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Health care is not free of ineffective, unsafe or inefficient diagnostic and therapeutic practices. To address this, different scientific societies and health authorities have proposed 'do not do' recommendations (DNDRs). Our goal was the selection by consensus of a set of DNDRs for paediatric intensive care in Spain.The research was carried out in 2 phases: first, gathering potential DNDRs; second, selecting the most important ones, using the Delphi method, based on the prevalence of the practice to be modified, the severity of its potential risks and the ease with which it could be modified. Proposals and evaluations were both made by members of working groups of the Sociedad Española de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos (SECIP, Spanish Society of Paediatric Intensive Care), coordinated by email. The initial set of DNDRs was reduced based on the coefficient of variation (80%) of the corresponding evaluations.A total of 182 DNDRs were proposed by 30 intensivists. The 14 Delphi evaluators managed to pare down the initial set to 85 DNDRs and, after a second round, to the final set of 26 DNDRs. The care quality dimensions most represented in the final set are clinical effectiveness and patient safety.This study allowed the selection by consensus of a series of recommendations to avoid unsafe, inefficient or ineffective practices in paediatric intensive care in Spain, which could be useful for improving the quality of clinical care in our field.

Patient safety has become a central component of quality of care. One of the best known and most widely used security tools in all work settings is the checklists.The checklist is a tool that helps to not forget any step during the performance of a procedure, to do tasks with an established order, to control the fulfillment of a series of requirements or to collect data in a systematic way for its subsequent analysis. It is an aid to improve the efficiency of teamwork, promote communication, decrease variability, standardize care and improve patient safety.Main barriers to implementation are reviewed: staff attitudes, hierarchies, poor design, inadequate training, duplication with other work lists, work overload, cultural barriers, lack of replication or checklist closing time.Finally, its applications in Pediatrics are reviewed starting from the most widespread, the safety checklist of pediatric surgery, checklists in neonatal critical units, for safe delivery, for risk procedures, in pediatric intensive care and for pathology time-dependent emergent, e.g. pediatric trauma.It is necessary to highlight the role of leadership in the implantation of a checklist in any area of ​​Pediatrics. There must be one or more people from the team with the support of the Heads of Service and Managers who lead the training of the personnel, direct the implementation of the LV, evaluate the results, inform the rest of the team and can modify the processes depending on the problems found. Resumen: La seguridad de los pacientes se ha convertido en un componente central de la calidad asistencial. Una de las herramientas de seguridad más conocidas y extendidas en todos los ámbitos laborales son las listas de verificación (LV).Una LV es una herramienta que ayuda a no olvidar ningún paso durante la realización de un procedimiento, hacer tareas con un orden establecido, controlar el cumplimiento de una serie de requisitos o recoger datos de forma sistemática para su posterior análisis. Es una ayuda para mejorar la eficacia del trabajo en equipo, fomentar la comunicación, disminuir la variabilidad, estandarizar la atención y mejorar la seguridad de los pacientes.Se repasan las principales barreras para la implantación como las actitudes del personal, jerarquías, diseño deficiente, capacitación inadecuada, duplicación con otras listas de trabajo, sobrecarga de trabajo, barreras culturales, falta de replicación o tiempo de cierre de la LV.Finalmente se revisan sus aplicaciones en la edad pediátrica partiendo desde la más extendida, la LV de seguridad de la cirugía pediátrica, el parto y periodo neonatal (LV de unidades de críticos neonatales, LV para el parto seguro), para procedimientos de riesgo, para cuidados intensivos pediátricos y para la patología emergente tiempo-dependiente, por ejemplo, el trauma pediátrico.Es importante remarcar el papel del liderazgo en la implantación de una LV en cualquier área de trabajo de la Pediatría. Debe haber una o más personas del equipo con el apoyo de los Jefes de Servicio y Directivos que lideren la formación del personal, dirijan la implantación de la LV, evalúen los resultados, informen al resto del equipo y puedan modificar los procesos en función de los problemas encontrados.

