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin-2 (NGAL) (3 cohorts) and resistin (2 cohorts) were compared for their ability to classify patients according to current standards (dichotomous classification of SBI vs. non-SBI), vs. a proposed PERFORM classification algorithm that assign patients to one of eleven categories. These categories were based on clinical phenotype, test outcomes and C-reactive protein level and accounted for the uncertainty of final diagnosis in many febrile children. The success of the biomarkers was measured by the Area under the receiver operating Curves (AUCs) when they were used individually or in combination. Results: Using the new PERFORM classification system, patients with clinically confident bacterial diagnosis ("definite bacterial" category) had significantly higher levels of PCT, NGAL and resistin compared with those with a clinically confident viral diagnosis ("definite viral" category). Patients with diagnostic uncertainty had biomarker concentrations that varied across the spectrum. AUCs were higher for classification of "definite bacterial" vs. "definite viral" following the PERFORM algorithm than using the "SBI" vs. "non-SBI" classification; summary AUC for PCT was 0.77 (95% CI 0.72-0.82) vs. 0.70 (95% CI 0.65-0.75); for NGAL this was 0.80 (95% CI 0.69-0.91) vs. 0.70 (95% CI 0.58-0.81); for resistin this was 0.68 (95% CI 0.61-0.75) vs. 0.64 (0.58-0.69) The three biomarkers combined had summary AUC of 0.83 (0.77-0.89) for "definite bacterial" vs. "definite viral" infections and 0.71 (0.67-0.74) for "SBI" vs. "non-SBI." Conclusion: Biomarkers of bacterial infection were strongly associated with the diagnostic categories using the PERFORM classification system in five independent cohorts. Our proposed algorithm provides a novel framework for phenotyping children with suspected or confirmed infection for future biomarker studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud G. Nijman
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatric Accident and Emergency, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rianne Oostenbrink
- Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Henriette A. Moll
- Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Climent Casals-Pascual
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Biomedical Diagnostic Centre, Barcelona, Spain
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aubrey Cunnington
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tisham De
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irini Eleftheriou
- Second Department of Pediatrics, P. and A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marieke Emonts
- Pediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Allergy Department, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre Based at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Fink
- Micropathology Ltd., Warwick, United Kingdom
| | - Michiel van der Flier
- Section Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Radboud Centre for Infectious Diseases, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ronald de Groot
- Section Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Radboud Centre for Infectious Diseases, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Myrsini Kaforou
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benno Kohlmaier
- Department of General Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Taco W. Kuijpers
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Location Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Landsteiner Laboratory at the Amsterdam Medical Centre, Sanquin Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Emma Lim
- Pediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Allergy Department, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ian K. Maconochie
- Department of Pediatric Accident and Emergency, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephane Paulus
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe, University of Oxford, Level 2, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Federico Martinon-Torres
- Genetics, Vaccines, Infections and Pediatrics Research Group, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Marko Pokorn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Univerzitetni Klinični Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sam T. Romaine
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Rivero Calle
- Genetics, Vaccines, Infections and Pediatrics Research Group, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Luregn J. Schlapbach
- Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Frank J. Smit
- Department of Pediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maria Tsolia
- German Centre for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Effua Usuf
- Child Survival, Medical Research Council: The Gambia Unit, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Victoria J. Wright
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Faculty of Tropical and Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dace Zavadska
- Department of Pediatrics, Children Clinical University Hospital, Rigas Stradina Universitāte, Riga, Latvia
| | - Werner Zenz
- Department of General Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Levin
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jethro A. Herberg
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Enitan D. Carrol
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Nijman RG, Borensztajn DH, Zachariasse JM, Hajema C, Freitas P, Greber-Platzer S, Smit FJ, Alves CF, van der Lei J, Steyerberg EW, Maconochie IK, Moll HA. A clinical prediction model to identify children at risk for revisits with serious illness to the emergency department: A prospective multicentre observational study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254366. [PMID: 34264983 PMCID: PMC8281990 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254366] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To develop a clinical prediction model to identify children at risk for revisits with serious illness to the emergency department. Methods and findings A secondary analysis of a prospective multicentre observational study in five European EDs (the TRIAGE study), including consecutive children aged <16 years who were discharged following their initial ED visit (‘index’ visit), in 2012–2015. Standardised data on patient characteristics, Manchester Triage System urgency classification, vital signs, clinical interventions and procedures were collected. The outcome measure was serious illness defined as hospital admission or PICU admission or death in ED after an unplanned revisit within 7 days of the index visit. Prediction models were developed using multivariable logistic regression using characteristics of the index visit to predict the likelihood of a revisit with a serious illness. The clinical model included day and time of presentation, season, age, gender, presenting problem, triage urgency, and vital signs. An extended model added laboratory investigations, imaging, and intravenous medications. Cross validation between the five sites was performed, and discrimination and calibration were assessed using random effects models. A digital calculator was constructed for clinical implementation. 