scholarly journals Congenital Syphilis Coinfection in a Preterm Infant with Early Onset Sepsis due to Enterobacter cloacae

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Sakviseth Bin ◽  
Sethikar Im

Introduction. Syphilis is a tropical disease, caused by a spirochete Treponema pallidum, which can be transmitted transplacentally from untreated mothers to the fetus during any stages of pregnancy. Clinical manifestations of early congenital syphilis are variable and nonspecific. The diagnosis is based on the serology status of the mother, newborn clinical symptoms, and comparative serology titer between mother and newborn. Case Presentation. A late preterm female infant, appropriate for gestational age, was treated for severe early onset sepsis due to Enterobacter cloacae since day 2 of life. The coinfection with Treponema pallidum was suspected and confirmed at day 4 with clinical signs and a fourfold increase of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) compared to mother’s serology. Combined with meropenem and amikacin, Benzyl-Penicillin was used for 10 days, thereby resulting in a significant clinical and laboratory improvement. The girl was discharged at day 18 and brought for regular follow-ups for both growth milestone and syphilis serology. RPR decreased fourfold at the age of 1 month. Conclusion. Syphilis should not be overlooked. The vertical transmission is preventable by an on-time treatment of the infected mother, triggered by a proper antenatal screening at the right time. Congenital syphilis should be ruled out in any challenging neonatal sepsis. The diagnosis tools and treatments are easily accessible and inexpensive in our economical settings.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1295-1303
Author(s):  
Pakaphan Kiatchoosakun ◽  
Junya Jirapradittha ◽  
Prapassara Sirikarn ◽  
Malinee Laopaiboon ◽  
Porjai Pattanittum ◽  
...  

Objective Antibiotics are commonly prescribed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) for suspected sepsis because of the nonspecific clinical symptoms of sepsis. The overuse of antibiotic is associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to determine the rate of early-onset sepsis (EOS) and antibiotic use in neonates admitted to three NICUs in Northeast Thailand Study Design This is a descriptive study using the data collected in the South East Asia—Using Research for Change in Hospital-acquired Infection in Neonates project. Neonates admitted within 3 days of life were included. EOS was defined as neonates who presented with three or more clinical signs or laboratory results suggested sepsis and received antibiotics for at least 5 days. Those with positive blood culture were culture-proven EOS. Antibiotic use within 3 days of life and up to 28 days was described. Results Among 1,897 neonates, 160 cases were classified as EOS (8.4%) with culture-proven EOS in 4 cases (0.2%). The median durations of antibiotic use in culture-proven and culture-negative EOSs were 15 and 8 days, respectively. Conclusion The rate of culture-proven EOS was low, but there was a high rate of antibiotic use. Antibiotic stewardship should be emphasized.


Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 309
Author(s):  
Maura-Adelina Hincu ◽  
Gabriela-Ildiko Zonda ◽  
Gabriela Dumitrita Stanciu ◽  
Dragos Nemescu ◽  
Luminita Paduraru

Neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) is defined as an invasive infection that occurs in the first 72 h of life. The incidence of EOS varies from 0.5–2% live births in developed countries, up to 9.8% live births in low resource settings, generating a high mortality rate, especially in extremely low birth weight neonates. Clinical signs are nonspecific, leading to a late diagnosis and high mortality. Currently, there are several markers used for sepsis evaluation, such as hematological indices, acute phase reactants, cytokines, which by themselves do not show acceptable sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of EOS in neonates. Newer and more selective markers have surfaced recently, such as presepsin and endocan, but they are currently only in the experimental research stages. This comprehensive review article is based on the role of biomarkers currently in use or in the research phase from a basic, translational, and clinical viewpoint that helps us to improve the quality of neonatal early-onset sepsis diagnosis and management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 583-588
Author(s):  
Maxson Lifigao ◽  
Titus Nasi ◽  
Carol Titiulu ◽  
Steven Lumasa ◽  
Trevor Duke

