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Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in the tropics is poorly understood, complicating the effective management of RSV epidemics. The main objective was to describe the seasonality of RSV bronchiolitis epidemics and the clinical characteristics of hospitalized infants over a 13-year period on the French Caribbean island of Martinique. Single-center retrospective observational study including infants under 2 years of age hospitalized at the Martinique University Hospital for RSV-positive bronchiolitis from January 2007 to December 2019. One thousand two hundred thirty-tree cases were included. Epidemics occurred during the rainy season, beginning in September, peaking in October/November and ending in December. A distinct biennial seasonality pattern was observed, with alternating years of high and low incidence. Mean duration of epidemics was of 11 weeks. Clinical characteristics of patients were similar to those hospitalized in temperate areas. Median hospital stay was 4 days. Median age was 3 months, 14.1% of patients were born prematurely, 2.5% had congenital heart disease and 41.1% required oxygen therapy. In Martinique, RSV bronchiolitis epidemics in infants occur in a regular biennial pattern during the rainy season. An accurate knowledge of the local seasonality will allow us to better anticipate hospital organization before epidemics., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Medical Virology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Importance: Most ocular lesions have been described for children with congenital Zika syndrome. The frequency of finding ocular abnormalities is unknown among children exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy. This study was conducted on newborns whose mothers were positive for ZIKV, confirmed with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing., Objective: To report ocular fundus manifestations in newborns with congenital ZIKV exposure in French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, French West Indies, to assess its prevalence. Risk factors, such as the presence of extraocular fetopathies and the gestational term at infection, were sought., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a cross-sectional multicentric study, conducted from August 1, 2016, to April 30, 2019, for which data were collected prospectively. The study inception was at the beginning of 2016 from the onset of the ZIKV epidemic in the French West Indies. Newborns whose mothers tested positive (by RT-PCR) for ZIKV during pregnancy were included., Interventions: Fundus examination was performed using widefield retinal imaging after pupil dilation. Infection date, delivery mode, and newborn measurements were collected., Main Outcomes and Measures: Anomalies of the vitreous, choroid, retina, and optic disc., Results: A total of 330 children (mean [SD] age, 68 [IQR, 22-440] days; 170 girls [51.5%]) were included. Eleven children (3.3%) had perivascular retinal hemorrhages, and 3 (0.9%) had lesions compatible with congenital ZIKV infection: 1 child had torpedo maculopathy, 1 child had a chorioretinal scar with iris and lens coloboma, and 1 child had a chorioretinal scar. Retinal hemorrhages were found at childbirth during early screening. Lesions compatible with congenital ZIKV infection were not associated with the presence of extraocular fetopathy. Microcephaly was not associated with lesions compatible with congenital ZIKV infection (odds ratio [OR], 9.1; 95% CI, 0.8-105.3; P = .08), but severe microcephaly was associated with an OR of 81 (95% CI, 5.1-1297.8; P = .002)., Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this cross-sectional study suggest that the ocular anomalies found may be associated with ZIKV in 0.9% of the exposed population. Ocular lesions were rare, affected mostly the choroid and retina, and seemed to be associated with choroiditis-related scarring that developed during fetal growth.