7,891 children out of 98,561 children had a revisit to the ED (8.0%), of whom 1,026 children (1.0%) returned to the ED with a serious illness. Rates of revisits with serious illness varied between the hospitals (range 0.7–2.2%). The clinical model had a summary Area under the operating curve (AUC) of 0.70 (95% CI 0.65–0.74) and summary calibration slope of 0.83 (95% CI 0.67–0.99). 4,433 children (5%) had a risk of > = 3%, which was useful for ruling in a revisit with serious illness, with positive likelihood ratio 4.41 (95% CI 3.87–5.01) and specificity 0.96 (95% CI 0.95–0.96). 37,546 (39%) had a risk <0.5%, which was useful for ruling out a revisit with serious illness (negative likelihood ratio 0.30 (95% CI 0.25–0.35), sensitivity 0.88 (95% CI 0.86–0.90)). The extended model had an improved summary AUC of 0.71 (95% CI 0.68–0.75) and summary calibration slope of 0.84 (95% CI 0.71–0.97). As study limitations, variables on ethnicity and social deprivation could not be included, and only return visits to the original hospital and not to those of surrounding hospitals were recorded. Conclusion We developed a prediction model and a digital calculator which can aid physicians identifying those children at highest and lowest risks for developing a serious illness after initial discharge from the ED, allowing for more targeted safety netting advice and follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud G. Nijman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, St Mary’s Hospital–Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Dorine H. Borensztajn
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joany M. Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carine Hajema
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paulo Freitas
- Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susanne Greber-Platzer
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Frank J. Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudio F. Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Johan van der Lei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC- University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ewout W. Steyerberg
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ian K. Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, St Mary’s Hospital–Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henriette A. Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Borensztajn D, Zachariasse JM, Greber-Platzer S, Alves CF, Freitas P, Smit FJ, van der Lei J, Steyerberg EW, Maconochie I, Moll HA. Shortness of breath in children at the emergency department: Variability in management in Europe. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251046. [PMID: 33951099 PMCID: PMC8099081 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim was to describe variability in resource use and hospitalization in children presenting with shortness of breath to different European Emergency Departments (EDs) and to explore possible explanations for variability. DESIGN The TrIAGE project, a prospective observational study based on electronic health record data. PATIENTS AND SETTING Consecutive paediatric emergency department visits for shortness of breath in five European hospitals in four countries (Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom) during a study period of 9-36 months (2012-2014). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We assessed diversity between EDs regarding resource use (diagnostic tests, therapy) and hospital admission using multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusting for potential confounding variables. RESULTS In total, 13,552 children were included. Of those, 7,379 were categorized as immediate/very urgent, ranging from 13-80% in the participating hospitals. Laboratory tests and X-rays were performed in 8-33% of the cases and 21-61% was treated with inhalation medication. Admission rates varied between 8-47% and PICU admission rates varied between 0.1-9%. Patient characteristics and markers of disease severity (age, sex, comorbidity, urgency, vital signs) could explain part of the observed variability in resource use and hospitalization. However, after adjusting for these characteristics, we still observed substantial variability between settings. CONCLUSION European EDs differ substantially regarding the resource use and hospitalization in children with shortness of breath, even when adjusting for patient characteristics. Possible explanations for this variability might be unmeasured patient characteristics such as underlying disease, differences in guideline use and adherence or different local practice patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorine Borensztajn
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Joany M. Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne Greber-Platzer
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudio F. Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando da Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo Freitas
- Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando da Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frank J. Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johan van der Lei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ewout W. Steyerberg
