Search

Objective: To describe eight cases of invasive non-type b Haemophilus influenzae disease in children admitted to Hospital de Clínicas of Universidade Estadual de Campinas., Cases Description: In 2015, there were eight cases of invasive non-type b H. influenzae disease. We tested the ampicillin sensitivity and beta-lactamase production of the strains identified and performed the genotyping. Molecular typing was determined by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis. Four patients were diagnosed with bacteremia; in two cases, H. influenzae was detected in the pleural fluid, and two patients had meningitis. Patients with comorbidities represented 37.5% of cases. Except for the strain of one patient - not sent to the reference laboratory -, all were ampicillin-sensitive and non-beta-lactamase-producing. Genotyping identified four non-capsular, one type c, and two type a strains. Molecular typing ruled out nosocomial transmission since all serotypes were distinct regarding genotype., Comments: The rise in cases of invasive non-type b H. influenzae infection was real. There was no nosocomial transmission, and we found no justification for the increase. These data indicate the need for surveillance to correctly diagnose, monitor, and understand the spectrum of non-type b H. influenzae disease.

Pleural effusion (PE), a complication of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), is usually attributed to a bacterial infection. Nonetheless, viral infections have not been investigated routinely. We searched for bacterial and viral infections among 277 children hospitalized with CAP. Among these children 206 (74%) had radiographic confirmation, of whom 25 (12%) had PE. The aetiology was established in 18 (72%) PE cases: bacterial (n = 5; 28%), viral (n = 9; 50%), and viral-bacterial (n = 4; 22%) infections were found. Infection by rhinovirus (n = 3), enterovirus, Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 2 each), Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza A virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (n = 1 each) were detected as probable sole infections. Parainfluenza virus 1/3 + influenza A virus and RSV + influenza A virus (n = 1 each) were identified as mixed viral-viral infections. Probable viral non-bacterial infection was identified in a third of the cases with CAP and PE. It is advisable to investigate viral as well as bacterial infections among children with CAP and PE.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and the characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae-related community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPE) in children and adolescents., Methods: This was a retrospective observational study involving 121 patients with CAP/PPE hospitalized in a tertiary referral hospital between 2000 and 2008, divided into six groups according to the etiologic agent (G1 to G6, respectively): M. pneumoniae with or without co-infection, in 44 patients (group 1); etiologic agents other than M. pneumoniae, in 77 (group 2); M. pneumoniae without co-infection, in 34 (group 3); Streptococcus pneumoniae, in 36 (group 4); Staphylococcus aureus, in 31 (group 5); and M. pneumoniae/S. pneumoniae co-infection, in 9 (group 6)., Results: In comparison with group 2, group 1 showed higher frequencies of females, dry cough, and previous use of beta-lactam antibiotics; longer duration of symptoms prior to admission; and lower frequencies of use of mechanical ventilation and chest tube drainage. In comparison with groups 4 and 5, group 3 showed higher frequencies of previous use of beta-lactam antibiotics and dry cough; longer duration of symptoms prior to admission; a lower frequency of use of chest tube drainage; a higher mean age and a lower frequency of nausea/vomiting (versus group 4 only); and a lower frequency of use of mechanical ventilation (versus group 5 only). M. pneumoniae/S. pneumoniae co-infection increased the duration of symptoms prior to admission., Conclusions: In this sample, the prevalence of M. pneumoniae-related CAP/PPE was 12.75%. Although the disease was milder than that caused by other microorganisms, its course was longer. Our data suggest that M. pneumoniae-related CAP and PPE in children and adolescents should be more thoroughly investigated in Brazil.

Two cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) caused by Listeria monocytogenes in cirrhotic patients are reported. In one of the cases, the microorganism was isolated from pleural effusion and ascites. SBP is a serious and common complication of patients with ascites caused by hepatic cirrhosis and the culture of the ascitic fluid is an important tool for the diagnosis and for the more appropriate treatment. Although a third generation cephalosporin has usually been employed for empiric treatment of SBP, it does not provide adequate coverage against Listeria spp. In such cases the use of ampicillin (with or without sulbactam) or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim is recommended. The last one is used for secondary prophylaxis, instead of norfloxacin. To summarize, Listeria monocytogenes infection is a rare cause of SBP, whose treatment should be specific for the bacteria.

In children under 5 years of age, presenting to the paediatric emergency room with clinical and radiological findings of pneumonia, viridans streptococci were isolated in 10/33 positive haemocultures as the only microorganism. Viridans streptococci should therefore not be ruled out as a cause of pneumonia.