In our study, GG was ineffective in preventing nosocomial rotavirus infections, whereas breast-feeding was effective.

The aim of this retrospective study was to test the residual humoral immunity to compulsory vaccines after the end of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in a cohort of 70 Italian children. All the patients, who had been immunised according to the Italian schedule prior to the disease, were tested for antibody levels against tetanus and hepatitis B at a median of 10 months after the end of therapy. Median age at diagnosis of leukaemia was 48 months, and median age at vaccine titration was 84 months. The protective level of antibodies for tetanus and hepatitis B was shown in 83% and 81% of patients, respectively; the remaining 17% and 19% were not protected against the two pathogens. Double negativity was observed in only four of 62 (6%) patients in the cohort. These data were comparable with published data regarding healthy children of the same age and from the same geographical areas. Therefore, given the direct and indirect costs of performing laboratory tests, as well as the cost of revaccination, our proposal is to continue the vaccination schedule according to the child's age without any titration screening 6 months after the end of therapy. Larger studies are needed to confirm these observations.

This study is a retrospective analysis of seven patients with hypoechogenic lesions in the liver and/or spleen due to Bartonella henselae, who were followed from 1998 through to 2005 by the Department of Pediatrics, Turin University. In addition to showing constitutional symptoms, four children had skin lesions suggestive of injuries inflicted by cats, and one child had a history of exposure to cats. The origin of the infection remained undefined in the other two patients. Humoral tests enabled a precise diagnosis in all children. Treatment with macrolides or combinations of two active antibiotics for at least 2-3 weeks led to the definitive clearance of infection, although residual intraparenchymal lesions persisted in five patients for several months or years. Conclusion B. henselae serology allows an easy diagnosis of multiple hepatosplenic granulomata, a clinical picture that appears to be under-recognized. Macrolides or a combination of two active antibiotics for 2-3 weeks leads to a rapid clinical response and a definitive clearance of infection.

To investigate whether it is appropriate to assume comparability of hepatitis virus C (HCV)-RNA results across laboratories in multi-centre studies, nine laboratories of the European Paediatric HCV Network participated in an international proficiency study of HCV-RNA assays. A panel of 12 samples of different dilutions and genotypes was sent to each laboratory and tested with qualitative and/or quantitative HCV-RNA assays according to local procedures. Commercial assays were used in seven laboratories and in-house assays in two. All six laboratories in which a commercial qualitative assay was used were proficient, as were four of six runs (in five laboratories) in which a commercial quantitative assay was used. The proficiency of the laboratories where in-house assays were used could not be assessed according to the VQC definition because of differences in the methods used. Overall, there were several false-negative results, but only one false-positive result with a quantitative assay and none with a qualitative assay. The false-negative results may have implications for the diagnosis of infection, and highlight the need for an antibody test to be performed at 18 months to confirm the absence of infection. The results of qualitative assays were generally consistent across laboratories but it was difficult to evaluate and compare the results of quantitative assays. Multivariate analysis of data collected in multi-centre studies should therefore allow for centre and/or assay used.

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