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ian Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Accident and Emergency, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henriëtte A. Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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van de Maat JS, Garcia Perez D, Driessen GJA, van Wermeskerken AM, Smit FJ, Noordzij JG, Tramper-Stranders G, Obihara CC, Punt J, Moll HA, Oostenbrink R. The influence of chest X-ray results on antibiotic prescription for childhood pneumonia in the emergency department. Eur J Pediatr 2021; 180:2765-2772. [PMID: 33754207 PMCID: PMC8346381 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-03996-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of chest X-ray (CXR) results on antibiotic prescription in children suspected of lower respiratory tract infections (RTI) in the emergency department (ED). We performed a secondary analysis of a stepped-wedge, cluster randomized trial of children aged 1 month to 5 years with fever and cough/dyspnoea in 8 EDs in the Netherlands (2016-2018), including a 1-week follow-up. We analysed the observational data of the pre-intervention period, using multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the influence of CXR result on antibiotic prescription. We included 597 children (median age 17 months [IQR 9-30, 61% male). CXR was performed in 109/597 (18%) of children (range across hospitals 9 to 50%); 52/109 (48%) showed focal infiltrates. Children who underwent CXR were more likely to receive antibiotics, also when adjusted for clinical signs and symptoms, hospital and CXR result (OR 7.25 [95% CI 2.48-21.2]). Abnormalities on CXR were not significantly associated with antibiotic prescription.Conclusion: Performance of CXR was independently associated with more antibiotic prescription, regardless of its results. The limited influence of CXR results on antibiotic prescription highlights the inferior role of CXR on treatment decisions for suspected lower RTI in the ED. What is Known: • Chest X-ray (CXR) has a high inter-observer variability and cannot distinguish between bacterial or viral pneumonia. • Current guidelines recommend against routine use of CXR in children with uncomplicated respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in the outpatient setting. What is New: • CXR is still frequently performed in non-complex children suspected of lower RTIs in the emergency department • CXR performance was independently associated with more antibiotic prescriptions, regardless of its results, highlighting the inferior role of chest X-rays in treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine S. van de Maat
- grid.416135.4Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniella Garcia Perez
- grid.416135.4Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gertjan J. A. Driessen
- grid.414786.8Department of Paediatrics, HAGA-Juliana Children’s Hospital, Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | | | - Frank J. Smit
- grid.416213.30000 0004 0460 0556Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen G. Noordzij
- grid.415868.60000 0004 0624 5690Department of Paediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Gerdien Tramper-Stranders
- grid.461048.f0000 0004 0459 9858Department of Paediatrics, Franciscus Gasthuis &Vlietland, locatie Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charlie C. Obihara
- Department of Paediatrics, Elisabeth Tweestedenziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanine Punt
- Department of Paediatrics, Langeland Ziekenhuis, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
| | - Henriette A. Moll
- grid.416135.4Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne Oostenbrink
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC - Sophia Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Zachariasse JM, Borensztajn DM, Nieboer D, Alves CF, Greber-Platzer S, Keyzer-Dekker CMG, Maconochie IK, Steyerberg EW, Smit FJ, Moll HA. Sex-specific differences in children attending the emergency department: prospective observational study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e035918. [PMID: 32948551 PMCID: PMC7500294 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the role of sex in the presentation and management of children attending the emergency department (ED). DESIGN The TrIAGE project (TRiage Improvements Across General Emergency departments), a prospective observational study based on curated electronic health record data. SETTING Five diverse European hospitals in four countries (Austria, The Netherlands, Portugal, UK). PARTICIPANTS All consecutive paediatric ED visits of children under the age of 16 during the study period (8-36 months between 2012 and 2015). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The association between sex (male of female) and diagnostic tests and disease management in general paediatric ED visits and in subgroups presenting with trauma or musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems and fever. Results from the different hospitals were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS 116 172 ED visits were included of which 63 042 (54%) by boys and 53 715 (46%) by girls. Boys accounted for the majority of ED visits in childhood, and girls in adolescence. After adjusting for age, triage urgency and clinical presentation, girls had more laboratory tests compared with boys (pooled OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.15). Additionally, girls had more laboratory tests in ED visits for respiratory problems (pooled OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.26) and more imaging in visits for trauma or musculoskeletal problems (pooled OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20) and respiratory conditions (pooled OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.24). Girls with respiratory problems were less often treated with inhalation medication (pooled OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.83). There was no difference in hospital admission between the sexes (pooled OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.04). CONCLUSION In childhood, boys represent the majority of ED visits and they receive more inhalation medication. Unexpectedly, girls receive more diagnostic tests compared with boys. Further research is needed to investigate whether this is due to pathophysiological differences and differences in disease course, whether girls present signs and symptoms differently, or whether sociocultural factors are responsible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joany M Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC- Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dorine M Borensztajn
