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We describe the first case of 2 consecutive acute septic arthritis infections of both knees caused by the same virulent strain of Kingella kingae belonging to the virulent sequence type complex 14, in a 16-month-old boy. Both infections occurred after viral upper respiratory tract infections.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a concern in pediatric spine surgery with unusually high rates for a clean surgery and especially for patients with deformity of nonidiopathic etiology. Microbiologic differences between etiologies of spine deformities have been poorly investigated., Methods: We reviewed all cases of SSI in spinal surgery between 2007 and 2011. Characteristics of cases and of bacteria according to the etiology of the spine disease were investigated., Results: Of 496 surgeries, we identified 51 SSIs (10.3%) in 49 patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen whatever the etiology (n = 31, 61% of infection cases). The second most frequent pathogens vary according to the etiology of the spine deformity. It was Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) in nonidiopathic cases (n = 19, 45% of cases) and anaerobe in idiopathic cases (n = 8, 38% of cases), particularly Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (n = 5, 24% of cases). Infection rate was 6.8% in cases with idiopathic spine disease (n = 21) and 15.9% in cases with nonidiopathic spine disease (n = 30). Nonidiopathic cases were more frequently male with lower weight. American Society of Anesthesiologists score was more often greater than 2, they had more frequently sacral implants and postoperative intensive care unit stay. GNB were significantly associated with a nonidiopathic etiology, low weight, younger age and sacral fusion. SSIs were polymicrobial in 31% of cases with a mean of 1.4 species per infection cases., Conclusion: S. aureus is the first cause of SSI in pediatric spine surgery. However, Gram-positive anaerobic cocci should be taken into account in idiopathic patients and GNB in nonidiopathic patients when considering antibiotic prophylaxis and curative treatment.

Background: The effects of ethambutol (EMB) on vision are particularly difficult to detect in children less than 5 years of age because of a lack of complaints and objective clinical signs. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of visual abnormalities and the utility of visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) recordings in monitoring the visual function of children less than 5 years of age who were exposed to EMB during anti-mycobacterial treatment., Methods: We performed a retrospective study in Robert-Debré University Hospital, Paris, France, including all children less than 5 years of age, who were treated with EMB for a mycobacterial infection from January 2002 to December 2012., Results: Fourteen patients were enrolled, including 12 treated for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The sex ratio was 1:1. The median age was 1.65 years (0.3 to 4.7). Five patients had subarachnoid involvement. The median EMB dose was 22 mg/kg/day (15 to 27). Only 11 patients were monitored using VEPs. Three children (27.3%) developed a visual impairment secondary to EMB, with delays of 4, 7 and 36 weeks. One of the 3 patients developed an impairment of the retrochiasmatic visual pathways, and 2 other patients developed classical retrobulbar optic neuritis. In all cases, the discontinuation of EMB resulted in a normalization of these findings., Conclusion: Alterations in visual function related to the use of EMB are not uncommon in young children and are most likely underestimated. Systematic close monitoring using VEPs recordings is needed in young children treated with EMB.

Backgrounds: With the development of molecular biology and specific polymerase chain reaction, Kingella kingae has become the primary diagnosis of osteoarticular infections in young children. Clinical features of these osteoarticular infections are typically mild, and outcome is almost always favorable. We report a series of unusually severe cases of K. kingae osteoarticular infections., Methods: All patients with severe osteoarticular infections at presentation were reviewed retrospectively in 2 European pediatric centers. K. kingae was identified using real-time polymerase chain reaction in blood, fluid joint or osseous samples. Clinical, laboratory tests and radiographic data during hospitalization and follow-up were analyzed., Results: Ten children (mean age 21 ± 12 months) with severe osteoarticular infections caused by K. kingae were identified between 2008 and 2011. Diagnostic delay averaged 13.2 ± 8 days. Only 1 patient was febrile at admission, and 50% children had normal C-reactive protein values (≤10 mg/dL) at presentation. Surgical treatment was performed in all cases. Intravenous antibiotic therapy by cephalosporins for an average of 8 ± 6 days was followed by oral treatment for 27 ± 6 days. Mean follow-up was 24.8 ± 9 months, and satisfactory outcomes were reported in all cases. Two patients (20%) developed a central epiphysiodesis of the proximal humerus during follow-up, but without significant clinical consequence for the moment., Conclusions: Because of their mild clinical features at onset, diagnosis of K. kingae osteoarticular infections can be delayed. Care should be taken for early detection and treatment of these infections because bony lytic lesions and potentially definitive growth cartilage damage can occur.

