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Published on: February 9, 2011
Multicenter study on invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections in children in Argentina
Aldo D Cancellara1, Pablo Melonari2, María V Firpo3
1Hospital de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. adcancel@intramed.net.
Insights
Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections in children often occur without prior chronic conditions, commonly manifesting as skin infections with bacteremia. Risk factors for severe outcomes like lethality were identified, aligning with global trends.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections (ISpIs) present significant morbidity and mortality.
- Pediatric-specific regional data on ISpIs are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence, predisposing factors, and clinical features of ISpIs in hospitalized children.
- To identify risk factors for bacteremia and lethality in pediatric ISpIs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, descriptive study of ISpIs in children under 18.
- Data collected from 20 Argentinian healthcare facilities (2010-2012).
- Analysis of age, gender, infection sources, chronic conditions, treatments, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Most ISpIs occurred in children without prior chronic conditions.
- Skin and soft tissue infections were most common, often with bacteremia.
- Bacteremia was associated with multiple infection sources and lack of surgery.
Conclusions:
- ISpIs in children can occur without pre-existing health issues.
- Fatality rates for severe forms like streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis were comparable to international findings.
Introduction:
Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections (ISpIs) cause a high morbidity and mortality, even at present; however, at a regional level there are few publications on this subject in the field of pediatrics.
Objective:
To describe the prevalence, predisposing factors and clinical characteristics of children hospitalized for ISpI, and analyze risk factors associated with bacteremia and lethality. Material and methods. Retrospective, descriptive study on ISpIs in children <18 years old hospitalized in the Pediatric Ward of 20 healthcare facilities across Argentina between 2010 and 2012. Assessed outcome measures: age, gender, early and late clinical sources of infection, prior chronic condition, predisposing factors, treatment and evolution.
Results:
To describe the prevalence, predisposing factors and clinical characteristics of children hospitalized for ISpI, and analyze risk factors associated with bacteremia and lethality. Material and methods. Retrospective, descriptive study on ISpIs in children <18 years old hospitalized in the Pediatric Ward of 20 healthcare facilities across Argentina between 2010 and 2012. Assessed outcome measures: age, gender, early and late clinical sources of infection, prior chronic condition, predisposing factors, treatment and evolution.
Conclusions:
Most ISpIs were observed in patients without a prior chronic condition. The most common manifestation was, frequently with bacteremia, in the skin and soft tissue. A statistically significant association was observed between bacteremia and ≥2 early sources of infection and no surgery. Fatality rate, in association with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, was similar to that observed in other publications.