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC- Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Nieboer
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudio F Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Emergency Unit, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando da Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal
| | | | | | - Ian K Maconochie
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK
| | - Ewout W Steyerberg
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC- Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Zachariasse JM, Nieboer D, Maconochie IK, Smit FJ, Alves CF, Greber-Platzer S, Tsolia MN, Steyerberg EW, Avillach P, van der Lei J, Moll HA. Development and validation of a Paediatric Early Warning Score for use in the emergency department: a multicentre study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2020; 4:583-591. [PMID: 32710839 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30139-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paediatric Early Warning Scores (PEWSs) are being used increasingly in hospital wards to identify children at risk of clinical deterioration, but few scores exist that were designed for use in emergency care settings. To improve the prioritisation of children in the emergency department (ED), we developed and validated an ED-PEWS. METHODS The TrIAGE project is a prospective European observational study based on electronic health record data collected between Jan 1, 2012, and Nov 1, 2015, from five diverse EDs in four European countries (Netherlands, the UK, Austria, and Portugal). This study included data from all consecutive ED visits of children under age 16 years. The main outcome measure was a three-category reference standard (high, intermediate, low urgency) that was developed as part of the TrIAGE project as a proxy for true patient urgency. The ED-PEWS was developed based on an ordinal logistic regression model, with cross-validation by setting. After completing the study, we fully externally validated the ED-PEWS in an independent cohort of febrile children from a different ED (Greece). FINDINGS Of 119 209 children, 2007 (1·7%) were of high urgency and 29 127 (24·4%) of intermediate urgency, according to our reference standard. We developed an ED-PEWS consisting of age and the predictors heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, consciousness, capillary refill time, and work of breathing. The ED-PEWS showed a cross-validated c-statistic of 0·86 (95% prediction interval 0·82-0·90) for high-urgency patients and 0·67 (0·61-0·73) for high-urgency or intermediate-urgency patients. A cutoff of score of at least 15 was useful for identifying high-urgency patients with a specificity of 0·90 (95% CI 0·87-0·92) while a cutoff score of less than 6 was useful for identifying low-urgency patients with a sensitivity of 0·83 (0·81-0·85). INTERPRETATION The proposed ED-PEWS can assist in identifying high-urgency and low-urgency patients in the ED, and improves prioritisation compared with existing PEWSs. FUNDING Stichting de Drie Lichten, Stichting Sophia Kinderziekenhuis Fonds, and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joany M Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Daan Nieboer
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ian K Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK
| | - Frank J Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Claudio F Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Emergency Unit, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando da Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susanne Greber-Platzer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria N Tsolia
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Second Department of Paediatrics, P and A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ewout W Steyerberg
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Paul Avillach
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Harvard Medical School, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Johan van der Lei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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Schinkelshoek G, Borensztajn DM, Zachariasse JM, Maconochie IK, Alves CF, Freitas P, Smit FJ, van der Lei J, Steyerberg EW, Greber-Platzer S, Moll HA. Management of children visiting the emergency department during out-of-office hours: an observational study. BMJ Paediatr Open 2020; 4:e000687. [PMID: 32984551 PMCID: PMC7493126 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim was to study the characteristics and management of children visiting the emergency department (ED) during out-of-office hours. METHODS We analysed electronic health record data from 119 204 children visiting one of five EDs in four European countries. Patient characteristics and management (diagnostic tests, treatment, hospital admission and paediatric intensive care unit admission) were compared between children visiting during office hours and evening shifts, night shifts and weekend day shifts. Analyses were corrected for age, gender, Manchester Triage System urgency, abnormal vital signs, presenting problems and hospital. RESULTS Patients presenting at night were younger (median (IQR) age: 3.7 (1.4-8.2) years vs 4.8 (1.8-9.9)), more often classified as high urgent (16.3% vs 9.9%) and more often had ≥2 abnormal vital signs (22.8% vs 18.1%) compared with office hours. After correcting for disease severity, laboratory and radiological tests were less likely to be requested (adjusted OR (aOR): 0.82, 95% CI 0.78-0.86 and aOR: 0.64, 95% CI 0.60-0.67, respectively); treatment was more likely to be undertaken (aOR: 1.56, 95% CI 1.49-1.63) and patients were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (aOR: 1.32, 95% CI 1.24-1.41) at night. Patterns in management during out-of-office hours were comparable between the different hospitals, with variability remaining. CONCLUSIONS Children visiting during the night are relatively more seriously ill, highlighting the need to keep improving emergency care on a 24-hour-a-day basis. Further research is needed to explain the differences in management during the night and how these differences affect patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Schinkelshoek
