87 research outputs found
Short-term antibiotic therapy for the most common bacterial respiratory infections in infants and children
No full textOveruse and misuse of antibiotics have strongly accelerated the progressive increase in bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The evidence that antimicrobial selective pressure was greater the longer the antibiotic therapy was continued has led some experts to reconsider duration of antibiotic therapy testing the use of short-term drug administration. If as effective as long-term therapy, short-term therapy could have been an easy measure to limit AMR emergence. In the present narrative review, whether present knowledge on short-term therapy of acute streptococcal pharyngitis (ASF), acute otitis media (AOM) and mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) allows systematic use of short-term therapy in infants and children with these diseases is discussed. Literature analysis showed that reducing the duration of antibiotic therapy for some of the most common pediatric respiratory infections could be a valid measure to contain the antibiotic abuse and the consequent impact on the emergence of AMR. Several data seem to indicate that this type of intervention is possible, as short-term therapy has been found as effective as the traditionally recommended long-term therapy in some cases of ASF, AOM and mild to moderate CAP. However, further studies are needed to better characterize infants and children who can have benefit with short-term antibiotic therapy in common bacterial respiratory infections
Mycoplasma pneumoniae: a pathogen with unsolved therapeutic problems
No full textDespite the amount of new information, the most effective approach for the diagnosis and treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections is not established. In this narrative review the pharmacological options for macrolide-resistant (ML) M. pneumoniae infections in children are discussed
Drugs for Influenza Treatment: Is There Significant News?
No full textVaccines remain the best measure to reduce total influenza burden. However, presently available influenza vaccines have some limitations that cause a reduced efficacy compared to immunization practices with other respiratory pathogens. This paper shows the clinical roles of antiviral drugs against influenza that have been licensed in at least one country and the potential roles of compounds that are in development. Several attempts have been made to develop new agents against influenza viruses to overcome the supposed or demonstrated limitations of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs). Antibodies against the highly conserved stem region of the haemagglutinin molecule of influenza A viruses and drugs that target different stages of the influenza virus life cycle than NAIs in human cells have been developed and tested. Among these preparations, baloxavir marboxil (BAM), and favipiravir (FP) (i.e., polymerase inhibitors) are the only drugs that have reached the market (the first in Japan and the USA, and the second only in Japan). Other antiviral compounds and monoclonal antibodies are in advanced stage of development, but none of these new drugs and monoclonal antibodies in development have adequate characteristics to substitute for NAIs at present. However, although NAIs remain the drug of choice for influenza treatment, their overuse has to be avoided. Accurate selection of patients for whom treatment is truly needed is required
New Approaches and Technologies to Improve Accuracy of Acute Otitis Media Diagnosis
No full textSeveral studies have shown that in recent years incidence of acute otitis media (AOM) has declined worldwide. However, related medical, social, and economic problems for patients, their families, and society remain very high. Better knowledge of potential risk factors for AOM development and more effective preventive interventions, particularly in AOM-prone children, can further reduce disease incidence. However, a more accurate AOM diagnosis seems essential to achieve this goal. Diagnostic uncertainty is common, and to avoid risks related to a disease caused mainly by bacteria, several children without AOM are treated with antibiotics and followed as true AOM cases. The main objective of this manuscript is to discuss the most common difficulties that presently limit accurate AOM diagnosis and the new approaches and technologies that have been proposed to improve disease detection. We showed that misdiagnosis can be dangerous or lead to relevant therapeutic mistakes. The need to improve AOM diagnosis has allowed the identification of a long list of technologies to visualize and evaluate the tympanic membrane and to assess middle-ear effusion. Most of the new instruments, including light field otoscopy, optical coherence tomography, low-coherence interferometry, and Raman spectroscopy, are far from being introduced in clinical practice. Video-otoscopy can be effective, especially when it is used in association with telemedicine, parents’ cooperation, and artificial intelligence. Introduction of otologic telemedicine and use of artificial intelligence among pediatricians and ENT specialists must be strongly promoted in order to reduce mistakes in AOM diagnosis
Update on Febrile Neutropenia in Pediatric Oncological Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
No full text: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common complication of chemotherapy in oncological children and one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The early detection of a bacteremia and the rapid therapeutic intervention are crucial to improve the outcome. We analyzed the literature in order to clarify the epidemiology of FN in children undergoing chemotherapy, the specific factors associated with a negative outcome, the most common etiology, and the value of biological markers as a tool to make an early diagnosis or to monitor the evolution of the infection. Several studies have tried to identify specific factors that could help the clinician in the detection of an infection and in its microbiological identification. However, due to the heterogenicity of the available studies, sufficient evidence is lacking to establish the role of these risk factors in clinical practice and future research on this topic appear mandatory. Determinations of risk factors, etiology, and markers of febrile episodes in these patients are complicated by the characteristics of the underlying illness and the effects of treatments received. Although some studies have tried to develop an evidence-based guideline for the empiric management of FN in pediatrics, validated predictive scores and algorithms are still lacking and urgently needed
