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Medical cannabis (MC) may offer therapeutic benefits for children with complex neurological conditions and chronic diseases. In Canada, parents, and caregivers frequently report encountering barriers when accessing MC for their children. These include negative preconceived notions about risks and benefits, challenges connecting with a knowledgeable healthcare provider (HCP), the high cost of MC products, and navigating MC product shortages. In this manuscript, we explore several of these barriers and provide recommendations to decision-makers to enable a family-centered and evidence-based approach to MC medicine and research for children.

The plant Cannabis sativa produces over 140 known cannabinoids. These chemicals generate considerable interest in the medical research community for their possible application to several intractable disease conditions. Recent reports have prompted parents to strongly consider Cannabis products to treat their children with drug resistant epilepsy. Physicians, though, are reluctant to prescribe Cannabis products due to confusion about their regulatory status and limited clinical data supporting their use. We provide the general paediatrician with a brief review of cannabinoid biology, the literature regarding their use in children with drug resistant epilepsy, the current Health Canada and Canadian Paediatric Society recommendations and also the regulations from the physician regulatory bodies for each province and territory. Given the complexities of conducting research on Cannabis products for children with epilepsy, we also discuss outstanding research objectives that must be addressed to support Cannabis products as an accepted treatment option for children with refractory epilepsy.

Background Inappropriate antimicrobial use (AU) is recognized as a leading cause of antimicrobial resistance. However, quantifying AU in hospitals is challenging due to variability in information systems. Point prevalence surveys (PPS) provide a means to quantify AU in a cross-sectional manner within and between institutions. The aim of the study was to describe and compare the prescription patterns of AU across pediatric hospitals in Canada using PPS. Methods Two PPS (November 2018 and February 2019) were conducted at each of the 15 Canadian pediatric hospitals. For each PPS, AU data were collected for all inpatients ≤ 18 years (excluded mental health and birthing units) on the survey date. Data, including admitting diagnosis, age, comorbidities, Infectious Diseases consult, admitting service, documented pathogen(s), and antimicrobial(s) prescribed, was collected and entered into a RedCap database. Results In total, we surveyed 3826 patient-days. The mean proportion of children receiving at least one antimicrobial was 35.2% [range 25.1% to 42.9%]. Of the 1951 antimicrobials prescribed, the most common were third-generation cephalosporins [3GC] (16%; 321), aminopenicillins (15%; 297), TMP-SMX (11%; 207), piperacillin–tazobactam (10%; 193) and first-generation cephalosporins (9%; 181). Overall, the frequency of carbapenems, quinolones and vancomycin use was 4% (79), 3% (65) and 8% (151), respectively. Of the antimicrobials used for targeted or empiric therapy (n = 1541), 373 (24.2%) were for pneumonia, 278 (18%) for intra-abdominal infections and 251 (16.3%) for fever without a source. For the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (n = 178), aminopenicillins and 3GC use was 31% and 37%, respectively. Conclusion Our study used a standardized approach to assess AU to obtain benchmarking data for Canadian pediatric hospitals. About one-third of children hospitalized in Canadian pediatric hospitals are prescribed at least one antimicrobial. Of patients on treatment for CAP, only 31% were prescribed aminopenicillins. More detailed analysis of the rationale for AU, and assessment of appropriateness is required to fully understand antimicrobial prescribing practices in pediatric hospitals and develop stewardship initiatives. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

BACKGROUND Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common clinical presentation in new and previously diagnosed paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. In contrast to other Canadian tertiary paediatric hospitals, our center lacked a physician-endorsed evidence-informed care pathway for management of DKA. In the absence of a standardized approach to DKA, variability in patient management and outcomes were observed. This project was a quality improvement initiative that sought to develop and pilot a paediatric DKA order set. OBJECTIVES Our primary aim was to attain broad clinical uptake of the order set at our tertiary care center over a 12-month period. Secondary aims included improved standard-of-care DKA management: appropriate fluid bolus volume and maintenance rates; initial potassium management; and timely dextrose supplementation. DESIGN/METHODS A paediatric multidisciplinary collaborative was created to examine evidence for the development and implementation of a DKA order set. Implementation of the order set involved department wide education, targeted end-user education, and quarterly end-user review. A modified plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle guided by end-user feedback and early clinical outcomes allowed progressive order set modifications. RESULTS A retrospective chart review of fifty paediatric patients presenting to our center between April 2014 and September 2016 (pre-implementation) was compared to thirty paediatric patients presenting in DKA during the post-implementation phase (September 2016 – September 2017). There were no statistically significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups. We achieved 83% uptake of the order set for patients presenting to our tertiary center and 67% uptake for patients transferred from peripheral centers. Improvements in DKA management included: appropriate intravenous (IV) maintenance fluid rates (20% vs. 48.3%, p=0.008), earlier administration of potassium to IV fluids (66% vs. 93.1%, p=0.006); appropriate potassium chloride dosing (40 mmol/L) to IV fluid (40% vs. 79.3%, p=0.0007) and earlier addition of IV dextrose (67.4% vs. 93.1%, p=0.009). No differences in moderate to severe hypokalemia (< 3.0 mmol/L), hypoglycemia ( CONCLUSION Implementation of a DKA order set in a tertiary hospital required identification of key stakeholders, formation of a multidisciplinary team, and the development of an evaluation process. There was an observed increase in physician order set uptake and DKA management practice improvements. Future goals involve expanding the implementation and evaluation process to regional and remote centers and analyzing the impact on resource utilization.

Sir.—Methyldopa is used frequently in the long-term management of hypertension in pregnancy because of its documented effectiveness and relative lack of fetal toxicity.1,2Although not reported in neonates, nasal congestion is a known side effect of methyldopa in 1% to 3% of adults and children receiving long-term therapy.3We report an association between maternal administration of methyldopa and neonatal nasal obstruction. Patient Reports.—Patient1.—A 38-year-old gravida 3, para 1, aborta 1 woman underwent an elective cesarean section at 39 weeks' gestation because of frank breech fetal position, maternal hypertension, and advanced maternal age. She was treated with methyldopa (250 mg orally twice a day) since the eighth week of gestation. At delivery, a loop of cord was noted around the neonate's neck and there was moderate difficulty in delivering the head. The Apgar scores were 3,8, and 9 at 1,5, and 10 minutes, respectively, and