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Despite clear testing recommendations for herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in infants, few data exist on the comprehensiveness of HSV testing in practice. In a 23-center study of 112 infants with confirmed HSV disease, less than one-fifth had all recommended testing performed, highlighting the need for increased awareness of and adherence to testing recommendations for this vulnerable population.

To determine age-stratified prevalence of concomitant bacterial meningitis in infants ≤60 days with a urinary tract infection, we performed a 23-center, retrospective study of 1737 infants with urinary tract infection. Concomitant bacterial meningitis was rare, but more common in infants 0-28 days of age [0.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4%-1.9%) compared with infants 29-60 days of age (0.2%; 95% CI: 0%-0.8%).

Traditional treatment of tuberculosis infection (TBI) is efficacious, but adherence is low. Eighty children with TBI received a 12-dose once-weekly isoniazid/rifapentine regimen; 79 (99%) completed therapy, 94% reported no adverse events, 1 child had mildly elevated transaminases but 1 adolescent later developed pulmonary TB. Isoniazid/rifapentine is safe, is well tolerated and has much higher completion rates than traditional TBI regimens.

Sixty-nine children with medical comorbidities were treated for tuberculosis (TB) exposure (7), infection (40) or disease (22). The most common comorbidities in children with TB disease were malignancy (23%), cyanotic heart disease (18%), hemoglobinopathies (18%) and autoimmune disease (14%). Ninety-six percent who received TB medications had no adverse events and 98% completed therapy. Two (9%) died of TB.

The 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak triggered concerns about health-care worker (HCW) readiness. Two hundred and forty-five HCWs at a children's hospital were surveyed. Knowledge scores were lower for nurses than physicians (50-61%, P = 0.001). Despite HCWs lacking Ebola virus disease knowledge, their perceived lack of institutional preparedness and their own lack of training, most HCWs wanted to believe that they would be safe and were willing to provide care.

Pleural tuberculosis (TB) can be seen in isolation or complicate untreated pulmonary disease in children. It is infrequently suspected in low incidence countries, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.This was a retrospective descriptive case series of childrenor=18 years old with pleural TB seen in a referral clinic in Houston, Texas from 1984 to 2008. Medical record data, radiographs, and health department records were reviewed. Epidemiologic, clinical, radiographic, and microbiologic findings are described.Forty-five children (mean age 10.9 years) were diagnosed with TB. Contacts with cases of infectious tuberculosis were identified for 20 children (44%). Positive tuberculin skin tests were seen in 89%. Seventy-three percent of children had concomitant pulmonary parenchymal disease or intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. Cultures were attempted in 40 of 45 children (89%). No patient had acid-fast bacillus smear-positive pleural fluid, but pleural fluid cultures were positive in 56%. Cultures from other respiratory sources were positive in 48% of patients. Although all patients had symptomatic resolution and radiographic improvement, chest radiographs were improved but abnormal in 62% of patients at the end of therapy. No child developed relapse or recrudescence after therapy was discontinued.Pleural TB was usually associated with a positive tuberculin skin test, and lung parenchymal infiltrates were seen commonly. All children had symptomatic resolution and radiographic improvement, and 6-month courses of therapy resulted in disease resolution for children with isolated pleural or pleural and pulmonary parenchymal disease.

Eosinophilic ascites in the absence of gastroenteritis is uncommon in children. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl with eosinophilic ascites caused by Toxocara, only the second reported case in the literature. The patient had complete symptom resolution after albendazole therapy.