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Background. In 2011 Escherichia coli O104:H4 caused an outbreak with >800 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Germany, including 90 children. Data on the intermediate outcome in children after HUS due to E. coli O104:H4 have been lacking. Methods. Follow-up data were gathered retrospectively from the medical records of patients who had been included in the German Pediatric HUS Registry during the 2011 outbreak. Results. Seventy-two of the 89 (81%) patients were included after a median follow-up of 3.0 (0.9-4.7) years. Hypertension and proteinuria were present in 19% and 28% of these patients, respectively. Of 4 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) > stage 2 at short-term follow-up, 1 had a normalized estimated glomerular filtration rate, and 3 (4%) had persistent CKD > stage 2. In 1 of these patients, CKD improved from stage 4 to 3; 1 who had CKD stage 5 at presentation received kidney transplantation; and 1 patient required further hemodialysis during follow-up. One patient (1.4%) still had major neurological symptoms at the latest follow-up. Dialysis during the acute phase (P = .01), dialysis duration (P = .01), and the duration of oligo-/anuria (P = .005) were associated with the development of renal sequelae. Patients treated with eculizumab (n = 11) and/or plasmapheresis (n = 13) during the acute phase of HUS had comparable outcomes. Conclusions. The overall outcome of pediatric patients after HUS due to E. coli O104:H4 was equivalent to previous reports on HUS due to other types of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Regular follow-up visits in patients are recommended after STEC-HUS.

Patient needs and practice conditions demand that clinical nurses in acute care hospitals engage in a unique professional practice role—care and management of clinical situations for multiple patients, simultaneously. Nurse Residency Programs (NRPs) facilitate the integration of Newly Licensed Registered Nurses (NLRNs) into this professional practice role through competency development in seven management areas. Purpose of this study was to identify effective components and strategies of NRPs in each area. A sample of 907 nurses in 20 Magnet hospitals with NRPs operative for at least 3 years participated in individual or small group interviews and 82 participant observations. All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Effective strategies were identified for all but one of the seven management areas. Suggestions for improvement in NRPs to better meet NLRN professional socialization needs, patient outcomes, and challenges of the health care system today are offered.

Background In May and June 2011 the largest known outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) occurred in northern Germany. Because, quite unusually, a large number of adults was affected and the causative Escherichia coli strain, serotype O104:H4, showed an atypical virulence factor pattern, it was speculated that this outbreak was associated with an aggressive course and an unfavorable prognosis also in children. Methods Retrospective analysis of medical records of 90 children and comparison to previous outbreak and sporadic case series. Results Median age was unusually high (11.5 years) compared with that in historical series. Only 1 patient (1.1%) died in the acute phase. Most patients (67/90 [74%]) received supportive care only. Renal replacement therapy was required in 64 of 90 (71%) of the children. Neurological complications, mainly seizures and altered mental stage, were present in 23 of 90 (26%) patients. Ten patients received plasmapheresis, 6 eculizumab, and 7 a combination of both. After a median follow-up of 4 months, renal function normalized in 85 of 90 (94%) patients, whereas 3 patients had chronic kidney disease stage 3 or 4, and 1 patient (1.1%) still requires dialysis. Complete neurological recovery occurred in 18 of 23 patients. Mild to moderate and major residual neurological changes were present in 3 patients and 1 patient, respectively, although all patients were still improving. Conclusions E. coli O104:H4 caused the largest HUS outbreak in children reported in detail to date and most patients received supportive treatment only. Initial morbidity, as well as short-term outcome, due to this pathogen, is comparable to previous pediatric series of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli HUS.

The aim of this study was to analyze the neurological involvement and outcome in pediatric patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) during the 2011 epidemic caused by Escherichia coli O104:H4.Clinical data and data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and electroencephalography (EEG) during the acute phase of the disease and during follow-up at 3 and 6 months were analyzed in 50 patients. Twenty-five of these patients underwent neuropsychological testing (WISC IV) during follow-up.Neurological involvement (stupor or coma, seizures, visual disturbances, paresis, myocloni) was initially observed in 14/50 (28%) patients. One patient died. EEG abnormalities were more frequent in patients with neurological involvement than in those without (12/14 vs. 13/25, respectively). Cranial MRI scans were analyzed in nine patients with neurological involvement, of whom five showed abnormal findings. At the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, EEG abnormalities were found in 14/40 (35%) and 7/36 (19%) patients, respectively, whereas 28/42 (67%) and 17/39 (44%) patients, respectively, complained about on-going reduced performance. Neuropsychological testing showed a slightly lower global intelligence quotient in patients with neurological involvement versus those without (113.4 ± 2.8 vs. 119.4 ± 1.8, respectively).Neurological involvement was frequent in our cohort. Accordingly, the incidence of pathological EEG findings was high, even in patients without clinical signs of neurological involvement. Nevertheless, major neurological sequelae were rare, and neuropsychological outcome was favorable after 6 months.

Residency programs for newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) have been strongly advocated by the Institute of Medicine, American Organization of Nurse Executives, and other professional organizations. Their cost-effectiveness as well as their impact on NLRN retention, job and practice satisfaction, improved performance, and reduction in environmental reality shock has been demonstrated. This qualitative study sought answers to the question: what people, components, processes and activities of Nurse Residency Programs (NRPs), and the work environment are instrumental in the transition and integration of NLRNs into the professional practice role and into professional communities? In the course of interviewing 907 nurses-NLRNs, experienced nurses, managers, and educators-practicing on clinical units with confirmed "very healthy work environments" in 20 Magnet hospitals, it became evident that not only did NRPs positively impact the professional socialization of NLRNs, they led to transformative changes in the organization and in the practice of other health care professionals. The organizational transformative changes described by the interviewees are presented for each of the 7 major challenges identified by NLRNs-delegation, prioritization, managing patient care delivery, autonomous decision-making, collaboration with other disciplines, constructive conflict resolution, and utilizing feedback to restore self-confidence. If it can be demonstrated that these transformative changes stimulated by NRPs also lead to improved patient outcomes, NRPs may be the most significant organization transformation instituted by nurse leaders in recent years.