scholarly journals Diagnostic Criteria for the Painful Swollen Pediatric Knee: Distinguishing Septic Arthritis From Aseptic Effusion in a Non-Lyme Endemic Area

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia S. Thomas ◽  
Corey J. Schiffman ◽  
Anna Faino ◽  
Viviana Bompadre ◽  
Gregory A. Schmale

Purpose: The child with a painful swollen knee must be worked-up for possible septic arthritis; the classic clinical prediction algorithms for septic arthritis of the hip may not be the best models to apply to the knee.Materials and methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of 17 years of children presenting to one hospital with a chief complaint of a painful swollen knee, to evaluate the appropriateness of applying a previously described clinical practice algorithm for the hip in differentiating between the septic and aseptic causes of the painful knee effusions. The diagnoses of true septic arthritis, presumed septic arthritis, and aseptic effusion were established, based upon the cultures of synovial fluid, blood cultures, synovial cell counts, and clinical course. Using a logistic regression model, the disease status was regressed on both the demographic and clinical variables.Results: In the study, 122 patients were included: 51 with true septic arthritis, 37 with presumed septic arthritis, and 34 with aseptic knee effusion. After applying a backward elimination, age <5 years and C-reactive protein (CRP) >2.0 mg/dl remained in the model, and predicted probabilities of having septic knee arthritis ranged from 15% for the lowest risk to 95% for the highest risk. Adding a knee aspiration including percent polymorphonucleocytes (%PMN) substantially improved the overall model performance, lowering the lowest risk to 11% while raising the highest risk to 96%.Conclusions: This predictive model suggests that the likelihood of pediatric septic arthritis of the knee is >90% when both “age <5 years” and “CRP > 2.0 mg/dl” are present in a child with a painful swollen knee, though, in the absence of these factors, the risk of septic arthritis remains over 15%. Aspiration of the knee for those patients would be the best next step.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezara Danilov ◽  
Christoph Ihle ◽  
Francisco F. Fernandez ◽  
Gunnar Blumenstock ◽  
Thomas Wirth ◽  
...  

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate predictable parameters with the highest sensitivity used in the diagnosis of children septic shoulder arthritis. Methods All children treated in our paediatric orthopaedic hospital between 2000 and 2017 with intraoperative verified septic arthritis of the shoulder were included in this retrospective study. Diagnostic procedures e.g. ultrasound, MRI, radiograph or blood samples as well as typical clinical symptoms were evaluated as predictable parameters for septic shoulder arthritis in paediatric patients. Descriptive statistics as well as sensitivity analysis were performed. Results In all, 25 children, 20 boys and five girls, aged from eight days to 15 years, were included for further statistical analysis. All parameters included were tested for sensitivity with binomial confidence intervals (Cis) of 95%. Predictive parameters with highest sensitivity were pseudo paralysis (100%, CI 0.86 to 1.00) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (96%, CI 0.79 to 0.99) superior to temperature (52%, CI 0.3 to 0.73), white blood count (11%, CI 0.01 to 0.34), radiograph (21%, CI 0.04 to 0.50), ultrasound (71%, CI 0.47 to 0.88) or MRI (100%, CI 0.78 to 1.00). Conclusion The diagnosis of a septic arthritis of the shoulder in children can be challenging for the clinician and especially for the resident doctor. Clinical symptoms such as pseudo paralysis and increased CRP level must be considered as predictive markers not to delay further diagnostics and treatment. Level of Evidence IV


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e001011
Author(s):  
Roshni Mistry ◽  
Nicola Scanlon ◽  
James Hibberd ◽  
Fionnghuala Fuller

IntroductionResearch into paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) has focused on tertiary level management. This review reports on symptoms and investigations at presentation.MethodsSingle centre retrospective case note analysis of patients fulfilling PIMS-TS diagnostic criteria from March to May 2020 in a London district level university hospital.ResultsSix patients presented in the week prior to their final diagnosis with fever and non-specific symptoms. Raised C-reactive protein (CRP), lymphopenia and hyponatraemia were noted. Kawasaki-like symptoms were under-represented in all patients.InterpretationThe results suggest that a proportion of children with early PIMS-TS present with a non-specific febrile illness and abnormal blood results. Further research is needed to determine the most appropriate identification and follow-up of these children.


Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Elena Paillaud ◽  
Johanne Poisson ◽  
Clemence Granier ◽  
Antonin Ginguay ◽  
Anne Plonquet ◽  
...  

