Tag Archives: Bronchiolitis

7% hypertonic saline in acute bronchiolitis: a randomized controlled trial. (Vats)

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Jacobs JD, Foster M, Wan J, Pershad J. 7% hypertonic saline in acute bronchiolitis: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2014 Jan;133(1):e8-e13.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that hypertonic saline (HS) may improve mucous flow in infants with acute bronchiolitis. Data suggest a trend favoring reduced length of hospital stay and improved pulmonary scores with increasing concentration of nebulized solution to 3% and 5% saline as compared with 0.9% saline mixed with epinephrine. To our knowledge, 7% HS has not been previously investigated.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial in 101 infants presenting with moderate to severe acute bronchiolitis. Subjects received either 7% saline or 0.9% saline, both with epinephrine. Our primary outcome was a change in bronchiolitis severity score (BSS), obtained before and after treatment, and at the time of disposition from the emergency department (ED). Secondary outcomes measured were hospitalization rate, proportion of admitted patients discharged at 23 hours, and ED and inpatient length of stay.

RESULTS: At baseline, study groups were similar in demographic and clinical characteristics. The decrease in mean BSS was not statistically significant between groups (2.6 vs 2.4 for HS and control groups, respectively). The difference between the groups in proportion of admitted patients (42% in HS versus 49% in normal saline), ED or inpatient length of stay, and proportion of admitted patients discharged at 23 hours was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: In moderate to severe acute bronchiolitis, inhalation of 7% HS with epinephrine does not appear to confer any clinically significant decrease in BSS when compared with 0.9% saline with epinephrine.

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Procalcitonin to predict bacterial coinfection in infants with acute bronchiolitis: a preliminary analysis. (Petrillo)

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Laham JL, Breheny PJ, Gardner BM, Bada H. Procalcitonin to predict bacterial coinfection in infants with acute bronchiolitis: a preliminary analysis. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2014 Jan;30(1):11-5.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary analysis of serum procalcitonin (PCT) to predict bacterial coinfection in infants with acute bronchiolitis.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort chart review of 40 infants admitted with acute bronchiolitis to the pediatric intensive care unit. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association of PCT and white blood count with presence of bacterial coinfection defined by either positive culture or chest radiograph result.

RESULTS: Fifteen (38%) of 40 patients had a diagnosis of bacterial coinfection by positive culture (9/15) or chest radiograph (6/15). Procalcitonin (P < 0.0001) was significantly associated with bacterial coinfection. A cutoff value of 1.5 ng/mL had sensitivity of 0.80, specificity of 1.00, and area under the operating curve of 0.88. White blood count (P = 0.06) was borderline significant with sensitivity of 0.33, specificity of 0.96, and area under the operating curve of 0.67. Three of 15 patients were later found to have bacterial coinfection with initial PCT of less than 1.5 ng/mL. None had follow-up PCT measurements taken. Thirty-five of 40 were prescribed empiric antibiotic therapy, including 20 of 25 patients without evidence of bacterial coinfection. None had a PCT of greater than 1.5 ng/mL. If a PCT cutoff of greater than 1.5 ng/mL had been used, 57% fewer patients would have received antibiotics with a 45% reduction in antimicrobial charges.

CONCLUSIONS: An elevated PCT may assist clinicians in determining presence of bacterial coinfection at admission in infants with acute bronchiolitis. Implementation of a PCT cutoff of 1.5 ng/mL at admission may prevent unnecessary antibiotic use with associated cost savings. Serial PCT levels may increase sensitivity. Further validation is warranted.

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Increased risk of pneumonia and bronchiolitis after bacterial colonization of the airways as neonates. (Fortenberry)

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Vissing NH, Chawes BL, Bisgaard H. Increased risk of pneumonia and bronchiolitis after bacterial colonization of the airways as neonates. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Oct 3.

Rationale: The frequency of pneumonia and bronchiolitis exhibits considerable variation in otherwise healthy children, and suspected risk factors explain only a minor proportion of the variation. We hypothesized that alterations in the airway microbiome in early life may be associated with susceptibility to pneumonia and bronchiolitis in young children.

Objectives: To investigate the relation between neonatal airway colonization and pneumonia and bronchiolitis during the first three years of life.

Methods: Participants comprised children of the COPSAC2000 cohort; a prospective birth cohort study of 411 children born to asthmatic mothers. Aspirates from the hypopharynx at age four weeks were cultured for S.pneumoniae, H.influenzae, M.catarrhalis, and S.aureus. Clinical information on pneumonia and bronchiolitis within the first three years of life was prospectively collected by the research physicians at the center. Analyses were adjusted for covariates associated pneumonia and bronchiolitisand bacterial airway colonization.

Measurements and Main Results: Hypopharyngeal aspirates and full clinical follow-up until three years of age were available for 265 children. Of these, 56 (21%) neonates were colonized with S.pneumoniae, H.influenzae and/or M.catarrhalis at four weeks of age. Colonization with at least one of these microorganisms, (but not S.aureus), was significantly associated with increased incidence of pneumonia and bronchiolitis (adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio=1.79[1.29-2.48], p-value <0.005) independently of concurrent or later asthma.

Conclusion: Neonatal airway colonization with S.pneumoniae, H.influenzae or M.catarrhalis is associated with increased risk of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in early life independently of asthma. This suggests a role of pathogenic bacterial colonization of the airways in neonates for subsequent susceptibly to pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

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Oral dexamethasone for bronchiolitis: a randomized trial. (Vats)

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Alansari K, Sakran M, Davidson BL, et al. Oral dexamethasone for bronchiolitis: a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2013 Oct;132(4):e810-e816.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether dexamethasone treatment added to salbutamol reduces time to readiness for discharge in patients with bronchiolitis and possible asthma.

METHODS: We compared efficacy and safety of dexamethasone, 1 mg/kg, then 0.6 mg/kg for 4 more days, with placebo for acute bronchiolitis in patients with asthma risk, as determined by eczema or a family history of asthma in a first-degree relative. All patients received inhaled salbutamol. Time to readiness for discharge was the primary efficacy outcome.

RESULTS: Two hundred previously healthy infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis, median age 3.5 months, were enrolled. Five placebo recipients needed admission to intensive care unit during infirmary treatment (P = .02). Among 100 dexamethasone recipients, geometric mean time to readiness for discharge was 18.6 hours (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.9 to 23.1 hours); among 90 control patients, 27.1 hours (95% CI, 21.8 to 33.8 hours). The ratio, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.51 to 0.93), revealed a mean 31% shortening of duration to readiness for discharge favoring dexamethasone (P = .015). Twenty-two dexamethasone and 19 control patients were readmitted to the short stay infirmary in the week after discharge (P = .9). No hospitalizations or side effects were reported during 7 days of surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone with salbutamol shortened time to readiness for infirmary discharge during bronchiolitis episodes in patients with eczema or a family history of asthma in a first-degree relative. Infirmary and clinic visits in the subsequent week occurred similarly for the 2 groups.

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