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC Sophia Children Hospital, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Dorine M Borensztajn
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC Sophia Children Hospital, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Joany M Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC Sophia Children Hospital, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Ian K Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Accident and Emergency, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Claudio F Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca Hospital, Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paulo Freitas
- Intensive Care Unit, Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca Hospital, Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Frank J Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Johan van der Lei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Ewout W Steyerberg
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne Greber-Platzer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Henriëtte A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC Sophia Children Hospital, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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van de Maat JS, Peeters D, Nieboer D, van Wermeskerken AM, Smit FJ, Noordzij JG, Tramper-Stranders G, Driessen GJA, Obihara CC, Punt J, van der Lei J, Polinder S, Moll HA, Oostenbrink R. Evaluation of a clinical decision rule to guide antibiotic prescription in children with suspected lower respiratory tract infection in The Netherlands: A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial. PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003034. [PMID: 32004317 PMCID: PMC6993966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimising the use of antibiotics is a key component of antibiotic stewardship. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the most common reason for antibiotic prescription in children, even though most of these infections in children under 5 years are viral. This study aims to safely reduce antibiotic prescriptions in children under 5 years with suspected lower RTI at the emergency department (ED), by implementing a clinical decision rule. METHODS AND FINDINGS In a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial, we included children aged 1-60 months presenting with fever and cough or dyspnoea to 8 EDs in The Netherlands. The EDs were of varying sizes, from diverse geographic and demographic regions, and of different hospital types (tertiary versus general). In the pre-intervention phase, children received usual care, according to the Dutch and NICE guidelines for febrile children. During the intervention phase, a validated clinical prediction model (Feverkidstool) including clinical characteristics and C-reactive protein (CRP) was implemented as a decision rule guiding antibiotic prescription. The intervention was that antibiotics were withheld in children with a low or intermediate predicted risk of bacterial pneumonia (≤10%, based on Feverkidstool). Co-primary outcomes were antibiotic prescription rate and strategy failure. Strategy failure was defined as secondary antibiotic prescriptions or hospitalisations, persistence of fever or oxygen dependency up to day 7, or complications. Hospitals were randomly allocated to 1 sequence of treatment each, using computer randomisation. The trial could not be blinded. We used multilevel logistic regression to estimate the effect of the intervention, clustered by hospital and adjusted for time period, age, sex, season, ill appearance, and fever duration; predicted risk was included in exploratory analysis. We included 999 children (61% male, median age 17 months [IQR 9 to 30]) between 1 January 2016 and 30 September 2018: 597 during the pre-intervention phase and 402 during the intervention phase. Most children (77%) were referred by a general practitioner, and half of children were hospitalised. Intention-to-treat analyses showed that overall antibiotic prescription was not reduced (30% to 25%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.07 [95% CI 0.57 to 2.01, p = 0.75]); strategy failure reduced from 23% to 16% (aOR 0.53 [95% CI 0.32 to 0.88, p = 0.01]). Exploratory analyses showed that the intervention influenced risk groups differently (p < 0.01), resulting in a reduction in antibiotic prescriptions in low/intermediate-risk children (17% to 6%; aOR 0.31 [95% CI 0.12 to 0.81, p = 0.02]) and a non-significant increase in the high-risk group (47% to 59%; aOR 2.28 [95% CI 0.84 to 6.17, p = 0.09]). Two complications occurred during the trial: 1 admission to the intensive care unit during follow-up and 1 pleural empyema at day 10 (both unrelated to the study intervention). Main limitations of the study were missing CRP values in the pre-intervention phase and a prolonged baseline period due to logistical issues, potentially affecting the power of our study. CONCLUSIONS In this multicentre ED study, we observed that a clinical decision rule for childhood pneumonia did not reduce overall antibiotic prescription, but that it was non-inferior to usual care. Exploratory analyses showed fewer strategy failures and that fewer antibiotics were prescribed in low/intermediate-risk children, suggesting improved targeting of antibiotics by the decision rule. TRIAL REGISTRATION Netherlands Trial Register NTR5326.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine S. van de Maat
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Daphne Peeters
- Department of Paediatrics, HAGA–Juliana Children’s Hospital, Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Nieboer
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Frank J. Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen G. Noordzij
- Department of Paediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Charlie C. Obihara
- Department of Paediatrics, Elisabeth–TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanine Punt
- Department of Paediatrics, LangeLand Ziekenhuis, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
| | - Johan van der Lei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Polinder
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henriette A. Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne Oostenbrink
