Svenja Dreßen, Josephine Schneider, Maren Doenhardt, Natalie Diffloth, Tobias Tenenbaum, Dominik T Schneider, Andreas Trotter, Nicole Toepfner, Reinhard Berner
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: During fall 2021, children's hospitals in Germany faced a surge in RSV-related hospitalizations, whereas during fall/winter 2022-2023, RSV and influenza infections both led to increased inpatient admissions. Our study prospectively assessed severe acute respiratory infections, their causative pathogens, and the resulting disease burden on German children's hospitals for the fall/winter 2023-2024 season.
Methods: From October 3, 2023 through April 16, 2024, children hospitalized with ARI as a primary diagnosis were monitored via a national survey established by the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI). Weekly data was collected on total hospital admissions, ARI-related admissions by pathogen (SARS-CoV-2, RSV, influenza, other), ICU admissions with ARI as a primary diagnosis, and respiratory support.
Results: Overall, 23% of German children's hospitals (77/334 centers) submitted 1234 survey reports. ARI-related hospital admissions surged starting in November 2023 and peaked in late December 2023 (53.4% of all admissions), in parallel with a peak in the average number of newly-admitted patients (aNA) with RSV (2.5 aNA). In comparison to the 2022/2023 season, fewer newborns and infants were admitted for ARI (4.7%, p < 0.001/1.9%, p = 0.05) and fewer required ICU treatment (5.3%, p = 0.02/5.6%, p = 0.001 respectively). In 74.9% of ICU patients, ventilation support was required-9.1% less than in the previous season.
Conclusion: The clinical burden on pediatric hospitals and ICUs is strongly influenced by the changing, annually circulating pathogens and affected age group. Therefore, a continuous, systematic, dynamic collection of ARI data is critical for assessing the ARI-related morbidity and the associated burden on health care systems.
期刊介绍:
Infection is a journal dedicated to serving as a global forum for the presentation and discussion of clinically relevant information on infectious diseases. Its primary goal is to engage readers and contributors from various regions around the world in the exchange of knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, both in outpatient and inpatient settings.
The journal covers a wide range of topics, including:
Etiology: The study of the causes of infectious diseases.
Pathogenesis: The process by which an infectious agent causes disease.
Diagnosis: The methods and techniques used to identify infectious diseases.
Treatment: The medical interventions and strategies employed to treat infectious diseases.
Public Health: Issues of local, regional, or international significance related to infectious diseases, including prevention, control, and management strategies.
Hospital Epidemiology: The study of the spread of infectious diseases within healthcare settings and the measures to prevent nosocomial infections.
In addition to these, Infection also includes a specialized "Images" section, which focuses on high-quality visual content, such as images, photographs, and microscopic slides, accompanied by brief abstracts. This section is designed to highlight the clinical and diagnostic value of visual aids in the field of infectious diseases, as many conditions present with characteristic clinical signs that can be diagnosed through inspection, and imaging and microscopy are crucial for accurate diagnosis. The journal's comprehensive approach ensures that it remains a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and researchers in the field of infectious diseases.