EUCLIDS consortium., Non-coding genetic variants play an important role in driving susceptibility to complex diseases but their characterization remains challenging. Here, we employed a novel approach to interrogate the genetic risk of such polymorphisms in a more systematic way by targeting specific regulatory regions relevant for the phenotype studied. We applied this method to meningococcal disease susceptibility, using the DNA binding pattern of RELA – a NF-kB subunit, master regulator of the response to infection – under bacterial stimuli in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. We designed a custom panel to cover these RELA binding sites and used it for targeted sequencing in cases and controls. Variant calling and association analysis were performed followed by validation of candidate polymorphisms by genotyping in three independent cohorts. We identified two new polymorphisms, rs4823231 and rs11913168, showing signs of association with meningococcal disease susceptibility. In addition, using our genomic data as well as publicly available resources, we found evidences for these SNPs to have potential regulatory effects on ATXN10 and LIF genes respectively. The variants and related candidate genes are relevant for infectious diseases and may have important contribution for meningococcal disease pathology. Finally, we described a novel genetic association approach that could be applied to other phenotypes., This work has been partially funded by the European Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) under EUCLIDS Grant Agreement No. 279185. The UK meningococcal cohort was established with support from Meningitis Research Foundation through grants to Imperial College London. The Research from Newcastle partners was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre based at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The ESIGEM Research group activities were supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Proyecto de Investigación en Salud, Acción Estratégica en Salud: proyecto GePEM PI16/01478) (A.S.); Consellería de Sanidade, Xunta de Galicia (RHI07/2-intensificación actividad investigadora, PS09749 and 10PXIB918184PR), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Intensificación de la actividad investigadora 2007–2016), Convenio de colaboración de investigación (Wyeth España-Fundación IDICHUS 2007–2011), Convenio de colaboración de investigación (Novartis España-Fundación IDICHUS 2010–2011), Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS; PI070069/PI1000540) del plan nacional de I + D + I and ‘fondos FEDER’ (F.M.T.). The Swiss Pediatric Sepsis study was funded by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (342730_153158/1), the Swiss Society of Intensive Care, the Bangerter Foundation, the Vinetum and Borer Foundation, and the Foundation for the Health of Children and Adolescents. The Western Europe Meningococcal Study was supported by grants no 8842, 10112 and 12710 of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austria), grants A3-16.K-8/2008-11 and A3-16.K-8/2006–9 of the Department for Science and Research of the Styrian federal government (Austria) and the non for profit association ‘In Vita’, Graz (Austria).

EUCLIDS consortium., Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection are often non-specific, and there is no definitive test for the accurate diagnosis of infection. The ‘omics’ approaches to identifying biomarkers from the host-response to bacterial infection are promising. In this study, lipidomic analysis was carried out with plasma samples obtained from febrile children with confirmed bacterial infection (n = 20) and confirmed viral infection (n = 20). We show for the first time that bacterial and viral infection produces distinct profile in the host lipidome. Some species of glycerophosphoinositol, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine and cholesterol sulfate were higher in the confirmed virus infected group, while some species of fatty acids, glycerophosphocholine, glycerophosphoserine, lactosylceramide and bilirubin were lower in the confirmed virus infected group when compared with confirmed bacterial infected group. A combination of three lipids achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.911 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.98). This pilot study demonstrates the potential of metabolic biomarkers to assist clinicians in distinguishing bacterial from viral infection in febrile children, to facilitate effective clinical management and to the limit inappropriate use of antibiotics., This work was partially supported by the European Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) under EUCLIDS Grant Agreement no. 279185. ICED: The Research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre based at Imperial College. This work was further supported by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research [grant number MC_PC_12025] through funding for the MRC-NIHR National Phenome Centre, infrastructure support was provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Imperial NHS Healthcare Trust. MK acknowledges funding from the Wellcome Trust (Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship grant 206508/Z/17/Z).

