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Background: Peripheral venous catheter (PVC) is the most used vascular access device in medicine, allowing administration of intravenous fluids and medications. Known complications associated with PVC include extravasation, phlebitis and rarely bloodstream infection (BSI). Data regarding PVC-related BSI in children are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and microbiologic characteristics of pediatric inpatients with PVC-related BSI., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a pediatric tertiary care center. Children with BSI, admitted to general pediatric departments during 2010-2019, were identified and their medical records examined. Patients with BSI and phlebitis were further characterized and included in the analysis. We excluded patients with central venous catheters, other identified source of infection and with BSI upon admission. Data collected included patients' demographics and clinical and microbiologic characteristics., Results: Twenty-seven children with PVC-related BSI were identified and included in the study, consisting of 0.2% of the total BSI cases. Patient's median age was 24 (range, 1.5-213) months, 14/27 (52%) were female and 6 (22%) were previously healthy while 21 (78%) had prior medical conditions. Sixteen (59.3%) patients had Gram-negative BSI and 6 (22.2%) Gram-positive bacteria. Polymicrobial infection occurred in 4 (14.8%) patients and Candida albicans in 1 (3.7%) patient. The most common isolated bacteria were Klebsiella spp and Staphylococcus aureus. Longer dwell-time was a predictor of Gram-negative bacteria., Conclusions: PVC-related BSI due to Gram-negative bacteria was more common than to Gram-positive bacteria. Clinicians should consider an initial broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage for PVC-related BSI in hospitalized pediatric patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Upper respiratory tract illnesses have been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality., Objective: To assess the influence of vaccination against influenza on the risk of hospitalization in internal medicine and geriatric wards, and the risk of death from all causes during the 2000-2001 influenza season., Methods: A historical cohort study was conducted using computerized general practitioner records on patients aged 65 years and above, members of "Maccabi Healthcare Services"--the second largest health maintenance organization in Israel with 1.6 million members. The patients were divided into high and low risk groups corresponding to coexisting conditions, and were studied. Administrative and clinical data were used to evaluate outcomes., Results: Of the 84,613 subjects in the cohort 42.8% were immunized. At baseline, vaccinated subjects were sicker and had higher rates of coexisting conditions than unvaccinated subjects. Vaccination against influenza was associated with a 30% reduction in hospitalization rates and 70% in mortality rates in the high risk group. The NNT (number needed to treat) measured to prevent one hospitalization was 53.2 (28.2 in the high risk group and 100.4 in the low risk group). When referring to length of hospitalization, one vaccine was needed to prevent 1 day of hospitalization among the high risk group. Analyses according to age and the presence or absence of major medical conditions at baseline revealed similar findings across all subgroups., Conclusions: In the elderly, vaccination against influenza is associated with a reduction in both the total risk of hospitalization and in the risk of death from all causes during the influenza season. These findings compel the rationale to increase compliance with recommendations for annual influenza vaccination among the elderly.