Forty-one children hospitalized for necrotizing pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed. Necrotizing pneumonia represented 0.8% of community-acquired pneumonia and 6% of hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia. The chest radiograph revealed necrosis on admission in onethird of cases. Twenty-one cases (51%) were documented, including 13 Staphylococcus aureus, all Panton-Valentine leukocidin positive, 7 Streptococcus pneumoniae and 1 Fusobacterium nucleatum.

We report 6 pediatric cases of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treated them with levofloxacin or moxifloxacin in the mother-child unit of a university hospital in France between 2005 and 2011. We assess the clinical efficacy and safety of fluoroquinolones and the benefit-risk ratio for their use as second-line antituberculosis drugs in children and adolescents.

We conducted a retrospective study comparing the presenting clinical and biologic features of 64 children who had septic arthritis caused by Kingella kingae with 26 children who had septic arthritis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Children with K. kingae septic arthritis were significantly younger than those with S. aureus septic arthritis. Otherwise, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to fever, location, white blood cell count, synovial fluid cell count, C-reactive protein, or serum fibrinogen. However, the clinical course was significantly better for children with septic arthritis caused by K. kingae as evidenced by shorter hospitalization and fewer adverse events. Presumptive antibiotic therapy for septic arthritis in young infants should take into account both of these pathogens, even in case of mild presentation.

Background: rotaviruses are the major cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide, and require careful surveillance, especially in the context of vaccination programs. Prospective surveillance is required to monitor and characterize rotavirus infections, including viral and clinical data, and to detect the emergence of potentially epidemic strains., Methods: between 2006 and 2009, stool samples and clinical records were collected from 2044 children with acute diarrhea admitted to the pediatric emergency units of 13 French university hospitals. Rotaviruses were detected in stools, then genotyped by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with regard to their outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7., Results: the genotyping of 1947 rotaviruses showed that G1 (61.7%) and G9 (27.4%) strains were predominant and stable, followed by G2 (6.5%), G3 (4.0%), and G4 (2.5%) strains. Most strains were associated with P[8] (92.9%). Overall, 31 uncommon strains and possible zoonotic reassortants were detected including G12 and G8 strains, some being closely related to bovine strains. No difference in clinical presentation and severity was found among genotypes., Conclusions: the relative stability of rotavirus genotypes currently cocirculating in France may ensure vaccine effectiveness in the short and medium term. However, the likely emergence of G12 and G8 strains should be monitored during ongoing and future vaccination programs, especially as all genotypes can cause severe infections. Special attention should be paid to the emergence of new rotavirus reassortants not included in current rotavirus vaccines.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) concentration increases in bacterial infections but remains low in viral infections and inflammatory diseases. The change is rapid and the molecule is stable, making it a potentially useful marker for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections., Methods: PCT concentration was determined with an immunoluminometric assay on plasma collected at admission in 360 infants and children hospitalized for bacterial or viral infection. It was compared with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha measured on the same sample., Results: The mean PCT concentration was 46 microg/l (median, 17.8) in 46 children with septicemia or bacterial meningitis. PCT concentration was > 1 microg/l in 44 of 46 in this group and in 59 of 78 children with a localized bacterial infection who had a negative blood culture (sensitivity, 83%). PCT concentration was > 1 microg/l in 16 of 236 children with a viral infection (specificity, 93%). PCT concentration was low in 9 of 10 patients with inflammatory disease and fever. A CRP value > or =20 mg/l was observed in 61 of 236 patients (26%) with viral infection and in 105 of 124 patients (86%) with bacterial infection. IL-6 was > 100 pg/ml in 14% of patients infected with virus and in 53% with bacteria. A secretion of interferon-alpha was found in serum in 77% of viral infected patients and in 8.6% of bacterial infected patients., Conclusions: In this study a PCT value of 1 microg/l or greater had better specificity, sensitivity and predictive value than CRP, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha in children for distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections. PCT values are higher in invasive bacterial infections, but the cutoff value of 1 microg/l indicates the severity of the disease in localized bacterial infection and helps to decide antibiotic treatment in emergency room. PCT may be useful in an emergency room for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections in children and for making decisions about antibiotic treatments.