Resumen: La seguridad de los pacientes se ha convertido en un componente central de la calidad asistencial. Una de las herramientas de seguridad más conocidas y extendidas en todos los ámbitos laborales son las listas de verificación (LV).Una LV es una herramienta que ayuda a no olvidar ningún paso durante la realización de un procedimiento, hacer tareas con un orden establecido, controlar el cumplimiento de una serie de requisitos o recoger datos de forma sistemática para su posterior análisis. Es una ayuda para mejorar la eficacia del trabajo en equipo, fomentar la comunicación, disminuir la variabilidad, estandarizar la atención y mejorar la seguridad de los pacientes.Se repasan las principales barreras para la implantación, como actitudes del personal, jerarquías, diseño deficiente, capacitación inadecuada, duplicación con otras listas de trabajo, sobrecarga de trabajo, barreras culturales, falta de replicación o tiempo de cierre de la LV.Finalmente se revisan sus aplicaciones en la edad pediátrica partiendo desde la más extendida, la LV de seguridad de la cirugía pediátrica, el parto y el periodo neonatal (LV de unidades de críticos neonatales, LV para el parto seguro), para procedimientos de riesgo, para cuidados intensivos pediátricos y para la patología emergente tiempo-dependiente; por ejemplo, el trauma pediátrico.Es importante remarcar el papel del liderazgo en la implantación de una LV en cualquier área de trabajo de la pediatría. Debe haber una o más personas del equipo con el apoyo de los jefes de servicio y directivos que lideren la formación del personal, dirijan la implantación de la LV, evalúen los resultados, informen al resto del equipo y puedan modificar los procesos en función de los problemas encontrados. Abstract: Patient safety has become a central component of quality of care. One of the best known and most widely used security tool in all work settings is the checklist.The checklist is a tool that helps to not forget any step during the performance of a procedure, to do tasks with an established order, to control the fulfilment of a series of requirements or to collect data in a systematic way for its subsequent analysis. It is an aid to improve the efficiency of teamwork, promote communication, decrease variability, standardize care and improve patient safety.Main barriers to implementation are reviewed: staff attitudes, hierarchies, poor design, inadequate training, duplication with other work lists, work overload, cultural barriers, lack of replication or checklist closing time.Finally, its applications in Pediatrics are reviewed starting from the most widespread, the safety checklist of pediatric surgery, checklists in neonatal critical units, for safe delivery, for risk procedures, in pediatric intensive care and for pathology time-dependent emergent, e.g. pediatric trauma.It is necessary to highlight the role of leadership in the implantation of a checklist in any area of Pediatrics. There must be one or more people from the team with the support of the Heads of Service and Managers who lead the training of the personnel, direct the implementation of the LV, evaluate the results, inform the rest of the team and can modify the processes depending on the problems found.

Background Sepsis and severe focal infections represent a substantial disease burden in children admitted to hospital. We aimed to understand the burden of disease and outcomes in children with life-threatening bacterial infections in Europe. Methods The European Union Childhood Life-threatening Infectious Disease Study (EUCLIDS) was a prospective, multicentre, cohort study done in six countries in Europe. Patients aged 1 month to 18 years with sepsis (or suspected sepsis) or severe focal infections, admitted to 98 participating hospitals in the UK, Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, and the Netherlands were prospectively recruited between July 1, 2012, and Dec 31, 2015. To assess disease burden and outcomes, we collected demographic and clinical data using a secured web-based platform and obtained microbiological data using locally available clinical diagnostic procedures. Findings 2844 patients were recruited and included in the analysis. 1512 (53·2%) of 2841 patients were male and median age was 39·1 months (IQR 12·4–93·9). 1229 (43·2%) patients had sepsis and 1615 (56·8%) had severe focal infections. Patients diagnosed with sepsis had a median age of 27·6 months (IQR 9·0–80·2), whereas those diagnosed with severe focal infections had a median age of 46·5 months (15·8–100·4; pInterpretation Mortality in children admitted to hospital for sepsis or severe focal infections is low in Europe. The disease burden is mainly in children younger than 5 years and is largely due to vaccine-preventable meningococcal and pneumococcal infections. Despite the availability and application of clinical procedures for microbiological diagnosis, the causative organism remained unidentified in approximately 50% of patients.

• Postoperative Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome leads to an elevation in biomarkers in the absence of infection.

