Evaluating the accuracy of artificial intelligence-powered chest X-ray diagnosis for paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (EVAL-PAEDTBAID): Study protocol for a multi-centre diagnostic accuracy study.

Introduction: Diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in children is challenging owing to paucibacillary disease, non-specific symptoms and signs and challenges in microbiological confirmation. Chest X-ray (CXR) interpretation is fundamental for diagnosis and classifying disease as severe or non-severe. In adults with PTB, there is substantial evidence showing the usefulness of artificial intelligence (AI) in CXR interpretation, but very limited data exist in children.

Molecular Epidemiology and Genomic Insights Into Norovirus and Coinfections: A 2023 Tertiary Care Hospital Study on Pediatric Acute Gastroenteritis in Pakistan.

Background: Acute gastroenteritis remains a leading cause of morbidity in children under 5 in Pakistan, with rotavirus group A as a major pathogen. The contribution of norovirus is less understood.

Methods: In 2023, we analyzed stool samples from 248 rotavirus group A-negative pediatric patients hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis at a tertiary hospital in Punjab, Pakistan.

Emergence of plasmid-mediated mcr genes from Gram-negative bacteria at the human-animal interface.

Background: The global emergence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (Col-R) conferred by mcr genes in gram-negative rods (GNRs) has jeopardized the last treatment option for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in humans. This study aimed to assess the emergence of mcr gene-mediated Col-R in GNRs isolated from humans and animals in Pakistan.

Methods: Animal and clinical specimens collected from various sources were prospectively analysed using standard microbiological procedures.

Infection Prevention and Control Measures at the Children Hospital Lahore: A My Child Matters Collaborative Project.

Purpose: Infection prevention among children with cancer is a major challenge at Children Hospital Lahore (CHL), a public health care facility in Pakistan with 1,000 new pediatric cancer admissions annually. The objective has been to reduce infections through collaboration between CHL and the St Jude Children's Hospital Global Infectious Disease program via a grant by the Sanofi Espoir foundation through the My Child Matters program. The aim of the current study was to describe the effect of the collaborative improvement strategy on existing infection prevention and control (IPC) standards at CHL.

COVID-19 and comorbidities: Deleterious impact on infected patients.

The pandemic situation with the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from China has endangered human lives. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is presented with asymptomatic, mild, or severe pneumonia-like symptoms. COVID-19 patients with diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), hypertension, malignancies, HIV, and other comorbidities could develop a life-threatening situation.

AmpC beta-lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae: An emerging threat to the paediatric patients.

Objective: To determine the burden of AmpC beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and its antimicrobial profile among paediatric patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Microbiology Department of The Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health in Lahore, Pakistan, from May 2014 to April 2015, in which isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were screened by using the cefoxitin disc. Confirmation was done by inhibitor-based method using 400 micro grams of boronic acid dispensed on the cefoxitin discs.

Detection of AmpC β-lactamase producing bacteria isolated in neonatal sepsis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial profile of AmpC β-lactamase producing bacteria.

Methods: The study was conducted at The Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health Lahore, Pakistan, during September 2011 to June 2012. A total number of 1,914 blood samples of suspected neonatal septicemia were processed.

Metallo-beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: A rising threat for hospitalized children.

Objective: To determine the frequency of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, better phenotypic techniques for MBL detection and choices of treatment available for such cases.

Methods: This study was conducted in The Children's Hospital, Lahore during March, 2013 and February, 2014.

Comparison of fluorescence microscopy and Ziehl-Neelsen technique in diagnosis of tuberculosis in paediatric patients.

Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is very important for therapeutic reasons and to control the spread of infection. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of fluorescence (FL) microscopy in comparison to Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining. A total of 103 samples were collected from paediatric tuberculosis (TB) suspects and processed using Petroff's method.