Laboratory finding of CSF analysis in patients with meningitis at Elamin Hamid Pediatrics Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan

Bacterial meningitis in infants and children is a serious clinical entity with signs and symptoms that commonly do not allow distinguishing the diagnosis and the causative agents. The only method to determine if meningitis is the cause of these symptoms is a lumbar puncture. Lumbar puncture is the gold standard for the diagnosis and should be done in all suspected cases of meningitis unless contraindicated. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the importance of the microbiological study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients suspected to have acute meningitis. Despite the availability of all other investigations and Imaging for diagnosis of meningitis but CSF analysis remains the most available, accurate, and cheaper for diagnosis of meningitis in children. Methodology and result: This is a prospective study. 71 patients were included. All patients were clinically suspected to have acute meningitis. A lumbar puncture for CSF analysis was done for all patients. The data was collected and analysed. CSF culture was done. The culture was negative In 58 patients (81.7%) and positive in 13 patients (18.3%). Streptococcus was found in 3 patients (4.2 %), staphylococcus epidermidis in 2 patients (2.8%), E Coli in 2 patients (2.8%), klebsiella in 2 patients (2.8%), pneumococci in 2 patient (2.8%), salmonella in 1 patient (1,4%) and Bacilli in 1 patient (1.4 %). Recommendation: Lumbar Puncture (LP) remains the easiest, cheapest and accurate investigation for diagnosis of meningitis in children mainly in rural areas in Sudan and other developing countries. It’s mandatory to offer training for doctors and medical staff for doing lumber punctures safely and accurately and to offer well-equipped laboratories for such essential investigations. It’s not only the role of doctors and medical staff but is a governmental obligation as well. This can save a lot of sick children and prevent mortality and morbidity of acute meningitis in children.

Severe Hypertriglyceridaemia Leading to Factitious Hypobicarbonataemia

Anion gap metabolic acidosis is a laboratory finding commonly encountered in patients with sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury and toxic alcohol ingestion. Serum blood chemistry assessment detects this abnormality. However, this can be falsely low in situations of high triglyceride levels due to lipid interference with measurement of the bicarbonate levels and through volume displacement by these large molecules. Arterial blood gas analysis and a lipid panel are required to confirm accurate bicarbonate levels. Clinicians handling acid-base disorders in hospitalized patients need to be aware of this spurious laboratory value to avoid unnecessary tests and to determine accurate total bicarbonate levels.

Fundamentals in Covid-19-Associated Thrombosis: Molecular and Cellular Aspects

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is associated with a high incidence of coagulopathy and venous thromboembolism that may contribute to the worsening of the clinical outcome in affected patients. Marked increased D-dimer levels are the most common laboratory finding and have been repeatedly reported in critically ill COVID-19 patients. The infection caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is followed by a massive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which mediate the activation of endothelial cells, platelets, monocytes, and neutrophils in the vasculature. In this context, COVID-19-associated thrombosis is a complex process that seems to engage vascular cells along with soluble plasma factors, including the coagulation cascade, and complement system that contribute to the establishment of the prothrombotic state. In this review, we summarize the main findings concerning the cellular mechanisms proposed for the establishment of COVID-19-associated thrombosis.

Left atrial invasion of a lung cancer: a case report

Lung cancer is the leading neoplastic form worldwide for both incidence and mortality and represents the largest contributor to new cancer diagnosis. Cardiac extensions of a pulmonary neoplasm are rare and dramatically under-diagnosed because of the extreme variability of clinical presentation and frequently are expression of an advanced-stage primary lung cancer. The invasion often happens through pulmonary veins in absence of a clear respiratory impairment. Symptoms related to the cardiac involvement as the first presentation of a malignant pulmonary neoplasm are very uncommon and related with poor outcome. Here we present a case of invasion of the left atrium of a pulmonary neoplasm with initial cardiac manifestations and a laboratory finding of hypercalcemia.