Resumen: Introducción: La infección nosocomial (IN) es un problema frecuente en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricas (UCIP), con una mortalidad atribuible hasta del 11%. Objetivo: Describir la epidemiología de la IN en las UCIP españolas. Iniciar una estrategia estandarizada de control de la IN para disponer de tasas de incidencia pediátricas en nuestro medio. PAcientes y método: Estudio multicéntrico y prospectivo del 1 al 31 de marzo de 2007. Se utilizaron los criterios diagnósticos y la metodología de cálculo de incidencia de IN del Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Se estudió especialmente la IN relacionada con dispositivos invasivos: catéter venoso central (CVC), ventilación mecánica (VM), sondaje vesical (SV). Resultados: Se estudiaron 300 pacientes en 6 UCIP, diagnosticándose 17 episodios en 16 pacientes (5,3% de los ingresados). La tasa de IN fue de 13,8 infecciones/1.000 pacientes-día. La edad media de los infectados fue de 2,31 años (± 3,43), 9 fueron varones. Existieron factores de riesgo en 7 casos. Las localizaciones fueron: bacteriemia relacionada con catéter en 7 pacientes (6,7/1000 días CVC), neumonía asociada a VM en 4 (9,4/1.000 días VM), infección urinaria asociada a SV en 4 (5,5/1000 días SV), un caso de bacteriemia primaria y una infección de herida quirúrgica. Los microorganismos aislados fueron: 9 bacilos gramnegativos, 4 Candidas, 2 estafilococos plasmocoagulasa negativos, 1 Haemophilus y 1 Staphylococcus aureus. Siete aislamientos fueron de microorganismos resistentes. No hubo ningún exitus atribuible a la IN. Conclusiones: La epidemiología de la IN fue similar a la publicada en otros países de nuestro entorno. La vigilancia de la IN es esencial para un correcto manejo y para ello es fundamental tener un patrón de análisis y referencia común. Abstract: Introduction: Nosocomial infection (NI) is a common complication in paediatric critical care units (PICU), with an associated mortality up to 11%. Objective: To describe NI epidemiology in the national PICU. To initiate an standard NI control measures to obtain paediatric incidence rates. Patients and method: Multicentre prospective study from 1 to 31 march 2007. Centre Disease Control diagnosis and methodological criteria were used. It was specially analyzed NI related to invasive devices: central venous catheter (CVC), mechanical ventilation (MV), urinary catheter (UC). Results: There were recruited 300 patients from 6 PICU, with 17 NI episodes in 16 patients (5,3% from admitted). NI rates resulted in 13,8 infections/1000 patients-day. Middle age from infected patients was 2,31 years (± 3,43), 9 males. Risk factors were found in 7 cases. NI location was: catheter-related bloodstream infection in 7 patients (6,7/1000 days CVC), ventilator associated pneumonia in 4 (9,4/1000 MV days), urinary-tract infection associated with UC in 4 (5,5/1000 UC days), one case of primary bloodstream infection and one surgical site infection. Isolated microorganisms were: 9 gram negatives bacillus, 4 Candida, 2 plasmocoagulase negative staphylococcus, 1 Haemophilus and 1 Staphylococcus aureus. Seven isolations were resistant microorganisms. There weren’t any died related to NI. Conclusions: NI epidemiology was similar to published data in our near countries. NI surveillance, with a standardized method of analysis is essential to the NI correct manage.

