Respiratory viruses are a common cause of respiratory tract infection (RTI), particularly in neonates and children. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral infections could improve clinical outcomes and reduce the use of antibiotics and treatment sessions. Advances in diagnostic technology contribute to the accurate detection of viruses. We performed a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate the viral etiology in pediatric patients and compared the detection rates with those determined using traditional antigen tests and virus cultures. Fifteen respiratory viruses were included in our investigation: respiratory syncytial virus A/B (RSV), influenza virus A (FluA) and influenza virus B (FluB), human metapneumovirus (MPV), enterovirus (EV), human parainfluenza virus (PIV) types 1-4, human rhinovirus (RV), human coronavirus OC43, NL63, and 229E, human adenovirus (ADV), and human bocavirus (Boca). In total, 474 specimens were collected and tested. Respiratory viruses were detected more frequently by PCR (357, 75.3%) than they were by traditional tests (229, 49.3%). The leading pathogens were RSV (113, 23.8%), RV (72, 15.2%), PIV3 (53, 11.2%), FluA (51, 10.8%), and ADV (48, 10.1%). For children younger than 5 years, RSV and RV were most prevalent; for children older than 5 years, FluA and ADV were the most frequently detected. Of the specimens, 25.8% (92/357) were coinfected with two or more viruses. RV, Boca, PIV2, FluB, and PIV4 had higher rates of coinfection; MPV and PIV1 had the lowest rates of coinfection (9.1% and 5.3%). To conclude, the detection power of PCR was better than that of traditional antigen tests and virus cultures when considering the detection of respiratory viruses. RSV and RV were the leading viral pathogens identified in the respiratory specimens. One-quarter of the positive specimens were coinfected with two or more viruses. In the future, further application of PCR may contribute to the rapid and accurate diagnosis of respiratory viruses and could improve patient outcomes.

A 15-mg/kg/dose q6h compared to a 10-mg/kg/dose q6h is more likely to achieve target trough concentrations of 15-20 μg/mL and the goal AUC/MIC ≥ 400.

We report here the results of our evaluation of two procedures to eliminate viruses in factor VIII and factor IX coagulation factor concentrates. Both procedures were equally effective in the in vitro destruction of marker viruses. However, in a controlled infectivity test in chimpanzees, treatment at 60 degrees C for 20 hours inactivated greater than 500 and less than 10,000 chimpanzee infectious doses (CID) of hepatitis B virus, while treatment at 98 degrees C for 30 minutes inactivated less than 500 CID. Both methods were successful in preventing infection with an undetermined amount of an indeterminate non-A, non-B hepatitis agent. The 60 degrees C, 20-hour treatment method rendered 5.25 logs of the putative acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus III/lymphadenopathy virus, added to factor VIII or factor IX concentrates, undetectable. Heat-treated factor VIII and factor IX complex concentrates prepared by these methods were tested against corresponding untreated control lots. There was no significant difference in the plasma recovery or plasma half-life of the factor (p greater than 0.05). The treated concentrates were equivalent to the control concentrates with respect to vital signs, clinical laboratory studies, and adverse reactions. The heat-treated concentrates appeared bioequivalent to the untreated concentrates with the additional benefit of inactivation of potentially present infectious viruses.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) is the primary immunosuppressive agent for the prophylaxis of rejection episodes in renal, cardiac, liver, and other transplants. Recently, its use in autoimmune diseases has been investigated as well. Although several studies have produced promising results, nephrotoxicity and hypertension can result from CyA treatment, and their development must be understood in order to facilitate patient management. This article describes the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) responses in two populations of patients during three months of CyA therapy. Study A involved psoriasis patients and Study B involved postoperative renal transplant patients. The relationship between blood pressure and systemic CyA exposure and other covariates was evaluated using linear mixed effects modeling. Temporal patterns of blood pressure changes with varying duration of CyA exposure were investigated. In Study A, the psoriasis patients showed transient exposure-related increases in DBP on CyA. These elevations, while statistically significant, were clinically insignificant. In Study B, the renal transplant patients showed no CyA-related rises in DBP. In neither study was there evidence for a difference in effect on DBP between Sandimmune and Neoral, the two formulations of CyA presently approved for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration, after differences in CyA exposure were taken into account.

9645 Background: Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) are at risk for hepatotoxicity (HT) from viral reactivation during chemotherapy courses (TC). This can be minimized with antiviral prophylaxis (AV). Screening for HBV before TC remains controversial. Methods: A retrospective observational data only study was conducted at a Northern California integrated health care delivery system examining patients undergoing TC between 2000 and 2010. Patients were categorized as HBV positive (HBV+) if they had a positive HBsAg, HBeAg, or HBV DNA any time before and 1 year post TC. Grade 3 and 4 HT was determined using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, with adaptation for those who had baseline abnormal liver function tests. We excluded patients with HIV, co-infection with both HBV and hepatitis C, and HBsAb of unclear provenance. Two control groups (CTRL1 and CTRL2) were established that had tested negative for HBV and HCV 1996 through 1 year after the last TC: CTRL1 tested negative for both before TC initiation (index TC); CTRL2 tested negative for one pre and the other post index TC or both at any time after index TC. AV prophylaxis (AVP+) was defined as anti-HBV medication given before HT; the remainder were AVP-, including those given AV after HT. Electronic medical record review was conducted on all HBV+ patients. Results: We identified 9,279 patients who received 15,960 TC; 57.8% were female with a mean age of 57.8 (±14.4) at TC initiation. 464 TC were given to 289 HBV+ patients; 22.8% had HT, with 7 deaths from HT, all AVP-. The rate of HT in the controls was 9.9% in CTRL1 (34/343), 12.6% in CTRL 2 (1907/15,153). Conclusions: These findings support the recommendation that all patients planning to receive TC should be screened for HBV. Those found positive should receive AV prophylaxis during therapy. [Table: see text]