Abstract Introduction Congenital syphilis remains a significant cause of newborn mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental problems in some low- and middle-income countries. This study was done in Honiara, Solomon Islands to determine the incidence of babies born to mothers with a positive venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test and a positive Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA); to determine the VDRL status of newborns and features of congenital syphilis; and to estimate the proportion of stillbirths associated with syphilis. Methodology All neonates born to VDRL-positive mothers, including stillbirths were included between April and July 2019. Neonates were examined, investigated and treated. Results Among 1534 consecutive births, 1469 were live births and 65 (4.2%) were stillbirths. One hundred and forty-three neonates were born to VDRL-positive mothers: 130 (90.1%) were live infants and 13 (8.9%) stillbirths. Of the 130 VDRL-exposed live-born infants, 72 (55%) had reactive VDRL and a positive TPHA and 7 (9.7%) had clinical signs of congenital syphilis. Five of the infants with clinical signs of syphilis infection had a 4-fold higher VDRL titre than their mother. Four infants of VDRL-positive mothers died during admission, all of whom had clinical signs of syphilis. Ninety percent of affected infants were born to mothers who were not treated or only partially treated during pregnancy. Conclusions In this study, 1:210 live-born babies had clinical and serological evidence of congenital syphilis, and evidence of Treponema infection was found disproportionately in stillbirths. In a setting where Treponema infections are common, an empirical approach to prevention may be needed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Laccetta ◽  
Massimiliano Ciantelli ◽  
Cristina Tuoni ◽  
Emilio Sigali ◽  
Mario Miccoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background According to most early-onset sepsis management guidelines, approximately 10% of the total neonatal population are exposed to antibiotics in the first postnatal days with subsequent increase of neonatal and pediatric comorbidities. Early-onset sepsis risk calculator has been developed with the purpose of avoiding antibiotic overtreatment among neonates ≥ 34 weeks’ gestational age: a review of literature demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing antibiotic overtreatment, laboratory testing, painful procedures and NICU admission; however, some missed cases of culture-positive early-onset sepsis have also been described. Methods All neonates with birth weight ≤ 1500 g, 34–36 weeks’ gestational age neonates with suspected intraamniotic infection and neonates with three clinical signs of early-onset sepsis or two signs and one risk factor for early-onset sepsis receive empirical antibiotics. Neonates ≥ 34 weeks’ gestational age with risk factors for early-onset sepsis or with one clinical indicator of early-onset sepsis undergo serial measurements of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the first 48–72 hours of life; they receive empirical antibiotics in case of abnormalities at blood exams with one or more clinical signs of early-onset sepsis. We therefore compared the number of patients for which antibiotics were needed, based on early-onset sepsis calculator, and the number of patients we treated with antibiotics during the study period. Comparisons between the groups were performed using McNemar’s test and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results During the study period (1st January 2018-31st December 2018) 32/265 (12.1%) neonates ≥ 34 weeks’ gestational age at risk for early-onset sepsis received antibiotics within the first 12 hours of life. According to early-onset sepsis calculator: 55/265 (20.7%) patients would have received antibiotics with early-onset sepsis incidence 2/1000 live births (p < 0.0001); 44/265 (16.6%) patients would have received antibiotics with early-onset sepsis incidence 0.1/1000 live births (p < 0.025). One patient with culture-negative early-onset sepsis would not have received antibiotics with an early-onset sepsis incidence of 0.1/1000 live births. Conclusion Our evidence-based protocol for treatment decision-making of neonatal early-onset sepsis entails a further decrease of antibiotic overtreatment compared to early-onset sepsis risk calculator. No negative consequences for patients were observed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjun Du ◽  
Jinhong Yu ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Xiaoguo Zhang ◽  
Shouwei Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims & Background: The COVID-19 outbreak spread in China and is a threat to the world. We reported on the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of children cases to help health workers better understand and provide timely diagnosis and treatment.Methods: Retrospectively, two research centers’ case series of 67 consecutive hospitalized cases including 14 children cases with COVID-19 between 23 Jan 2020 to 15 Feb 2020 from Jinan and Rizhao were enrolled in this study. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of children and adults were analyzed and compared.Results: Most cases in children were mild(21.4%) and conventional cases(78.6%), with mild clinical signs and symptoms, and all cases were of family clusters. Fever (35.7%) and dry cough(21.4%) were described as clinical manifestations in children cases. Dry cough and phlegm were not the most common symptoms in children compared with adults(p=0.03). In the early stages of the disease, lymphocyte counts did not significantly decline but neutrophils counts did in children compared with adults(p=0.00).There was an elevated level of LDH(p=0.01) and a lower level of CRP(p=0.00)and IL-6(p=0.01) in children compared with adults. There were 8 (57.1%)asymptomatic cases and 6 (42.9%)symptomatic cases among the 14 children cases. The age of asymptomatic patients was younger than that of symptomatic patients(p=0.03). Even among asymptomatic patients, 5(62.5%)cases had pneumonia including 3 (60%) cases with bilateral pneumonia, which was not different compared with that of asymptomatic cases(p=0.58, p=0.74).Conclusions: The clinical symptoms of children are mild, and the positive indicators of laboratory tests are rare, which may easily cause clinical misdiagnoses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
Binod Kumar Gupta ◽  
Raju Kaphle ◽  
Buby Philip Kurian ◽  
Badri Kumar Gupta

