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Multiple studies have investigated the role of biomarkers in predicting pneumonia severity in adults but minimal conclusive research exists for children. This study aimed to determine if the following biomarker levels, collected within 72 hours of hospital arrival: white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil count, or band count associated with community-associated pneumonia (CAP) severity in children. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on children (aged 60 days to 18 years) diagnosed with CAP, and admitted to a regional, tertiary hospital (Charleston, WV, USA) for 3 years (2015–2018). Patients were stratified into 2 severity cohorts, mild (no ICU care), and moderate/severe (required ICU care). Biomarker values were then compared between the severity cohorts and area under the curve (AUC), and cut-off values and performance characteristics were calculated. Results: A total of 108 patients met inclusion criteria with 46% having moderate/severe CAP. Elevated levels of CRP (51.7 mg/L in mild vs. 104.8 mg/L in moderate/severe, P = .003, PCT (0.29 ng/ml in mild vs. 4.02 ng/mL in moderate/severe, P = .001) and band counts (8% in mild vs. 15% moderate/severe, P = .009) were associated with increased pneumonia severity. In predicting moderate/severe CAP, PCT had the highest AUC of 0.77 ( P = .001) followed by bands AUC of 0.69 ( P = .009) and CRP AUC of 0.67 ( P = .003). Cut-off for PCT of 0.55 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 65%. Cut-off level of 53.1 mg/L for CRP had a sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 52%. Cut off level of 12.5% bands had a sensitivity of 61% and specificity of 71%. In a multivariable model controlled for patient demographics and other biomarker levels, only PCT levels significantly predicted moderate/severe CAP (adjusted odds ratio: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.14–1.73], P = .002). Conclusion: Biomarkers, in particular PCT, obtained early in hospitalization may perform as possible predictors for CAP severity in children and be beneficial in guiding CAP management. However, biomarkers in pneumonia should not drive severity assessment or patient management independent of clinical presentation.
Multiple studies have investigated the role of biomarkers in predicting pneumonia severity in adults but minimal conclusive research exists for children. This study aimed to determine if the following biomarker levels, collected within 72 hours of hospital arrival: white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil count, or band count associated with community-associated pneumonia (CAP) severity in children. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on children (aged 60 days to 18 years) diagnosed with CAP, and admitted to a regional, tertiary hospital (Charleston, WV, USA) for 3 years (2015–2018). Patients were stratified into 2 severity cohorts, mild (no ICU care), and moderate/severe (required ICU care). Biomarker values were then compared between the severity cohorts and area under the curve (AUC), and cut-off values and performance characteristics were calculated. Results: A total of 108 patients met inclusion criteria with 46% having moderate/severe CAP. Elevated levels of CRP (51.7 mg/L in mild vs. 104.8 mg/L in moderate/severe, P = .003, PCT (0.29 ng/ml in mild vs. 4.02 ng/mL in moderate/severe, P = .001) and band counts (8% in mild vs. 15% moderate/severe, P = .009) were associated with increased pneumonia severity. In predicting moderate/severe CAP, PCT had the highest AUC of 0.77 ( P = .001) followed by bands AUC of 0.69 ( P = .009) and CRP AUC of 0.67 ( P = .003). Cut-off for PCT of 0.55 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 65%. Cut-off level of 53.1 mg/L for CRP had a sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 52%. Cut off level of 12.5% bands had a sensitivity of 61% and specificity of 71%. In a multivariable model controlled for patient demographics and other biomarker levels, only PCT levels significantly predicted moderate/severe CAP (adjusted odds ratio: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.14–1.73], P = .002). Conclusion: Biomarkers, in particular PCT, obtained early in hospitalization may perform as possible predictors for CAP severity in children and be beneficial in guiding CAP management. However, biomarkers in pneumonia should not drive severity assessment or patient management independent of clinical presentation.
Background Mortality of children admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) is higher in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) as compared to high-income countries (HICs). There is paucity of information on outcomes following discharge from ICU, especially from sub-Saharan Africa region. This study was conducted to determine mortality and its associated factors among children admitted to Pediatric ICU (PICU) at Muhimbili National Hospital, from admission to three months after discharge. Methodology This was a hospital-based prospective cohort study conducted between July 2021 and May 2022, among children admitted to PICU who were followed up for 3-month after discharge. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from their medical charts. Telephone interviews were made after discharge. Medical records and verbal autopsy were used to determine the cause of death after discharge. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the association between variables. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Survival after PICU discharge was estimated by Kaplan - Meier curve. Results Of 323 children recruited, 177(54.8%) were male, with a median age of 17 months (1-168). The leading cause of PICU admission was severe sepsis 90/323(27.9%). A total of 161/323 children died, yielding an overall mortality of 49.8%. Of 173 children discharged from PICU, 33(19.1%) died. The leading cause of death among children who died in the general ward or as readmission into PICU was sepsis 4/17(23.5%). Respiratory diseases 4/16(25.0%) were the commonest cause of death among those who died after hospital discharge. Independent predictors of overall mortality included single organ dysfunction with hazard ratio(HR):5.97, 95% confidence interval (CI)(3.05–12.26)] and multiple organ dysfunction [HR:2.77,95%CI(1.03–2.21)]. Chronic illness[HR:8.13,95%CI(2.45–27.02)], thrombocytosis [HR:3.39,95%CI(1.32–8.73)], single[HR:3.57,95%CI(1.42–9.03)] and multiple organ dysfunction[HR:3.11,95%CI(1.01–9.61)] independently predicted post-PICU discharge mortality. Conclusion Overall mortality and post- PICU discharge mortality were high and more likely to affect children with organ dysfunction, chronic illness, and thrombocytosis. The leading causes of mortality post- PICU discharge were sepsis and respiratory diseases. There is a need for a focused follow up plan of children post- PICU discharge, further research on the long term survival and strategies to improve it.
Background: Most of the febrile infants <90 days old will have no more than a mild viral infection but there is a substantial minority that will be diagnosed as having serious bacterial infection at a reported prevalence of 10–14%. A simple, readily available, inexpensive diagnostic marker that yields results quickly and also accurately identifies bacterial infections in febrile infants would be of great value in management of these infants. This study aims to assess the role of thrombocytosis in predicting serious bacterial infection in young febrile infants beyond neonatal period.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional observational study was conducted from May 2016 to April 2017 on 76 febrile infants of age group 29-90 days in Kanti Children’s Hospital.Results: The incidence of serious bacterial infection was found 43 (56.6%). Thrombocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein and pyuria were significantly higher in serious bacterial infection cases (p value <0.05). Thrombocytosis alone had the sensitivity of only 53.5%, but had specificity of 90.9%. Elevated C-reactive protein had the best sensitivity (81.4%). Combination of leukocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein, pyuria and thrombocytosis had better sensitivity (93.0%) than these parameters alone. The overall ability of platelet count to identify infants with SBI was only moderate (AUC: 0.722). Elevated C-reactive protein was found to have better ability to identify infants with serious bacterial infection (AUC: 0.846).Conclusions: Thrombocytosis is a common finding in young infants diagnosed with serious bacterial infection. It has however, moderate ability in identifying infants with serious bacterial infection. Combining thrombocytosis with elevated C-reactive protein, leukocytosis and pyuria has better sensitivity in diagnosing serious bacterial infection than these individual parameters alone. Hence, combining these parameters may help in early prediction of febrile young infants at risk of serious bacterial infection.Keywords: Febrile young infants; serious bacterial infection; thrombocytosis.
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