6. Staphylococcus aureus in a Single Blood Culture Bottle: Should We be Concerned?

Background Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is common and is characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. The clinical importance of a single positive blood culture bottle (SPBCB), however, is poorly defined despite it being a frequent laboratory finding. We therefore examined patients with SPBCB to determine its clinical significance and to understand the rationale of current practice. Methods We performed a retrospective, multicenter study of patients with a SPBCB for S. aureus in initial cultures from January 2019 to December 2019 using data collected from both electronic health records and the clinical microbiology laboratory. Results Overall, 534 patients with SAB were identified, and 118 (22.1%) had a SPBCB. Among SPBCB cases, 106 (89.3%) were classified as clinically significant while 12 were considered contaminated or of unclear clinical significance. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups (Table 1). A majority (92.4%) received antibiotic therapy, but patients with clinically significant bacteremia were treated with a longer antibiotic course (25.9 vs 5.7 days, p< 0.001). Outcomes between those with SPBCB (contaminant vs clinically significant) were similar (Table 2). Of note, while there was no difference in use of echocardiography based on PREDICT criteria between the clinically significant SPBCB vs. the multiple positive blood culture bottles (MPBC) cohorts (Table 3), significant differences were seen in both frequency of echocardiography (65.1% vs. 84.6%, P< 0.001) and IE diagnosis (3.8% vs. 14.2%, P=0.002) for patients in the SPBCB vs. MPBC groups, respectively. In addition, those with MPBC had higher 90-day, 6-month and 1-year mortality rates. Conclusion SPBCB was documented in almost one-quarter of SAB cases and should trigger a thorough investigation as its associated mortality was high and complications, including IE, occurred. Although some SPBCB cases may represent contamination, antibiotic treatment of SPBCB was commonplace. Patients with clinically significant SPBCB were less likely to undergo echocardiography and had a reduced prevalence of an IE diagnosis as compared to those with MPBC. Patients with SPBCB may have a more favorable long-term prognosis as compared to that in patients with MPBC. Disclosures Muhammad R. Sohail, MD, Medtronic (Consultant)Philips (Consultant) Larry M. Baddour, MD, Boston Scientific (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant; Botanix Pharmaceuticals (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant; Roivant Sciences (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant

Prognostic Value of Electrocardiographic Abnormalities and Troponin-I Elevation in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Background: Corona Virus Disease (COVID -19) patients present mainly with respiratory manifestations and viral pneumonia. The cardiovascular presentation includes early signs of acute myocardial injury. Troponin elevation is a frequent laboratory finding in hospitalized patients with the disease, and may reflect direct vascular injury or nonspecific supply-demand imbalance. In this work, we assessed the correlation between different ranges of Troponin elevation, Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and mortality. Methods and materials: It was a prospective observational study, conducted in four tertiary care Private Hospitals of Chattogram City of Bangladesh. The study enrolled 181 consecutive patients admitted to hospital from June 01, 2020 to December 31, 2020 due to Covid-19 disease on the basis of presentation of signs and symptoms severity. Upon admission, routine investigations cTnI and ECG were carried out. Results: Mean age of the patients was 54.3±7.3 years with 63.5% male. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity followed by diabetes and obesity. 57.1% of the patients had abnormal ECG. Abnormal axis deviation [26 % (left axis deviation 23.9% vs right axis deviation 2.0%)], Poor R wave progression (22.9%), T inversion (14.5%), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (11.4%) followed by ST segment depression (8.3%) were major findings observed in the study population. Presence of LVH (p=0.008), ST segment elevation (p≤0.001), ST segment depression (p≤0.001) and T inversion (p=0.003) showed statistically significant association with Severe COVID-19 disease. 48.2% had raised cTnI level. Thirteen (7.2%) patients expired in hospital. The mortality rate increased with incrementally higher troponin group: 12/18 than mildly elevated troponin 1/63 (p < 0.01). The presence of an abnormal ECG finding resulted in significant in the intermediate Troponin elevation group (0.05-1 ng/ml) but not in the low (<0.05 ng/ml) or high (> 1 ng/ml) Troponin elevation groups. There were statistically significant association between between cTnI level and death; and between ECG findings and death. Conclusion: Study conclude that Troponin-I level and ECG are a prognostic factor for mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Bangladesh Heart Journal 2021; 36(2): 105-112

A Rare Case of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma in 8 Months Old Baby with Dyslipidemia

Background: Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis disease of childhood. But due to rarity of non Langerhans cell hystiosis itself, the exact prevalence of juvenile xanthogranuloma remain unknown with only a few epidemiological journal ever published. Juvenile xanthogranuloma usually wihout lipid abnormality and systemic involvement. But association between JXG and lipid abnormalities is still not well understood. We describe a patient with multiple cutaneous JXG who also developed hyperlipidemia. Case: A case of a 8 months-old baby patient with juvenile xanthogranuloma is reported. Patient parents noticed yellowish dots on child’s face since six months ago, and it was gradually increase in size and number, and spread to trunks, upper and lower limb since 2 months ago. Patients got formula milk since 7 months ago. Patients father has uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia, and grandparents had controlled dyslipidemia. Dermatological state showed yellowish plaque and papule on the face, trunk, lower limb, and upper limb. Dermoscopy show yellowish papule with sun setting appearance and branched and linear vessel on orange yellow background. Laboratory finding showed elevated lipid serum. Foam cell and Touton giant cell is found on histopathology examination. Discussion: The presented case demonstrates that skin lesions in patients with diagnosed JXG may have a variable clinical presentation, ranging from single to diffuse skin lesions, also present from the birth to childhood. The diagnosis requires histopathological confirmation to avoid misdiagnosis of malignant disease. Association between JXG and lipid abnormalities remain unknown, with most of the patient show normal lipid serum. Majority of patients presenting lesions limited to the skin requires only a strict dermatological observation.