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity with wide range of clinical manifestations. This study was aimed to study the clinical characteristics of sepsis along with the role of septic screen for early diagnosis of septicemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in 113 screen positive newborns over a 12-month period at Universal College of Medical Sciences, Teaching Hospital Bhairahawa, Nepal. RESULTS: Out of 489 cases admitted to the NICU during the study period, 113 babies with screen positive sepsis were included in the study. Poor feeding (46%, n=52), respiratory distress (38.9%, n=44) and lethargy (30.1%, n=34) were top three clinical presentations in neonates with sepsis followed by seizures, jaundice, vomiting, fever and hypothermia respectively. 57.5% (n=65) of clinical sepsis cases enrolled had culture positivity with staphylococcus aureus in 41.5% (n=27) and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CONS) in 27.7% (n=18).  Klebsiella was the third common organism isolated in blood culture (23.1%, n=15). The sensitivities and specificities of two-test and three-test combinations in proven sepsis was calculated. Two-test combinations showed sensitivities between 33-100% and specificities between 30-90% whereas three-test combinations showed the sensitivities and specificities between 60-100% and 20-90% respectively. CONCLUSION: Poor feeding, respiratory distress and lethargy were common presentations in early onset neonatal sepsis. Three-test combination of septic screen had no overall advantage over two-test combination in the present study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryoosh Fahimi ◽  
Leila Khedmat ◽  
Azadeh Afshin ◽  
Zahra Noparast ◽  
Maryam Jafaripor ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Upper urinary tract infection (UTI) or pyelonephritis may increase the pathogenesis rate and risk of severe complications in children due to kidney atrophy. Objective A set of clinical symptoms, laboratory markers, and ultrasound findings were assessed to achieve the early diagnosis and prognosis of pyelonephritis in hospitalized pediatrics. Methods A cross-sectional study with 104 Iranian children (95 girls and 9 boys) aged 1 month to 12 years with acute pyelonephritis during 2012–2018 was conducted. The ultrasound examination of kidneys and urinary tract during hospitalization, the incidence of clinical symptoms, and laboratory markers in blood and urine were monitored to identify the best predictive factors of early diagnosis of this bacterial infection. Results Three-fourth of the patients had one of the four clinical symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation, dysuria, and vomiting, while others were asymptomatic. A much frequency of pyuria (88.46%), Escherichia coli in urine (92.31%), leukocytosis (81.73%), and high ESR (> 10 mm/h, 92.30%) and CRP (> 10 mg/L, 82.82%) was observed. The kidney and urinary tract ultrasonography only in 32.7% of children revealed findings in favor of pyelonephritis (cystitis, ureteral stones, and hydronephrosis). Conclusion There was a high frequency of clinical signs and laboratory markers associated with pyelonephritis. Ultrasound alone was not an efficient tool to track febrile UTI as most patients presented normal sonography.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 215265671877360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urs C. Steiner ◽  
Lucas M. Bachmann ◽  
Micheal B. Soyka ◽  
Stephan Regenass ◽  
Lukas Steinegger ◽  
...  

