Paediatric bacteraemias in tropical Australia

Area of Science:

• Paediatric Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Bacteraemia in children is a significant contributor to illness and death.
• Understanding local epidemiological patterns of paediatric bacteraemia is crucial for effective clinical management.
• Monitoring trends in causative pathogens aids in guiding empirical treatment strategies for sick children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate temporal trends of pathogenic organisms responsible for paediatric bacteraemia in North Queensland.
• To assess the contamination rate of blood cultures in a tertiary paediatric centre.
• To compare local bacteraemia patterns with existing published data.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 8,385 blood cultures from children was conducted.
• Data spanned a 10-year period from 2001 to 2010 at a North Queensland tertiary centre.
• Blood culture results were audited for positive isolates and contamination rates.

Main Results:

• 696 positive blood cultures (8.3%) identified 70 bacterial species, with Gram-negative bacteria being slightly more prevalent (51.4%).
• The overall bacteraemia rate was 4.7 per 1000 admissions, with a significant contamination rate of 60.6% among positive cultures.
• Notable findings include distinct frequencies of Salmonella and group A Streptococcus compared to other reports, a decline in Streptococcus pneumoniae, and an increase in community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Conclusions:

• Paediatric bacteraemia in tropical Australia presents a unique etiological profile.
• The rising prevalence of community-acquired MRSA necessitates a re-evaluation of current empiric sepsis treatment guidelines for children in this region.
• Ongoing surveillance of paediatric bacteraemia pathogens is essential for adapting clinical practice.