Background: In utero exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) is known to be associated with birth defects. The impact of in utero ZIKV exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of in utero ZIKV exposure on neurodevelopment at 24 months of age among toddlers who were born normocephalic to women who were pregnant during the 2016 ZIKV outbreak in French territories in the Americas., Methods: We conducted a population-based mother-child cohort study of women whose pregnancies overlapped with the 2016 ZIKV epidemic in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana. Infants were included in this analysis if maternal ZIKV infection during pregnancy could be determined, the newborn had a gestational age ≥ 35 weeks, there were no abnormal transfontanelle cerebral ultrasound findings after delivery or no abnormal ultrasound findings on the last ultrasound performed during the third trimester of the mother's pregnancy, there was an absence of microcephaly at birth, and the parent completed the 24-month neurodevelopment assessment of the infant at 24 months (± 1 month) of age. ZIKV exposure of the toddler was determined by evidence of maternal ZIKV infection during pregnancy. Neurodevelopment assessments included the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) for five dimensions of general development-communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social skills; the Modified Checklist for Autism on Toddlers (M-CHAT) for behavior; and the French MacArthur Inventory Scales (IFDC) for French language acquisition., Results: Between June 2018 and August 2019, 156 toddlers with and 79 toddlers without in utero ZIKV exposure completed neurodevelopment assessments. Twenty-four (15.4%) ZIKV-exposed toddlers and 20 (25.3%) ZIKV-unexposed toddlers had an ASQ result below the reference - 2SD cut-off (P = 0.10) for at least one of the five ASQ dimensions., Conclusion: In one of the largest population-based cohorts of in utero ZIKV-exposed, normocephalic newborns to date, there were minimal differences apparent in neurodevelopment outcomes at 24 months of age compared to ZIKV-unexposed toddlers at 24 months of age., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02810210 . Registered 20 June 2016.

Objective: To describe the viruses involved, seasonality and coinfection in hospitalised children with suspected bronchiolitis., Methods: Over the period 1/07/2007 to 31/12/2008, all children hospitalised for bronchiolitis in the paediatric ward were prospectively included, and had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) screenings. We retrospectively tested all samples for RSVA, RSVB, rhinovirus (RV), human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4, influenza A and influenza B., Results: 198 children were tested, and 23% were negative for all viruses. RSVA was predominant in 2008 (64% of all viruses) and RSVB in 2007 (66% of all viruses). RV was frequent during both seasons (24% of all viruses). Flu was not found during the study period. Virus distribution was similar regardless of season or age, and identical to typical patterns in temperate countries. Coinfections were less frequent than in temperate regions because respiratory virus seasons seem to be better separated. The bronchiolitis season started in August and finished in December with a peak in October., Conclusion: The specific seasonality of bronchiolitis infection requires palivizumab prophylaxis starting in early July for high-risk infants., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: We aimed (1) to describe the characteristics of patient-ventilator asynchrony in a population of critically ill children, (2) to describe the risk factors associated with patient-ventilator asynchrony, and (3) to evaluate the association between patient-ventilator asynchrony and ventilator-free days at day 28., Methods: In this single-center prospective study, consecutive children admitted to the PICU and mechanically ventilated for at least 24 h were included. Patient-ventilator asynchrony was analyzed by comparing the ventilator pressure curve and the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) signal with (1) a manual analysis and (2) using a standardized fully automated method., Results: Fifty-two patients (median age 6 months) were included in the analysis. Eighteen patients had a very low ventilatory drive (i.e., peak Edi < 2 µV on average), which prevented the calculation of patient-ventilator asynchrony. Children spent 27% (interquartile 22-39%) of the time in conflict with the ventilator. Cycling-off errors and trigger delays contributed to most of this asynchronous time. The automatic algorithm provided a NeuroSync index of 45%, confirming the high prevalence of asynchrony. No association between the severity of asynchrony and ventilator-free days at day 28 or any other clinical secondary outcomes was observed, but the proportion of children with good synchrony was very low., Conclusion: Patient-ventilator interaction is poor in children supported by conventional ventilation, with a high frequency of depressed ventilatory drive and a large proportion of time spent in asynchrony. The clinical benefit of strategies to improve patient-ventilator interactions should be evaluated in pediatric critical care.

