0000000000275485
AUTHOR
Britta Gröndahl
Comparison of the BD Directigen Flu A+B Kit and the Abbott TestPack RSV with a multiplex RT-PCR ELISA for rapid detection of influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus
ABSTRACTThe Directigen Flu A+B enzyme immunoassay and the Abbott TestPack RSV enzyme immunoassay were each compared with a multiplex RT-PCR ELISA by testing 635 nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from children aged < 16 years who had been hospitalised with acute respiratory tract infection during the epidemic season 2002–2003. In this study, the sensitivity of the Directigen Flu A+B assay was unacceptably low (29.3% and 10.0%, respectively) for the detection of influenza A and B viruses. The sensitivity of the Abbott TestPack RSV assay (77.4%) was acceptable and in agreement with the multiplex RT-PCR ELISA.
Effectiveness of hexavalent vaccines against invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: Germany's experience after 5 years of licensure
Summary Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was determined with a case-cohort approach using Cox regression. Cases with confirmed systemic Hib infections in children born from 1 August 2000 to 31 December 2004 were ascertained through two independent nationwide active surveillance systems. A representative cohort of 1303 children born in the same time frame was randomly sampled in a nationwide immunisation survey. Thirty cases were eligible for VE calculation; 19 were unvaccinated and 11 vaccinated with hexavalent vaccines. VE was 68.4% (95% CI: 19.0–87.6) for incomplete primary series and 90.4% (95% CI: 70.6–96.8) for the full primary series. For full immunisation VE was 100.0% (95% CI: 52.7–100.0)…
Containment of a Large SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Healthcare Workers in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Objective Healthcare workers (HCWs) are particularly exposed SARS-CoV-2 because they are critical in preventing viral transmission and treating COVID-19 patients. Within HCWs, personnel of intensive care units (ICUs) are at the forefront of treating patients with a severe course of COVID-19 infection and therefore represent an extremely vulnerable group. Thus, our objective is to contribute to establish means of infection control protecting HCWs in the frontline of the current pandemic. Design An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 was detected and contained in a pediatric ICU (PICU). The first positive case was identified with a point-of-care diagnostic system on site. Real-time PCR-based testing syste…
Evaluation of a multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR ELISA for the detection of nine respiratory tract pathogens.
A multiplex reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction combined with a microwell hybridization assay (m-RT-PCR-ELISA) was previously developed to detect nine different microorganisms: enterovirus (EV), influenza virus type A (IVA) and type B (IVB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenzavirus type 1 (PIV1) and type 3 (PIV3), adenovirus (AV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mpn), Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) in a single test. These organisms do not usually colonize the respiratory tract of humans, but, if present, it may be assumed they are involved in respiratory disease.The m-RT-PCR-ELISA was tested on (i) culture supernatants of unknown contents, (ii) by determining the analytical…
Low Frequency of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections During Family-Centered Neonatal Intensive Care: Results of a Prospective Surveillance Study
Background: Viral respiratory tract infections (VRTI) may cause severe respiratory and sepsis-like symptoms in infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Little is known about the frequencies of VRTI in relation to visiting policies in the NICU. Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of symptomatic and asymptomatic VRTI in our family-centered NICU. Methods: This was a 12-month, prospective, observational study from February 2018 to January 2019. Infants hospitalized ≥72 h were eligible for the study. To determine the frequency of VRTI, multiplexed point-of-care testing (mPOCT) of symptomatic infants was combined with a weekly screening of all infant…
O início de uma nova era: teste sistemático para patógenos causadores de infecções agudas das vias aéreas superiores (IVAS) em crianças
On average humans get sick ten times per year. About six times the illness is due to an acute respiratory tract infection (ARI). Morbidity is especially high in children since they usually encounter the offending organism for the first time in their life; the lack of immunity results in shedding of the offending organisms in high numbers of prolonged time as compared to adults; their airways are smaller than those of adults and thus the inflammatory response leads to a more significant narrowing of the airways resulting in more severe disease; on average they have a high number of social contacts and also a more intimate contact with peers and caregivers alike resulting in a higher attack r…
The clinical impact of PCR‐based point‐of‐care diagnostic in respiratory tract infections in children
Abstract Background Children are commonly affected by respiratory tract infections. Based on clinical symptoms, laboratory evaluation, and imaging, the causative pathogen often cannot be delineated. Point‐of‐care‐testing systems that provide an opportunity for fast detection of common viruses and some bacteria can therefore influence treatment's options. We aimed to examine whether the Biofire® FilmArray® has an effect on antibiotic treatment, duration of antibiotic therapy, and length of hospital stay within a pediatric cohort. Methods We included children who were admitted to inpatient treatment with an acute respiratory tract infection from 02/2017 to 04/2018 using the FA respiratory pan…
Detection of respiratory viral infections in neonates treated for suspicion of nosocomial bacterial sepsis: a feasibility study.
There is a lack of knowledge concerning the frequency and significance of respiratory viral infections that occur in the neonatal intensive care unit. In the present study, all neonates with suspected nosocomial bacterial sepsis were screened for a panel of respiratory viruses. Respiratory viral infections were detected in 10% of these cases. This was comparable with the frequency of a blood-culture-proven sepsis.
Viral Infections in Neonates with Suspected Late-Onset Bacterial Sepsis—A Prospective Cohort Study
Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of viral infections in infants with suspected late-onset bacterial sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods In a prospective study, infants with suspected late-onset bacterial sepsis underwent viral testing alongside routine blood culture sampling. Using a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, nasopharyngeal aspirates were analyzed for adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus A and B, H1N1 virus, parainfluenza virus 1 to 4, metapneumovirus, coronavirus, and picornavirus. Stools were examined for adenovirus, rotavirus, norovirus, and enterovirus.…
The BioFireFilmArray enables point of care diagnostic in neonatal parechovirus meningitis.
Sir,We read with great interest a report in the present journal on the application of broad-range PCR combined with DNA sequencing for detection of bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [1]. This m...