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Gaps in diagnosing suspected infection in immunocompromised children with cancer: A systematic review

Sarah Y Park1, Nicole G Coufal2,3, Samuel R Dominguez4,5

  • 1Medical Affairs, Karius, Inc., Redwood City, California, USA.

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|December 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Infection diagnosis in immunocompromised children with cancer has unmet needs. More research is needed on diagnostic tools to improve patient outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Diagnostic Technologies

Background:

  • Infection is a significant risk for children with cancer, despite improved survival rates.
  • Current diagnostic methods for infections in this vulnerable population require further evaluation.

Approach:

  • A systematic literature review was conducted following Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
  • Searched multiple databases for pediatric-focused studies on infection diagnosis from 2012 to 2022.
  • Analyzed 34 studies out of 5188 initially identified records.

Key Points:

  • A significant lack of published data exists regarding infectious disease testing in pediatric oncology patients.
  • Existing diagnostic platforms and novel technologies require further clinical impact studies.
  • Cost-effectiveness analyses are crucial for evaluating current and future diagnostic tools.

Conclusions:

  • There is a critical need for well-designed studies to assess the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic platforms.
  • Optimizing diagnostic strategies is essential for improving antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Enhanced diagnostic approaches are necessary to improve survival and reduce morbidity in pediatric cancer patients.

Keywords:
cancerdiagnosticsimmunocompromisedinfectionmetagenomic sequencingpediatric

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