Resumen: Objetivo: Analizar la incidencia de trombosis y obstrucción asociada a las vías centrales implantadas a niños críticamente enfermos y la determinación de sus factores de riesgo. Diseño: Estudio prospectivo observacional, desarrollado en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátrica de un hospital universitario. Material y método: Se analizaron 825 catéteres venosos centrales (CVC) insertados en 546 pacientes. Se recogieron la edad, el sexo, el peso, el tipo de catéter (luces, tamaño, marca), la localización final del catéter, la existencia de ventilación mecánica, el tipo de sedación y analgesia utilizado, el médico que realizó la técnica, el fallo inicial del residente con posterior canalización por el adjunto, el número de intentos, la indicación, la enfermedad de base, el diagnóstico de ingreso, el tipo de cateterización (urgente, programada o recanalización) y las complicaciones mecánicas tardías (CMT). Se determinaron los factores de riesgo para estas complicaciones mediante un análisis de regresión múltiple. Resultados: Se registraron 52 CMT (6,14%), 42 obstrucciones y 10 trombosis. Las tasas de obstrucción y trombosis fueron de 4,96 y 1,18 por cada 100 CVC, respectivamente. El único factor de riesgo asociado de forma independiente a la obstrucción fue el tiempo de duración del CVC (OR = 1,05, IC del 95%, 1,00-1,10). Respecto a la trombosis, tanto el número de luces (OR = 4,88, IC del 95%, 1,26-18,90) como la nutrición parenteral (OR = 4,17, IC del 95%, 1,06-16,31) alcanzaron significación estadística en el análisis bivariante. Sin embargo, no se objetivaron factores de riesgo para trombosis en el análisis multivariante. Conclusiones: La obstrucción y la trombosis de los CVC insertados en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátrica de un hospital universitario son relativamente frecuentes. El tiempo de duración de la vía central es un factor de riesgo independiente para la obstrucción de alguna de sus luces. Abstract: Objective: To analyse the incidence of thrombosis and obstruction associated with central venous lines (CVL) inserted in critically ill children, and to determine their risk factors. Design: Prospective observational study in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a University Hospital. Material and method: An analysis was made of 825 CVL placed in 546 patients. Age, gender, weight, type of catheter (lines, size, and brand), final location of the catheter, mechanical ventilation, type of sedation and analgesia used, initial failure by the doctor to perform CVL catheterization, number of attempts, CVL indication, admission diagnosis, emergency or scheduled procedure, and delayed mechanical complications (DMC). Risk factors for these complications were determined by a multiple regression analysis. Results: A total of 52 cases of DMC, 42 cases of obstruction, and 10 of thrombosis were registered. Obstruction and thrombosis rates were 4.96 and 1.18 per 100 CVL, respectively. The only risk factor independently linked to obstruction was the duration of the CVL (OR 1.05; 95% CI; 1.00-1.10). The number of lines with thrombosis (OR 4.88; 95% CI; 1.26-18.0), as well as parenteral nutrition (OR 4.17; 95% CI; 1.06-16.31) was statistically significant according to bivariate analysis. However, no risk factors for thrombosis were found in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Obstruction and thrombosis of CVL inserted in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit are relatively common complications. CVL duration is an independent risk factor for any line obstruction.

Introduction This study objective was to identify, select, and define a basic set of quality indicators for pediatric intensive care in Spain. Methods (1) Review of the literature to identify quality indicators and their defining elements and (2) selection of indicators by consensus of a group of experts using basic Delphi methodology (2 rounds) and forms distributed by email among experts from the Spanish society of pediatric intensive care. Results We selected quality indicators according to their relevance and feasibility and the experts' agreement on their incorporation in the final set. We included only those indicators whose assessment was within the highest tertile and greater than or equal to 70% evaluator agreement in the final selection. Starting from an initially proposed set of 136 indicators, 31 experts first selected 43 indicators for inclusion in the second round. Twenty indicators were selected for the final set. This "top 20" set comprised 9 process indicators, 9 of results (especially treatment-associated adverse effects), and 2 indicators of structure. Several of them are classical indicators in intensive care medicine (rates of hospital-acquired infections, pressure ulcers, etc.), whereas others are specifically pediatric (eg, unrestricted parent visitation or training the parents of technology-dependent children). Conclusions We reached a consensus on a set of 20 essential quality indicators for pediatric intensive care in Spain. A significant subset reflects the peculiarities of pediatric care. We consider this subset as a starting point for future projects of network collaboration between pediatric intensive care units in Spain.