Neutropenia in children: acquired neutropenia

Neutropenia is defined as a reduction in the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) below 1,500 cells/mcl in the blood. Neutropenia is a common laboratory finding in children. It is important to distinguish transient and benign causes from severe congenital neutropenia. Neutropenia can be classified in asymptomatic (mild), moderate, and severe form, the susceptibility to infection depending on ANC. Neutropenia can be either acquired or congenital. Infection, drugs, and immune disorders are the most common acquired causes while congenital causes are rare and confined mostly to infants and children. Transient neutropenia often accompanies viral infections in children, manifested in the period of acute viremia. Young children are characterized by autoimmune neutropenia (AIN), which has a benign course and a favorable prognosis. Autoimmune neutropenia is characterized by a decrease in the number of neutrophils as a result of the destruction of neutrophils in the peripheral blood by antineutrophil antibodies. The duration of AIN is usually 3–5 years. This is a self-limiting disease that in most cases does not require treatment. Despite the benign course, serious infectious complications can occur. Treatment of myeloid growth factors should be started after a previous bone marrow aspiration biopsy in children with severe infections or requiring surgical intervention. High doses of intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids may be effective in treating AIN in patients with life-threating infections. The danger to the patient depends on the etiology, ANC and bone marrow status. The risk of infections is significantly increased in patients with ACN less than 500 cells/μ1. The most common loci of infections include the oral mucosa, skin, perirectal area, perineum. Oral ulcers and gingivitis are characteristic signs of clinically significant neutropenia, requiring the exclusion of its congenital causes. Severe infections in patients with neutropenia are caused by pyogenic or intestinal bacteria and Candida species. It is important to distinguish between transient or benign causes and severe congenital neutropenia or neutropenia associated with serious haematological or systemic disease. Clarification of the cause of neutropenia is important for determining management and prognosis. No conflict of interest was declared by the author. Key words: neutropenia, children, immunodeficiency, autoimmune neutropenia.

Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) - Post COVID 19 vaccination

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent disease and save lives, but they may also produce some undesirable side effects which may affect the healthy individuals. Therefore, the monitoring of adverse events following immunization is necessary. Any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization, and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the use of the vaccine. The adverse event may be any unfavorable or unintended sign, an abnormal laboratory finding a symptom or a disease. AEFI surveillance studies helps to detect to identify a specific risk among the local population. In this study, we included 20 healthcare workers who were admitted in Gandhi medical college and hospital following immunization by Covid vaccination drive. No major AEFI was reported following vaccination. Our study concludes that proper counselling about the need for covid vaccination and the possible adverse events following vaccination would create an awareness among the public would prevent them from apprehension of second dose after developing AEFI following first dose.

Features of the coronavirus disease course in young children

The aim. To analyze the features of the coronavirus disease course in young children. Materials and methods. We analyzed case histories of 60 children aged 0 to 3 years who were hospitalized to the Lviv Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital “OHMATDYT” in the period from April to December 2020 with a diagnosis of coronavirus disease. Out of the 60 children 36 (60 %) were boys and 24 (40 %) were girls. Laboratory studies on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA were performed in samples of nasal and pharyngeal swabs by PCR at the State Institution “Lviv Regional Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”. Blood and urinary laboratory tests were performed on the basis of the Laboratories in Lviv Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital “OHMATDYT”. The result were statistically processed using Excel software from Microsoft Office 2019 packages. Quantitative characteristics were given as M ± m (arithmetic mean ± standard deviation of the arithmetic mean). Results. It was found that 40% of children under 1 year old and only 15% from 1 to 3 years old were hospitalized on the first day of the disease. Parents of sick children in 51 (85 %) cases confirmed the presence of contact with infected family members. The analysis of the disease clinical manifestations showed that during the disease course, most children with coronavirus disease had the following clinical manifestations: fever, runny nose, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and general weakness. Lymphopenia, which is the most common laboratory finding in adults with COVID-19, was found only in 28 % of children hospitalized to the Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital “OHMATDYT”. The presence of complications in the form of pneumonia was observed in 5 children, which amounted to 8.3 %. The average duration of inpatient treatment for children under 1 year of age was 7 days, and it was 6 days for children between 1 and 3 years of age. Conclusions. It was found that 85% of child inpatients were in contact with family members in whom the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed. The main manifestations of coronavirus disease were fever ˃38 °C and general weakness in more than 55% of children aged 0 to 3 years. The level of leukocytes within the age norm was observed in 46.6% of children, leukopenia– in 35.0%, and lymphopenia– in 28.3%. The course of the disease among young children was mild, and only 8.3% of children had the moderately severe course, complicated by pneumonia.