Hematologic manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection and MIS-C in hospitalized children. Results of the PICNIC registry.

Introduction: Hematologic complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection are well described in hospitalized adults with correlation to adverse outcomes. Information published in children has been limited. Methods: An international multi-centered retrospective registry was established to collect data on the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in hospitalized children between February 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021. This sub-study focused on hematologic manifestations. Study variables included patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, course, laboratory parameters, management, and outcomes. Results: Nine hundred and eighty-five children were enrolled and 915 (93%) had clinical information available; 385 (42%) had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection upon admission, 288 had MIS-C (31.4%) and 242 (26.4%) had alternate diagnosis with SARS-CoV-2 identified incidentally. During hospitalization, 10 children (1%) experienced a thrombotic event, 16 (1.7%) had hemorrhage and 2 (0.2%) had both thrombotic and hemorrhagic episodes. Significant prothrombotic comorbidities included congenital heart disease (p-value = 0.007), central venous catheter (p = 0.04) in children with primary SARS-CoV-2 infection; and obesity (p-value= 0.002), cytokine storm (p= 0.012) in those with MIS-C. Significant pro- hemorrhagic conditions included age > 10 years (p = 0.04), CVC (p= 0.03) in children with primary SARS-CoV-2infection; and thrombocytopenia (0.001), cytokine storm (0.02) in those with MIS-C. Eleven patients died (1.2 %) with no deaths attributed to thrombosis or hemorrhage Conclusion: Thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications are uncommon in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection and observed with underlying co-morbid conditions. Understanding the complete spectrum of hematologic complications in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection or MIS-C requires ongoing multi-center studies.

Safety Considerations for the Inpatient Medication-Use Process in Pediatric and Neonatal Patients

The delivery of safe and effective healthcare to pediatric and neonatal patients presents unique challenges to the medication-use system. The diversity of patients within this population and the consequences of ontogeny on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics directly impact the safe use of medications in children and increase the risk of adverse drug events.1 This review will explore the medication-use system for hospitalized children and neonates, discuss vulnerabilities within this system, and provide examples of advancements made to improve the pediatric medication-use system.

AKI in Hospitalized Children: Poorly Documented (and Underrecognized)

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized children. We hypothesized that hospital-acquired AKI would be underrecognized and under-reported, with potential implications for prevention of future AKI and CKD risk stratification.Methods: Five hundred thirty-two cases of AKI occurring over a 1 year period in a tertiary children's hospital in the United States were studied. AKI documentation was defined as any mention of AKI in the admission history and physical note, progress notes, or discharge summary. Nephrology follow-up was defined as a completed outpatient clinic visit within 1 year of discharge. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with documentation, consultation, and follow-up.Results: AKI developed during 584/7,640 (7.6%) of hospitalizations: 532 cases met inclusion criteria. Documentation was present in 34% (185/532) of AKI cases and 90 (16.9%) had an inpatient nephrology consult. Among 501 survivors, 89 (17.8%) had AKI in their hospital discharge summary and 54 had outpatient nephrology follow up. Stage 3 AKI, peak creatinine >1 mg/dL and longer length of stay were associated with documentation. Stage 3 AKI and higher baseline creatinine were associated with inpatient nephrology consultation. Inpatient nephrology consultation was positively associated with outpatient nephrology follow up, but documentation in the discharge summary was not.Conclusion: Most cases of AKI were not documented and the proportion of children seen by a nephrologist was low, even among those with more severe injury. Increased severity of AKI was associated with documentation and inpatient consultation. Poor rates of documentation has implications for AKI recognition and appropriate management and follow up.

Torque Teno Virus in Nasopharyngeal Aspirate of Children With Respiratory Infections

Torque teno virus (TTV) is responsible for persistent infections and is considered a marker of immune function. The role of TTV as a facilitator of respiratory infections(RIs) is unknown. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of TTV in the nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) of hospitalized children with RIs and correlate them with outcomes and immune response. NPA was taken for testing 16 respiratory viruses by RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), TTV PCR, and immunological study.Sixty hospitalized children with an RI and 3 healthy control infants were included. A total of 51/60 patients had a positive common respiratory viral (CRV) identification. A total of 24/63 (38.1%) children were TTV+ and had other CRVs in 95.8% of cases vs 74.4% in TTV- (p=0.029). TTV+ patients tended to be older, have fever, and need PICU admission more often than TTV- patients. Abnormal chest X-ray was more frequent in the TTV+ patients, OR 2.6(95% CI:1.3-5.2).The genetic expression of filaggrin (involved in epithelial barrier integrity) was lower in TTV+ patients; however, levels of filaggrin in the NPA were increased.In summary, TTV infection is common in children with RI and could be associated with pneumonia, greater severity, and alteration in filaggrin gene expression and protein release.

Care related to peripheral intravenous catheterism in pediatrics performed by nursing technicians

ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate the care practice adopted by nursing technicians before, during and after peripheral intravenous catheterization performed in hospitalized children. Methods: cross-sectional and descriptive research, carried out in a pediatric hospital in Bahia through non-participatory observation of peripheral intravenous catheterizations performed in children by nursing technicians. Data was collected through an instrument containing care related to the moments before, during and after insertion of the catheter, calculating absolute and relative frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion. Results: there were 31 nursing technicians, who performed care mainly before intravenous catheterization. Nonconformities were identified regarding hand hygiene, use of a disposable mask, selection of the catheter insertion site, antisepsis, stabilization and catheter coverage. Conclusions: most of the precautions observed regarding peripheral intravenous catheterization are not in accordance with the standards of practice recommended by the national and international literature.

Hospital structure elements demarcating (in)visibilities of institutional violence against children

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the hospital structure elements that demarcate (in)visibilities of institutional violence in hospitalized children. Methods: this is a descriptive-exploratory qualitative study that used approaches with Foucault’s thinking. Ten companions and 39 healthcare professionals from a university hospital in Salvador, Bahia participated. Data collection took place from November 2018 to June 2019 through semi-structured interviews. The discourse analysis method was used. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Results: institutional violence was understood in the violations and invisibilities of the structure of health services through the problems: in infrastructure (physical structure, lack of human and material resources, scrapping of equipment); administrative and management; pilgrimage. Final Considerations: it is necessary to realize the invisibilities of the infrastructure to act in confronting institutional violence to hospitalized children.