Background Rhinitis is a very common disease with allergies being the most frequent causative factor. It can co-occur together with asthma and eczema in atopic as well as in nonatopic patients. Objectives To assess the prevalence of allergic sensitization within patient groups with rhinitis in consideration of the co-occurring disorders of asthma and eczema. Methods Students of the third year of medical school completed an anonymous questionnaire on age, gender, and clinical symptoms, such as seasonal rhinitis, perennial rhinitis, asthma, and eczema, and underwent an ImmunoCAP Rapid test. We calculated the prevalence of sensitization within subgroups of patients reporting allergic disorders, such as rhinitis, asthma, and eczema. Results Questionnaires and ImmunoCAP Rapid tests of 1513 medical students were analyzed. The participants’ self-reported presence of seasonal/perennial rhinitis, asthma, and eczema was compared to the presence of sensitization. Data of 1467 subjects could be analyzed. Seasonal rhinitis was the most common symptom, followed by eczema, asthma, and perennial rhinitis. The participants were differentiated into 16 subgroups according to the combined clinical manifestations of the different symptoms and association to sensitization within subgroups. The prevalence of sensitization ranged from 18% in subjects reporting only eczema without any other symptom to 100% in those reporting to have asthma, seasonal/perennial rhinitis, and eczema together. In subjects reporting no sign or symptom at all, the prevalence of sensitization was 19%. Seasonal rhinitis was the strongest single predictor for sensitization with the highest proportion of sensitized participants in all symptom combinations (67%–100%), followed by perennial rhinitis (31%–100%), asthma (30%–100%), and eczema (18%–100%). Conclusion Rhinitis most often is associated with allergen sensitization, and the probability of sensitization is substantially enhanced by co-occurrence of asthma. A careful assessment of clinical signs and symptoms is important and enables the selection of patients in whom targeted diagnostic analysis and therapy is appropriate. Trial registration: retrospectively registered by the Cantonal Ethics Committee Zurich on 22.01.2016; Nr: 08-2016.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e2012028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Abdollahi ◽  
Saeed Shoar ◽  
Fatemeh Nayyeri ◽  
Mamak Shariat

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidities and mortalities mostly remarkable in the third world nations .We aimed to assess the value of simultaneous measurement of procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in association with high sensitive- C reactive protein in prediction of early neonatal sepsis.We performed a follow- up study on 95 neonates who were below 12 hours (h) of age, had clinical signs of sepsis or maternal risk factors for sepsis. Neonates were assigned to 4 groups including “proven early-onset sepsis”, “clinical early-onset sepsis”, “negative infectious status”, and “uncertain infectious status”. Blood samples were obtained within the first 12 h of birth repeated between 24 hours and 36 hours of age for determination of serum levels of PCT, IL-6, high sensitivie- C Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) count.On admission, neonates with sepsis had a higher WBC count, IL-6, PCT, and hs-CRP levels compared with those neonates without sepsis. This remained significant even after 12-24 hours of admission. Also, patients with clinical evidences of sepsis had a higher serum level of PCT and IL-6 within 12-24 hours after admission compared to the patients with uncertain sepsis. In final The combination of IL-6, hs-CRP, and PCT seems to be predictive in diagnosis of early onset neonatal sepsis.


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