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Vredebregt SJ, Moll HA, Smit FJ, Verhoeven JJ. Recognizing critically ill children with a modified pediatric early warning score at the emergency department, a feasibility study. Eur J Pediatr 2019; 178:229-234. [PMID: 30413883 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-018-3285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric Early Warning Scores were developed to monitor clinical deterioration of children admitted to the hospital. Pediatric Early Warning Scores could also be useful in the Emergency Department to quickly identify critically ill patients so treatment can be started without delay. To determine if a newly designed, fast, and easy to use Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score can identify critically ill children in the Emergency Department. We conducted a retrospective observational study in the Emergency Department of an urban district hospital in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Patients < 16 years attending the Emergency Department with an internal medical problem were included. Immediate intensive care unit admission was used as a measure for critically ill children. During the study period 2980 children attended the Emergency Department, ten (0.4%) of them required immediate intensive care unit admission. The Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score can identify critically ill children in the general pediatric Emergency Department population (area under the ROC curve 0.82). A sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 85% show potential to rule out critical illness in children visiting the Emergency Department when these results are validated in a larger population. A model containing both the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score and the Manchester Triage System did not perform significantly better than the Manchester Triage System alone but did show a positive tendency in favor of the model containing the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score and Manchester Triage System, area under the ROC curve 0.89 [95% CI 0.77-1.00] versus area under the ROC curve 0.82 [95% CI 0.68-0.95].Conclusions: In this feasibility study, the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score could be a fast and easy to use tool to identify critically ill children in the general pediatric Emergency Department population. The effectiveness of the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score may be optimized if combined with triage systems such as the Manchester Triage System. A larger prospective study is needed to confirm our results. What is known: • Pediatric Early Warning Scores can identify children who are in need for immediate intensive care unit admission at the Emergency Department. • Pediatric Early Warning Scores can be time-consuming, contain subjective parameters or parameters which are difficult to obtain in a reliable and standardized method. What is new: • We introduce a simplified, manageable and smartly designed Pediatric Early Warning Score on a pocket card based on an existing and previously investigated Pediatric Early Warning Score. • In this feasibility study the diagnostic performance of the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score to predict immediate intensive care unit admission in the Emergency Department is in line with the original Pediatric Early Warning Scores but has to be validated on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Vredebregt
- Department of Pediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Room 1F2042, PO box 9100, 3007 AC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H A Moll
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, dr. Molenwaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F J Smit
- Department of Pediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Room 1F2042, PO box 9100, 3007 AC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J J Verhoeven
- Department of Pediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Room 1F2042, PO box 9100, 3007 AC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Vos-Kerkhof ED, Gomez B, Milcent K, Steyerberg EW, Nijman RG, Smit FJ, Mintegi S, Moll HA, Gajdos V, Oostenbrink R. Clinical prediction models for young febrile infants at the emergency department: an international validation study. Arch Dis Child 2018; 103:1033-1041. [PMID: 29794106 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-314011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic value of existing clinical prediction models (CPM; ie, statistically derived) in febrile young infants at risk for serious bacterial infections. METHODS A systematic literature review identified eight CPMs for predicting serious bacterial infections in febrile children. We validated these CPMs on four validation cohorts of febrile children in Spain (age <3 months), France (age <3 months) and two cohorts in the Netherlands (age 1-3 months and >3-12 months). We evaluated the performance of the CPMs by sensitivity/specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration studies. RESULTS The original cohorts in which the prediction rules were developed (derivation cohorts) ranged from 381 to 15 781 children, with a prevalence of serious bacterial infections varying from 0.8% to 27% and spanned an age range of 0-16 years. All CPMs originally performed moderately to very well (AUC 0.60-0.93). The four validation cohorts included 159-2204 febrile children, with a median age range of 1.8 (1.2-2.4) months for the three cohorts <3 months and 8.4 (6.0-9.6) months for the cohort >3-12 months of age. The prevalence of serious bacterial infections varied between 15.1% and 17.2% in the three cohorts <3 months and was 9.8% for the cohort >3-12 months of age. Although discriminative values varied greatly, best performance was observed for four CPMs including clinical signs and symptoms, urine dipstick analyses and laboratory markers with AUC ranging from 0.68 to 0.94 in the three cohorts <3 months (ranges sensitivity: 0.48-0.94 and specificity: 0.71-0.97). For the >3-12 months' cohort AUC ranges from 0.80 to 0.89 (ranges sensitivity: 0.70-0.82 and specificity: 0.78-0.90). In general, the specificities exceeded sensitivities in our cohorts, in contrast to derivation cohorts with high sensitivities, although this effect was stronger in infants <3 months than in infants >3-12 months. CONCLUSION We identified four CPMs, including clinical signs and symptoms, urine dipstick analysis and laboratory markers, which can aid clinicians in identifying serious bacterial infections. We suggest clinicians should use CPMs as an adjunctive clinical tool when assessing the risk of serious bacterial infections in febrile young infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien de Vos-Kerkhof