Update on COVID-19 Therapy in Pediatric Age
No full textWith the extension of the COVID-19 pandemic, the large use of COVID-19 vaccines among adults and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants means that the epidemiology of COVID-19 in pediatrics, particularly among younger children, has substantially changed. The prevalence of pediatric COVID-19 significantly increased, several severe cases among children were reported, and long-COVID in pediatric age was frequently observed. The main aim of this paper is to discuss which types of treatment are presently available for pediatric patients with COVID-19, which of them are authorized for the first years of life, and which are the most important limitations of COVID-19 therapy in pediatric age. Four different antivirals, remdesivir (RVD), the combination nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid), molnupiravir (MPV), and the monoclonal antibody bebtelovimab (BEB), are presently approved or authorized for emergency use for COVID-19 treatment by most of the national health authorities, although with limitations according to the clinical relevance of disease and patient’s characteristics. Analyses in the literature show that MPV cannot be used in pediatric age for the risk of adverse events regarding bone growth. The other antivirals can be used, at least in older children, and RDV can be used in all children except in neonates. However, careful research on pharmacokinetic and clinical data specifically collected in neonates and children are urgently needed for the appropriate management of pediatric COVID-19
Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccine Use: Can It Play a Role for Conditioning Immunization Schedules?
No full textMyocarditis (MYO) is a relatively uncommon inflammatory disease that involves the heart muscle. It can be a very severe disease as it can lead to the development of acute or chronic heart failure and, in a not marginal number of cases, to death. Most of the cases are diagnosed in healthy people younger than 30 years of age. Moreover, males are affected about twice as much as females. Viruses are among the most common causes of MYO, but how viral infection can lead to MYO development is not precisely defined. After COVID-19 pandemic declaration, incidence rate of MYO has significantly increased worldwide because of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. After the introduction of anti-COVID-19 vaccines, reports of post-immunization MYO have emerged, suggesting that a further cause of MYO together with the SARS-CoV-2 infection could increase the risk of heart damage during pandemic. Main aim of this study is to discuss present knowledge regarding etiopathogenesis and clinical findings of MYO associated with COVID-19 vaccine administration and whether the risk of this adverse events can modify the initially suggested recommendation for the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pediatric age. Literature analysis showed that MYO is an adverse event that can follow the COVID-19 immunization with mRNA vaccines in few persons, particularly young adults, adolescents, and older children. It is generally a mild disease that should not modify the present recommendations for immunization with the authorized COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Despite this, further studies are needed to evaluate presently undefined aspects of MYO development after COVID-19 vaccine administration and reduce the risk of development of this kind of vaccine complication. Together with a better definition of the true incidence of MYO and the exact role of the various factors in conditioning incidence variations, it is essential to establish long-term evolution of acute COVID-19 related MYO
Risks of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Current Evidence
No full textInflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and unclassified inflammatory bowel disease, are a group of chronic, immune mediated conditions that are presumed to occur in genetically susceptible individuals because of a dysregulated intestinal immune response to environmental factors. IBD patients can be considered subjects with an aberrant immune response that makes them at increased risk of infections, particularly those due to opportunistic pathogens. In many cases this risk is significantly increased by the therapy they receive. Aim of this narrative review is to describe the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with IBD. Available data indicate that patients with IBD do not have an increased susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and that, if infected, in the majority of the cases they must not modify the therapy in place because this does not negatively affect the COVID-19 course. Only corticosteroids should be reduced or suspended due to the risk of causing severe forms. Furthermore, COVID-19 seems to modify the course of IBD mainly due to the impact on intestinal disease of the psychological factors deriving from the measures implemented to deal with the pandemic. The data relating to the immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2 or by COVID-19 vaccines can be considered much less definitive. It seems certain that the immune response to disease and vaccines is not substantially different from that seen in healthy subjects, with the exception of patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alone or in combination with other immunosuppressants who showed a reduced immune response. How much, however, this problem reduces induced protection is not known. Moreover, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on IBD course and immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccines has not been studied and deserves attention. Further studies capable of facing and solving unanswered questions are needed in order to adequately protect IBD patients from the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection
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