Background Invasive meningococcal disease remains a rare infectious disease not only with high mortality but also with important morbidity. Until recently no universal vaccine existed against serogroup B, which explains most of the cases in settings like Europe. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical course and sequelae of meningococcal disease in Spain. Methods Retrospective review of all children younger than 15 years admitted to any of the 36 hospitals in the MENDICOS Spanish network (www.mendicos.org) with confirmed or probable invasive meningococcal disease in children between January 2008 and December 2013. Results A total of 458 cases were identified across the country, most of them occurring in previously healthy children (91.5%; n = 419/458). Median (interquartile range) age was 1.7 (0.7 and 4.6) years, with 53.1% of the cases occurring in children younger than 2 years; 82.1% (n = 368) were laboratory confirmed cases; 95.2% (n = 256) of those serogrouped were serogroup B. The diagnosis was meningitis in 24.9% (n = 114) of the cases, sepsis in 37.1% (n = 170) and both in 38.0% (n = 174). Mean hospital length of stay was 11.6 (10.9) days; 79.2% (n = 354) of the patients required pediatric intensive care unit admission, with a mean pediatric intensive care unit stay of 3.9 (4.9) days; 3.5% (n = 16) died; 12.9% (n = 59) of the survivors were discharged with some kind of physical sequelae, mainly neurological (n = 23). Conclusions Serogroup B invasive meningococcal infection explains substantial morbidity and mortality in Spain, occurring mainly in infants. The recent availability of a vaccine against serogroup B may change this scenario. Given that the vast majority of the cases occur in otherwise healthy children, inclusion of the meningococcal B vaccine in the national immunization program should be carefully considered.

Resumen: Objetivo: Determinar si los niveles plasmáticos de región media del péptido natriurético proauricular (RM-proPNA), copeptina y procalcitonina (PCT) se asocian con aumento del riesgo de mortalidad. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo observacional que incluyó a 254 niños críticamente enfermos. Se compararon los niveles de RM-proPNA, copeptina y PCT entre niños con alto (grupo A; n = 33) y bajo (grupo B; n = 221) riesgo de mortalidad y entre pacientes con un número de órganos en fallo mayor de 1 (grupo 1; n = 71) y menor de 2 (grupo 2; n = 183). Resultados: Las medianas (rangos) de RM-proPNA, copeptina y PCT en grupo A vs. grupo B fueron, respectivamente: 209,4 (30,5-1.415,8) vs. 75,0 (14,6-867,2) pmol/l (p

Objective: To determine whether high levels of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), copeptin, and procalcitonin (PCT) plasma concentrations are associated with increased mortality risk. Methods: Prospective observational study including 254 critically ill children. MR-proANP, copeptin and PCT were compared between children with high (Group A; n = 33) and low (Group B; n = 221) mortality risk, and between patients with failure of more than 1 organ (Group 1; n = 71) and less than 2 (Group 2; n = 183). Results: Median (range) of MR-proANP, copeptin, and PCT levels in group A vs B were, respectively: 209.4 (30.5–1415.8) vs. 75.0 (14.6–867.2) pmol/L (P

Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: En el postoperatorio de la cirugía cardíaca se produce una respuesta inflamatoria sistémica que dificulta la identificación de complicaciones. El objetivo fue estudiar el comportamiento de la proteína C reactiva (PCR) y la procalcitonina (PCT), valorando su relación con la gravedad y analizando su utilidad para detectar complicaciones. Métodos: Se estudió prospectivamente a 59 niños intervenidos mediante cirugía cardíaca abierta. Se determinaron la PCR y la PCT al ingreso en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos, a las 24, a las 48 y a las 72h. Se analizó la relación de la PCR y la PCT con la gravedad clínica valorada mediante las escalas Pediatric Risk Mortality y Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System, y el desarrollo de complicaciones (infecciosas y hemodinámicas). Resultados: La PCR y la PCT aumentaron en las primeras 24h, disminuyendo progresivamente en los 2 días posteriores. La PCR no se relacionó con la gravedad ni con la aparición de complicaciones. La PCT tras la cirugía, a las 24 y a las 48h presentó una moderada correlación con el Pediatric Risk Mortality (r=0,548; 0,434 y 0,446, respectivamente) y una baja con el Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System. Se obtuvieron unos puntos de corte para la PCT>0,17ng/ml (sensibilidad del 73,3%, especificidad del 72,2%) al ingreso y >1,98ng/ml (sensibilidad del 57,1%, especificidad del 87%) a las 48h para detectar complicaciones. No existieron diferencias en la PCR ni en la PCT entre los pacientes con complicaciones infecciosas y hemodinámicas. Conclusiones: En el postoperatorio de la cirugía cardíaca pediátrica la PCR no se correlaciona con la gravedad ni con la presencia de complicaciones. La PCT se correlaciona con la gravedad y puede detectar complicaciones posquirúrgicas. Abstract: Introduction and objectives: The systemic inflammatory response syndrome developed after cardiac surgery impedes the detection of complications. The aim of our study was to examine the behaviour of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), as well as to evaluate its relationship with severity and to analyse its usefulness in the identification of complications. Methods: A total of 59 children who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively studied. CRP and PCT were determined after surgery and at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The relationships between both parameters and the clinical severity were analysed (evaluated with PRISM and TISS scoring systems), as well as with the incidence of complications (infectious and haemodynamics). Results: Serum concentrations of CRP and PCT increased in the first 24 hours after surgery, with a gradual decrease over the following days. There was no association between CRP and severity or development of complications. A moderate correlation was observed between PCT after surgery, at 24 and 48 hours, and PRISM (r=0.548; 0.434 and 0.446) and a low correlation between PCT and TISS. When studying the identification of complications, we obtained cut-off values of PCT>0.17ng/ml (Ss 73.3%; Sp 72.2%) and PCT>1.98ng/ml (Ss 57.1%; Sp 87%) immediately and 48 hours after surgery. No differences were found in CPR and PCT levels among patients with infectious and haemodynamics complications. Conclusions: CPR does not correlate with the severity or the incidence of complications after paediatric cardiac surgery. PCT correlates with clinical severity and may be able to detect post-surgical complications.

Resumen: Introducción: Uno de los principales problemas en el desarrollo de docencia sobre ventilación mecánica es la falta de modelos de pulmón sencillos, baratos y fácilmente reproducibles. Objetivo: Presentar un nuevo modelo de simulador de pulmón. Material: El simulador de pulmón presenta 2 partes diferenciadas: A) Sistema de resistencia: simula la vía aérea del aparato respiratorio. Formado por 3 o 5 válvulas de bola que permiten el aumento de resistencias y la simulación de fugas. B) Sistema de distensibilidad: reproduce las características de pulmón y caja torácica. Está formado por 3 partes: 1 o 2 cámaras de distensión (pulmón de prueba comercial), mecanismo de conexión al sistema de resistencia y pinza de limitación de distensibilidad.El simulador permite un montaje simple o doble dependiendo de que se incorpore uno o 2 pulmones al sistema de resistencia permitiendo variar el volumen corriente entre 10–500ml. Conclusiones: Presentamos un modelo de simulador de pulmón barato, de fácil montaje y desmontaje, transportable, de uso simple y que permite reproducir patrones restrictivos, obstructivos y presencia de fugas. Abstract: Introduction: One of the main limitations to running mechanical ventilation courses is the lack of cheap, interactive, and easily reproducible lung simulators. Objective: Presentation of a new lung simulator. Material: Lung simulator consisting of two different parts: A) Resistance system: simulates respiratory airway. It is made up of 3 or 5 ball valves that allow for the simulation of resistance increase and air leaks. B) Compliance system: it reproduces lungs and rib cage characteristics. It is made up of three parts: 1 or 2 expandable chambers (a commercial test lung), a connection system to the resistance mechanism, and a distensibility limiting clamp.The simulator allows for a single or double assembly depending on the inclusion of one or two lungs to the resistance system, allowing the tidal volume to be adjusted from 10 to 500ml. Conclusions: We present an easily assembled lung simulator for teaching purposes that is cheap, reproducible and interactive, allowing for simulation of patterns of restriction, obstruction, and presence of air leaks.