Rationale: A major epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection occurred in French Guiana and West Indies. French national epidemiological surveillance estimated that 1650 pregnant women contracted the ZIKV during epidemic period from January 2016 to October 2016 in French Guiana., Patient Concerns: ZIKV infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and birth defects., Diagnoses: In this report, we describe 2 children with proven in utero ZIKV exposure. Their mothers were both symptomatic and ZIKV infection occurred early in pregnancy. Ultrasonography monitoring in utero did not show any abnormality for both patient. They were born at full-term, healthy, without any birth defects and no sign of congenital ZIKV infection., Interventions: ZIKV was neither found on placenta fragments nor children blood and urine at birth. Their neurodevelopment outcomes in early-life fitted the expectations. As recommended in national guidelines, we performed cerebral MRIs at 2 months old, showing severe brain abnormalities, especially of white matter areas. After a large screening, we did not find any differential diagnosis for their brain lesions., Outcomes: We concluded it was due to their in utero ZIKV exposure., Lessons: In this report, pathogenicity of ZIKV may involve mother's immunological response or metabolic disorder during the infection., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To study the impact of vaccination critical illness due to H1N1pdm09, we compared the incidence and severity of H1N1pdm09 infection in Canada and France., Methods: We studied two national cohorts that included children with documented H1N1pdm09 infection, admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Canada and in France between October 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010., Results: Vaccination coverage prior to admission to PICUs was higher in Canada than in France (21% vs 2% of children respectively, P < 0.001), and in both countries, vaccination coverage prior to admission of these critically ill patients was substantially lower than in the general pediatric population ( P < 0.001). In Canada, 160 children (incidence = 2.6/100000 children) were hospitalized in PICU compared to 125 children (incidence = 1.1/100000) in France ( P < 0.001). Mortality rates were similar in Canada and France (4.4% vs 6.5%, P = 0.45, respectively), median invasive mechanical ventilation duration and mean PICU length of stay were shorter in Canada (4 d vs 6 d, P = 0.02 and 5.7 d vs 8.2 d, P = 0.03, respectively). H1N1pdm09 vaccination prior to PICU admission was associated with a decreased risk of requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.11-0.83, P = 0.02)., Conclusion: The critical illness due to H1N1pdm09 had a higher incidence in Canada than in France. Critically ill children were less likely to have received vaccination prior to hospitalization in comparison to general population and children vaccinated had lower risk of ventilation., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Importance: Up-to-date estimates of the health outcomes of preterm children are needed for assessing perinatal care, informing parents, making decisions about care, and providing evidence for clinical guidelines., Objectives: To determine survival and neonatal morbidity of infants born from 22 through 34 completed weeks' gestation in France in 2011 and compare these outcomes with a comparable cohort in 1997., Design, Setting, and Participants: The EPIPAGE-2 study is a national, prospective, population-based cohort study conducted in all maternity and neonatal units in France in 2011. A total of 2205 births (stillbirths and live births) and terminations of pregnancy at 22 through 26 weeks' gestation, 3257 at 27 through 31 weeks, and 1234 at 32 through 34 weeks were studied. Cohort data were collected from January 1 through December 31, 1997, and from March 28 through December 31, 2011. Analyses for 1997 were run for the entire year and then separately for April to December; the rates for survival and morbidities did not differ. Data are therefore presented for the whole year in 1997 and the 8-month and 6-month periods in 2011., Main Outcomes and Measures: Survival to discharge and survival without any of the following adverse outcomes: grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity (stage 3 or higher), or necrotizing enterocolitis (stages 2-3)., Results: A total of 0.7% of infants born before 24 weeks' gestation survived to discharge: 31.2% of those born at 24 weeks, 59.1% at 25 weeks, and 75.3% at 26 weeks. Survival rates were 93.6% at 27 through 31 weeks and 98.9% at 32 through 34 weeks. Infants discharged home without severe neonatal morbidity represented 0% at 23 weeks, 11.6% at 24 weeks, 30.0% at 25 weeks, 47.5% at 26 weeks, 81.3% at 27 through 31 weeks, and 96.8% at 32 through 34 weeks. Compared with 1997, the proportion of infants surviving without severe morbidity in 2011 increased by 14.4% (P < .001) at 25 through 29 weeks and 6% (P < .001) at 30 through 31 weeks but did not change appreciably for those born at less than 25 weeks. The rates of antenatal corticosteroid use, induced preterm deliveries, cesarean deliveries, and surfactant use increased significantly in all gestational-age groups, except at 22 through 23 weeks., Conclusions and Relevance: The substantial improvement in survival in France for newborns born at 25 through 31 weeks' gestation was accompanied by an important reduction in severe morbidity, but survival remained rare before 25 weeks. Although improvement in survival at extremely low gestational age may be possible, its effect on long-term outcomes requires further studies. The long-term results of the EPIPAGE-2 study will be informative in this regard.