We aimed to determine whether serum leptin levels are predictive of the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitalized older patients. In a prospective cohort, 232 patients had available data for leptin and were monitored for HAIs for 3 months. Admission data included comorbidities, invasive procedures, the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), BMI, leptin, albumin and C-reactive protein levels, and CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts. Multivariate logistic regression modelling was used to identify predictors of HAIs. Of the 232 patients (median age: 84.8; females: 72.4%), 89 (38.4%) experienced HAIs. The leptin level was associated with the BMI (p < 0.0001) and MNA (p < 0.0001) categories. Women who experienced HAIs had significantly lower leptin levels than those who did not (5.9 μg/L (2.6–17.7) and 11.8 (4.6–26.3), respectively; p = 0.01; odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval): 0.67 (0.49–0.90)); no such association was observed for men. In a multivariate analysis of the women, a lower leptin level was significantly associated with HAIs (OR = 0.70 (0.49–0.97)), independently of comorbidities, invasive medical procedures, and immune status. However, leptin was not significantly associated with HAIs after adjustments for malnutrition (p = 0.26) or albuminemia (p = 0.15)—suggesting that in older women, the association between serum leptin levels and subsequent HAIs is mediated by nutritional status.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JunYu Ding ◽  
Changxin Liu ◽  
Zhao Wang ◽  
Hua Guo ◽  
Kan Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading globally. The information regarding the characteristics and prognosis of antibody non-responders with COVID-19 is scarce.Method: In this retrospective, single-center study, we included all the patients with confirmed COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to the Fire God Mountain hospital from February 3, 2020, to April 14, 2020. A total of 1921 patients were divided into the antibody-negative group (n=94) and antibody-positive group (n=1827), and the 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match two groups.Results: In the antibody negative group, 40 patients (42.6%) were male, 54 patients (57.4%) were female, and 49 patients (52.1%) were older than 65 years old. Cough was the most common symptoms in the antibody negative group. White blood cell counts (WBC) 6.6×109/L [5.0, 9.1], Neutrophils 4.3×109/L [3.1, 6.6], C-reactive protein 7.3 mg/L [1.3, 49.0], Procalcitonin (PCT) 0.1 ng/mL [0.0, 0.2], Interleukin-6 (IL-6) 64.2 [1.5, 28.7], Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 193.8 U/L [154.9,260.6], Creatine kinase 60.5 U/L [40.5, 103.7], Creatine kinase isoenzyme 10.3 ng/mL [8.2, 14.5], Urea nitrogen 5.3 mmol/L [4.0, 8.7] and Creatinine 77.7 μmol/L [60.6, 98.7] were significantly higher in antibody negative patients than in antibody positive group (P<0.005). The days of nucleic acid negative conversion in the antibody negative group was shorter than that in the antibody positive group (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the hospitalization time of antibody negative patients was shorter than that of antibody positive patients (8.0 [6.0, 10.0] VS 13.0 [8.2, 23.0], P < 0.001).Conclusion: Some COVID-19 patients without specific antibodies had mild symptoms, but the inflammatory reaction caused by innate clinical immunity was more intense than those with antibodies, and the virus was cleared faster. The production of specific antibodies was unnecessary for SARS-CoV-2 clearance, and non-specific immune responses played an essential role in virus clearance.


Author(s):  
Zonghao Zhao ◽  
Jiajia Xie ◽  
Ming Yin ◽  
Yun Yang ◽  
Hongliang He ◽  
...  

AbstractThe outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection began in December 2019 in Wuhan, and rapidly spread to many provinces in China. The number of cases has increased markedly in Anhui, but information on the clinical characteristics of patients is limited. We reported 75 patients with COVID-19 in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from Jan 21 to Feb 16, 2020, Hefei, Anhui Province, China. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR of respiratory nasopharyngeal swab samples. Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Of the 75 patients with COVID-19, 61 (81.33%) had a direct or indirect exposure history to Wuhan. Common symptoms at onset included fever (66 [88.0%] of 75 patients) and dry cough (62 [82.67%]). Of the patients without fever, cough could be the only or primary symptom. The most prominent laboratory abnormalities were lymphopenia, decreased percentage of lymphocytes (LYM%), decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Patients with elevated interleukin 6 (IL-6) showed significant decreases in the LYM%, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts. Besides, the percentage of neutrophils, CRP, LDH and Procalcitonin levels increased significantly. We concluded that COVID-19 could cause different degrees of hematological abnormalities and damage of internal organs. Hematological profiles including LYM, LDH, CRP and IL-6 could be indicators of diseases severity and evaluation of treatment effectiveness. Antiviral treatment requires a comprehensive and supportive approach. Further targeted therapy should be determined based on individual clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selda Telo ◽  
Mutlu Kuluöztürk ◽  
Figen Deveci ◽  
Gamze Kırkıl ◽  
Önsel Öner ◽  
...  

SummaryBackground:The aim of this study was to determine the level of serum cystatin C (CysC) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) during exacerbation and stable periods and to investigate its potential diagnostic value and the relationship between CysC levels and the pulmonary function test (PFT).Methods:One hundred twenty-six patients with COPD (68 in stable periods, 58 during exacerbation periods) and 50 healthy subjects were included in the study. PFT, body mass index (BMI), white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum urea and creatinine levels were evaluated in both groups of patients. CysC levels were measured in all participants.Results:Serum CysC levels were statistically higher in both COPD groups than the control group (p<0.001 for both) although there was no statistically significant difference between COPD groups (p>0.05). CysC levels showed negative correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and a positive correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with stable COPD. There was a positive correlation between serum CysC levels and serum urea, creatinine, CRP levels in patients with COPD exacerbation (r=0.333, p=0.011; r=0.260, p=0.049; r=0.414, p<0.01 respectively). When stable COPD and control groups were evaluated, serum CysC had an area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.951 (0.909–0.994 95% CI: p<0.001).Conclusions:Our results showed that CysC levels increased in both COPD groups. Increased CysC levels may be related with lung function decline and inflammation in COPD patients. In addition, CysC levels may be a potential indicator for the diagnosis of COPD.


Cureus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shetty Sushruth ◽  
Chellappa Vijayakumar ◽  
Krishnamachari Srinivasan ◽  
Nagarajan Raj Kumar ◽  
Gopal Balasubramaniyan ◽  
...  

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