Resume: Objetivo: Validar el Pediatric Risk of Mortality score (PRISM), el Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) y el PIM-2 en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos españolas. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyeron en el estudio 241 niños críticos ingresados consecutivamente durante 6 meses. El funcionamiento general de los índices se evaluó con la Razón de Mortalidad Estandarizada (RME), comparando la mortalidad observada con la esperada por cada índice. La discriminación o capacidad del modelo para diferenciar entre pacientes que sobreviven y pacientes que fallecen se estimó por el área bajo la curva de rendimiento diagnóstico (curva ROC). La calibración o exactitud de las predicciones de riesgo se calculó con la prueba de bondad de ajuste de Hosmer-Lemeshow, en la que la calibración se evidencia por una p > 0,05. Resultados: La tasa de mortalidad fue del 4,1%. El PRISM sobreestimó el número de muertes, con una RME de 0,44. La discriminación fue mejor para el PRISM y el PIM-2 que para el PIM (áreas bajo las curvas ROC: 0,883, 0,871 y 0,800, respectivamente), sin diferencias significativas. Finalmente, la calibración fue buena para el PIM-2 (χ2 (8) = 4,8730; p = 0,8461) y para el PIM (x2 (8) = 8,0876; p = 0,5174), no encontrándose calibración estadística para el PRISM (χ2 (8) = 15,0281; p = 0,0133). Conclusiones: El PIM y el PIM-2 parecen ser más fiables, en términos de discriminación y calibración, que el PRISM en una muestra heterogénea de niños críticos españoles, aunque estos resultados deben ser confirmados en un estudio más amplio. : Objective: To assess the validity of the Pediatric Risk of Mortality score (PRISM), the Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) and the PIM 2 in two Spanish pediatric intensive care units. Patients and methods: We prospectively studied 241 critically ill children consecutively admitted over a 6-month period. The overall performance of the scoring systems was assessed by the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR), comparing observed deaths with expected deaths by each index. Discrimination (the ability of the model to distinguish between patients who live and those who die) was quantified by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Calibration (the accuracy of mortality risk predictions) was calculated with the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, in which statistical calibration is evidenced by p > 0.05. Results: The mortality rate was 4.1%. PRISM overestimated mortality (SMR = 0.44). Discrimination was better for PRISM and PIM 2 than for PIM (areas under ROC curves: 0.883, 0.871, and 0.800 respectively), with no significant differences. Finally, calibration was acceptable for PIM 2 (χ2(8) = 4.8730, p 0.8461) and for PIM (χ2(8) = 8.0876, p 0.5174), but no statistical calibration was found for PRISM (χ2(8) = 15.0281, p 0.0133). Conclusions: PIM and PIM 2 showed better discrimination and calibration than PRISM in a heterogeneous group of children in Spanish critical care units. However, these results should be confirmed in a larger study.

Introduction Nosocomial infections (NI) are a major healthcare problem. National surveillance systems enable data to be compared and to implement new measures to improve our practice. Methods A multicentre, prospective, descriptive and observational study was conducted using the data from surveillance system for nosocomial infections created in 2007 for Spanish pediatric intensive care units. Data were collected for one month, between 01 and 31 March, for every study year (2008–2012). The objective was to report 5-years of NI surveillance data, as well as trends in infections by multidrug resistant organisms in Spanish pediatric intensive care units. Results A total of 3667 patients were admitted to the units during the study period. There were 90 (2.45%) patients with nosocomial infections. The mean rates during the 5 years study were: central line-associated bloodstream infection, 3.8/1000 central venous catheter-days, Ventilator-associated pneumonia 7.5/1000 endotracheal tube-days, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections 4.1/1000 urinary catheter-days. The comparison between the 2008 and 2009 rates for nosocomial infections did not show statistically significant differences. All rates homogeneously decreased from 2009 to 2012: central line-associated bloodstream infection 5.83 (95% CI 2.67–11.07) to 0.49 (95% CI 0.0125–2.76), P = 0.0029; ventilator-associated pneumonia 10.44 (95% CI 5.21–18.67) to 4.04 (95% CI 1.48–8.80), P = 0.0525; and Catheter-associated urinary tract infections 7.10 (95% CI 3.067–13.999) to 2.56 (95% CI 0.697–6.553), P = 0.0817; respectively. The microorganism analysis: 63 of the 99 isolated bacteria (63.6%) were Gram-negative bacteria (36.5% were resistant), 19 (19.2%) Gram-positive bacteria, and 17 (17.2%) were Candida spp. infections. Conclusions The local surveillance systems provide information for dealing with nosocomial infections rates.