Purpose: Diaphragm function should be monitored in critically ill patients, as full ventilatory support rapidly induces diaphragm atrophy. Monitoring the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) may help assess the level of diaphragm activity, but such monitoring results are difficult to interpret because reference values are lacking. The aim of this study was to describe EAdi values in critically ill children during a stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), from the acute to recovery phases, and to assess the impact of ventilatory support on EAdi., Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal observational study of children requiring mechanical ventilation for ≥24 h. EAdi was recorded using a validated method in the acute phase, before extubation, after extubation, and before PICU discharge., Results: Fifty-five critically ill children were enrolled in the study. Median maximum inspiratory EAdi (EAdimax) during mechanical ventilation was 3.6 [interquartile range (IQR) 1.2-7.6] μV in the acute phase and 4.8 (IQR 2.0-10.7) μV in the pre-extubation phase. Periods of diaphragm inactivity (with no detectable inspiratory EAdi) were frequent during conventional ventilation, even with a low level of support. EAdimax in spontaneous ventilation was 15.4 (IQR 7.4-20.7) μV shortly after extubation and 12.6 (IQR 8.1-21.3) μV before PICU discharge. The difference in EAdimax between mechanical ventilation and post-extubation periods was significant (p < 0.001). Patients intubated mainly because of a lung pathology exhibited higher EAdi (p < 0.01), with a similar temporal increase., Conclusions: This is the first systematic description of EAdi evolution in children during their stay in the PICU. In our patient cohort, diaphragm activity was frequently low in conventional ventilation, suggesting that overassistance or oversedation is common in clinical practice. EAdi monitoring appears to be a helpful tool to detect such situations.

Objectives: Early premature delivery is more prevalent in overseas territories than in continental France. Many differences are observed between pregnant women in France and in Martinique which may explain the higher preterm birth rate in the latter territory. The study compares prevalence of possible risk factors in preterm and term deliveries in Martinique., Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted during two years (2010-2011). All deliveries before 30 weeks were included and several characteristics were compared with a group of term deliveries during the same period. All premature deliveries before 30 weeks were collected but only spontaneous ones were analysed., Results: Fifty deliveries before 30 weeks were recorded, among which 38 were spontaneous. Only a significantly higher prevalence of previous preterm delivery (OR=4.1 [1.3-13]) and twin pregnancies (OR=26.6 [3.19-219.6]) was found in the study group. Gram negative bacterial species were also more prevalent in vaginal sampling of preterm deliveries (OR=23.3 [2.7-204.6])., Conclusion: Factors linked to prematurity before 30 weeks in Martinique are classical. Several features are different between pregnant women in France and in Martinique but do not appear as risk factors for prematurity in the latter territory., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Canada was one of the first countries affected by the 2009 influenza H1N1 pandemic with two waves - one from May to June and one from October to December. The 2009 influenza H1N1 pandemic had many unique features when compared with seasonal influenza, including the following: more than half of the affected people were children; asthma was the most significant risk factor for hospital admission; and Aboriginal and pregnant women had a higher risk of hospital admission and complications. Antiviral therapy was widely used but data did not show any effect on the pediatric population. Outbreak spread was possibly promoted from child-child and child-adult contact, and therefore the vaccination campaign targeted the pediatric population and achieved good coverage among young children (57%). Vaccination efficacy was difficult to test because of the vaccination delay. Improvement in models of prevention and treatment are urgently needed to prepare for the possible future pandemics.