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Borja Gomez
- Paediatric Emergency Department, Cruces University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain.,University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Karen Milcent
- AP-HP Department of Paediatrics, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Sud-Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Ewout W Steyerberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Decision Making, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud Gerard Nijman
- Department of Paediatric Accident and Emergency, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College-NHS Healthcare Trust, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Smit
- Department of General Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Santiago Mintegi
- Paediatric Emergency Department, Cruces University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain.,University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Henriette A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Gajdos
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif, France
| | - Rianne Oostenbrink
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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Zachariasse JM, Seiger N, Rood PPM, Alves CF, Freitas P, Smit FJ, Roukema GR, Moll HA. Validity of the Manchester Triage System in emergency care: A prospective observational study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170811. [PMID: 28151987 PMCID: PMC5289484 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the validity of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) in emergency care for the general population of patients attending the emergency department, for children and elderly, and for commonly used MTS flowcharts and discriminators across three different emergency care settings. METHODS This was a prospective observational study in three European emergency departments. All consecutive patients attending the emergency department during a 1-year study period (2010-2012) were included. Validity of the MTS was assessed by comparing MTS urgency as determined by triage nurses with patient urgency according to a predefined 3-category reference standard as proxy for true patient urgency. RESULTS 288,663 patients were included in the analysis. Sensitivity of the MTS in the three hospitals ranged from 0.47 (95%CI 0.44-0.49) to 0.87 (95%CI 0.85-0.90), and specificity from 0.84 (95%CI 0.84-0.84) to 0.94 (95%CI 0.94-0.94) for the triage of adult patients. In children, sensitivity ranged from 0.65 (95%CI 0.61-0.70) to 0.83 (95%CI 0.79-0.87), and specificity from 0.83 (95%CI 0.82-0.83) to 0.89 (95%CI 0.88-0.90). The diagnostic odds ratio ranged from 13.5 (95%CI 12.1-15.0) to 35.3 (95%CI 28.4-43.9) in adults and from 9.8 (95%CI 6.7-14.5) to 23.8 (95%CI 17.7-32.0) in children, and was lowest in the youngest patients in 2 out of 3 settings and in the oldest patients in all settings. Performance varied considerably between the different emergency departments. CONCLUSIONS Validity of the MTS in emergency care is moderate to good, with lowest performance in the young and elderly patients. Future studies on the validity of triage systems should be restricted to large, multicenter studies to define modifications and improve generalizability of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joany M. Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC- Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nienke Seiger
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC- Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pleunie P. M. Rood
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudio F. Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Emergency Unit, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando da Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal
| | - Paulo Freitas
- Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando da Fonseca, Amadora, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frank J. Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gert R. Roukema
- Department of Surgery, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte A. Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC- Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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van Veen M, Nijman RG, Zijlstra M, Dik WA, de Rijke YB, Moll HA, Neele M, Smit FJ, Oostenbrink R. Neutrophil CD64 expression is not a useful biomarker for detecting serious bacterial infections in febrile children at the emergency department. Infect Dis (Lond) 2015; 48:331-7. [DOI: 10.3109/23744235.2015.1118156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Van Der Merwe JS, Smit FJ, Durand AM, Krüger LP, Michael LM. Acaricide efficiency of amitraz / cypermethrin and abamectin pour-on preparations in game. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 72:309-14. [PMID: 16562734 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v72i4.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of an amitraz / cypermethrin pour-on preparation (1 % w/v each) was tested against natural tick infestations of buffaloes, eland and blesbok in three separate trials. The eland were also treated with a 0.02 % abamectin (w/v) acaricidal pour-on preparation. The amitraz / cypermethrin pour-on was effective against Amblyomma hebraeum, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes on the buffaloes. Both acaricides were effective against R. appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus in the eland. The amitraz / cypermethrin acaricide was effective against R. (Boophilus) decoloratus in the blesbok. Ticks can cause damage to the skins, secondary infections, abscesses, anaemia, loss of condition, tick toxicosis and act as vectors of infectious diseases. Introduction of hosts and / or ticks from endemic to non-endemic areas because of translocation of game, may lead to severe losses. The pouron acaricides tested were effective against natural tick infestations and should always be used according to the manufacturer's instructions and efficacy claims.
