A prospective, multicenter study of invasive fungal disease caused by molds in children and adults in Chile.

Background: Invasive mold diseases (IMDs) are a severe complication of immunocompromised subjects and an emerging problem among severely ill, apparently immunocompetent patients. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of IMDs in Chile.

Methods: Prospective study of IMD cases in children and adults from 11 reference hospitals in Chile from May 2019 to May 2021.

Epidemiological changes of invasive fungal disease in children with cancer: Prospective study of the National Child Program of Antineoplastic Drugs network, Chile.

Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are high morbidity and mortality infections in children with cancer suffering episodes of high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN). IFD epidemiology has changed in the last two decades, with an increasing incidence in recent years due to the growing number of immunocompromised children at risk for IFD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of IFD in children with cancer in the period 2016-2020 compared to 2004-2006 in six hospitals in Chile.

[Microorganisms isolated from blood cultures and resistance profile in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia. Red PINDA, Chile, 2016-2021].

Unlabelled: Bacteremia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer and episodes of high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN).

Objective: To identify the frequency of microorganisms isolated from blood cultures (BC) and their antimicrobial resistance (R) profile in children with HRFN, compared with the same data from previous studies of the same group.

Method: Prospective, multicenter, epidemiological surveillance study of microorganisms isolated from BC in patients under 18 years of age, from 7 PINDA network hospitals, between 2016 and 2021.

Efficacy and safety of withholding antimicrobial therapy in children with cancer, fever, and neutropenia, with a demonstrated viral respiratory infection: a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To validate the efficacy and safety of withholding antimicrobial therapy in a new cohort of children with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN) having a demonstrated viral respiratory tract infection.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter, noninferiority, randomized study, approved by the ethical committee, in children presenting with FN at seven hospitals in Chile, evaluated at admission for diagnosis of bacterial and viral pathogens. Children who were positive for a respiratory virus, negative for a bacterial pathogen, and had a favourable evolution after 48-72 hours of antimicrobial therapy were randomized to either maintain or withhold antimicrobial therapy.

Clinical Outcome in Children With Cancer With Two or More Microorganisms Isolated From Blood Cultures During Episodes of Fever and Neutropenia.

Background: Bacterial bloodstream infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer and episodes of fever and neutropenia (FN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome in children with cancer with 2 or more microorganisms isolated from blood cultures during their episodes of FN.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2021, children presenting with high-risk FN, admitted to any of the 6 participating hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were included in this study if they have positive blood cultures.

[Clinical and cost characterization of hospitalization associated with varicella in children from the Metropolitan Region and Valparaíso, Chile].

Background: Varicella is a relevant infection in Chile and may cause serious complications and death, which could be associated with significant health care resource utilization and associated costs. In Chile, sentinel surveillance is carried out only on an outpatient basis, without knowing the impact of varicella in serious cases who need to be hospitalized.

Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics and the costs associated with hospitalized children with diagnosis of varicella prior to the vaccine introduction in the National Immunization Program in Chile.

Cytokine and chemokine profiles in episodes of persistent high-risk febrile neutropenia in children with cancer.

Background: In children with cancer and persistent high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN), cytokines/chemokines profiles can guide the differentiation of febrile neutropenia (FN) due to infections and episodes of unknown origin (FN-UO).

Methods: A prospective, multicenter study in Santiago, Chile included patients ≤ 18 years with cancer and HRFN. Clinical and microbiological studies were performed according to validated protocols.

[Clinical characteristics and microbiological profile of viridans group streptococci bacteremia in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia].

Background: Viridans group streptococci (VGS) has acquired relevance as a microorganism causing febrile neutropenia, associated with significant morbidity.

Aim: To characterize episodes of bacteremia caused by VGS in children with cancer who developed high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN) during the period from April 2004 to June 2018 in six pediatric hospitals of Santiago, Chile.

Method: Database analysis of 4 successive, prospective and multicentric studies recording clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated strains.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): Report of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases in Santiago de Chile during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in Santiago, Chile.

Methods: This was an observational study of children with MIS-C (May 1 to June 24, 2020), in three pediatric hospitals in Santiago. Demographic characteristics and epidemiological data, medical history, laboratory tests, cardiology evaluations, treatment, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Usefulness of serum galactomannan in initiating and modifying antifungal therapy in children with cancer and persistent high-risk febrile neutropenia.

Background: Invasive fungal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN). Repeated serum galactomannan (sGM) measurements have been described as an effective tool to guide therapy in adults under suspicion of invasive aspergillosis. However, the utility of this approach has not been reported in paediatric population.

[Young women with HIV infection acquired by vertical transmission: Expectations of having uninfected children].

Introduction: Pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART), changed the prognosis of the disease, allowing young women infected by vertical transmission (TV) to be pregnant without risk for their fetus of acquiring this infection.

Aim: To describe the clinical-immune status in pregnant women that acquired HV by vertical transmission, treatments received, monitoring of pregnancy and newborn characteristics.

Material And Methods: A protocol was performed, evaluating clinical and immunological parameters during pregnancy, ART used, protocol preventing vertical transmission (PPTV), and follow up of children to 18 months of age.

Respiratory Viral Infections and Coinfections in Children With Cancer, Fever and Neutropenia: Clinical Outcome of Infections Caused by Different Respiratory Viruses.

Background: Respiratory viral infections in episodes of fever and neutropenia (FN) in children with cancer are not well characterized. We compared the clinical outcome of infections caused by different respiratory viruses (RVs) and by RV coinfection in this population.

Methods: Children with cancer and FN at 3 hospitals in Chile were prospectively evaluated by clinical examination, blood cultures and detection of 17 RVs using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (nasopharyngeal samples).

[Pott's disease and immunological diagnosis of tuberculosis, about a pediatric clinical case].

Unlabelled: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in the world. The clinical forms of TB in children are variable, pulmonary involvement occurs in two thirds of cases. In the remaining third, clinical forms incluye node, meningeal and osteoarticular involvement.