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Hofhuis W, van der Wiel EC, Nieuwhof EM, Hop WCJ, Affourtit MJ, Smit FJ, Vaessen-Verberne AAPH, Versteegh FGA, de Jongste JC, Merkus PJFM. Efficacy of fluticasone propionate on lung function and symptoms in wheezy infants. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 171:328-33. [PMID: 15531753 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200402-227oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of recurrent or persistent wheeze in infancy remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of 3 months of treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate, 200 microg daily (FP200), on lung function and symptom scores in wheezy infants. Moreover, we evaluated whether infants with atopy and/or eczema respond better to FP200 as compared with non-atopic infants. Forced expiratory flow (Vmax(FRC)) was measured at baseline and after treatment. Sixty-five infants were randomized to receive FP200 or placebo, and 62 infants (mean age, 11.3 months) completed the study. Mean Vmax(FRC), expressed as a Z score, was significantly below normal at baseline and after treatment in both groups. The change from baseline of Vmax(FRC) was not different between the two treatment arms. After 6 weeks of treatment, and not after 13 weeks, the FP200 group had a significantly higher percentage of symptom-free days and a significant reduction in mean daily cough score compared with placebo. Separate analysis of treatment effect in infants with atopy or eczema showed no effect modification. We conclude that in wheezy infants, after 3 months of treatment with fluticasone, there was no improvement in lung function and no reduction in respiratory symptoms compared with placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ward Hofhuis
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University MC/Sophia Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Hesselink DA, Yoo SM, Verhoeven GT, Brouwers JW, Smit FJ, van Saase JLCM. A high prevalence of culture-positive extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a large Dutch teaching hospital. Neth J Med 2003; 61:65-70. [PMID: 12765226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the Netherlands the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has increased during the last decade. Growing immigration and international travel were important determining factors. To determine if this has resulted in altered clinical manifestations of the disease, we assessed the clinical spectrum of all TB cases diagnosed at our hospital in the period 1994 to 2000. METHODS All culture-proven TB cases during the study period were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and demographic data. RESULTS Sixty-five patients were identified. Solitary pulmonary TB was diagnosed in 33.9%, extrapulmonary TB in 51.8% and combined pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in 14.3% of all cases. Patients were of foreign descent in 78.6% of all cases. Incidence peaked between 15 to 45 years. Decreased immunity was an important determining factor in the older patients. Presenting symptoms were mostly aspecific causing an important doctor's delay in establishing the diagnosis in 25%. Mortality was 3.6% and isoniazid resistance 3.6% CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest an increase in the percentage of extrapulmonary TB concomitantly with an increasing percentage of patients of foreign descent. Because of aspecific presenting symptoms, TB was often diagnosed late. Treatment is mainly hindered by non-compliance and a high index of suspicion is necessary in making the diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Hesselink
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Rijnmond-Zuid, Clara, Olympiaweg 350, 3078 HT Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Brand PL, van der Baan-Slootweg OH, Heynens JW, de Vries TW, Versteegh FG, Vreuls RC, den Ouden WJ, Smit FJ. Comparison of handling and acceptability of two spacer devices in young children with asthma. Acta Paediatr 2001; 90:133-6. [PMID: 11236040 DOI: 10.1080/080352501300049226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED This study compared parents' preference for two spacer devices, NebuChamber and Babyhaler for the treatment of young children with asthma. In this open, cross-over study 141 patients (aged 5-57 mo) who used inhaled steroids via a spacer device were randomized to budesonide via NebuChamber or beclomethasone dipropionate via Babyhaler. Both treatments were given by the parents twice daily for 2 wk. At the final visit parents completed a questionnaire on preference in general and for a given set of features. Acceptability and handling were scored in a diary. Diary scores on acceptability by the child and handling of both spacer devices were comparable. In the preference questionnaire, 68% of parents preferred NebuChamber [95% confidence interval (CI) 60-76] and 25% Babyhaler (95% CI 18-33). The preference was independent of the type of spacer used before the study and was also apparent in the different features: acceptability by child, carrying around, cleaning, close fitting of face mask, assembling and disassembling, damage resistance and size. These differences were statistically significant for all features, except for acceptability by the child. CONCLUSION Two-thirds of parents prefer NebuChamber over Babyhaler for the treatment of their young asthmatic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- P L Brand
- Department of Paediatrics, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
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Smit FJ. Why water fluoridation in South Africa? SADJ 2001; 56:34-6. [PMID: 16894683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F J Smit
- Department of Health, Private Bag X828, Pretoria
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Since 1985 a multidisciplinary team in the Sophia Children's University Hospital in Rotterdam provides diagnostic follow up and genetic counseling services for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients and their families. Parents of 68 affected children as well as 24 affected parents were interviewed. Of the affected children, 50% and 33% of the affected adults were treated for symptoms related to NF1 before a specific diagnosis was made. Although the disease is fully penetrant by the age of 5 years, 35% of the affected children had not been diagnosed by this age. Parents stated a preference for early diagnosis of NF1. Diagnosis of NF1 did not seem to be a reason to refrain from having children. The general attitude towards prenatal diagnosis was positive; however few parents would actually terminate an affected pregnancy. CONCLUSION Overall delay in diagnosis of NF1 is significant. Knowledge of symptoms should make an early diagnosis possible with beneficial effects for the patient and family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Cnossen
- University Hospital Sophia/Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Two patients with deep cold abscesses due to Trichophyton violaceum are described. Both have depressed cellular immunity.
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