Rajapakse, Nipunie S

Abstract Background Identification of the microorganisms causing infection in children with central nervous system infection is important. Conventional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests may provide limited pathogen detection. CSF metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) may provide broader pathogen detection in a single assay. Methods Results of CSF mNGS testing performed at Mayo Clinic on patients and nonpatients between January 2024 and June 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. The subcohort of children treated at Mayo Clinic was analyzed to assess test performance as compared with conventional CSF diagnostics and potential clinical impact. Results In total 134 patients (138 CSF mNGS tests) from 22 US states and 2 international sites were included. Overall positivity was 16% with viruses representing most (59%) detections. In the Mayo Clinic subcohort (n = 15), test positivity was 27%: organisms included single detections of Streptococcus mitis group and HIV type 1, as well as 2 detections of Epstein-Barr virus, all confirmed by conventional tests. Positive results were associated with CSF pleocytosis (P = .026). Higher yield was observed in participants whose care was overseen by pediatric infectious diseases (PID) specialists (P = .026) and when a specimen hold strategy was applied (P = .033). Most results (87%) did not alter antimicrobial therapy, with 2 negative results contributing to antimicrobial de-escalation. Conclusions CSF mNGS demonstrated higher diagnostic yield in patients whose specimens showed CSF pleocytosis and in those who had PID consultation. Diagnostic stewardship strategies were applied, including specimen hold approaches and PID consultation.

Abstract Background Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) is a relatively infrequent but significant infection in pediatric patients. As Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of AHO, intravenous and oral first-generation cephalosporins are common therapies. Cephalexin is a commonly prescribed oral therapy for pediatric AHO, although it requires frequent dosing that may affect adherence. Cefadroxil is a comparable oral first-generation cephalosporin with a more desirable dosing schedule. Methods We reviewed pediatric patients admitted to Mayo Clinic between March 2002 and September 2020 for management of AHO who received treatment with a first-generation cephalosporin. We reviewed timing of oral therapy transition, therapy-associated adverse effects, and recurrence of disease after completion of therapy. Results There were 59 patients included in the study. There was similar occurrence of adverse effects in patients receiving cefadroxil and cephalexin, although use of cefadroxil coincided with more gastrointestinal adverse effects and leukopenia and use of cephalexin with more rash and neutropenia. One secondary treatment failure occurred in our study, in a patient receiving cephalexin for treatment of septic arthritis. Conclusions Cefadroxil may be a reasonable alternative oral therapy for methicillin-susceptible S aureus or culture-negative AHO in pediatric patients, particularly when a less frequent dosing schedule is desired. Future study with a larger sample size is warranted.

Abstract Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has become more common in clinical settings. Correspondingly, OPAT-related publications have also increased; the objective of this article was to summarize clinically meaningful OPAT-related publications in 2022. Seventy-five articles were initially identified, with 54 being scored. The top 20 OPAT articles published in 2022 were reviewed by a group of multidisciplinary OPAT clinicians. This article provides a summary of the “top 10” OPAT publications of 2022.

Abstract As outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) becomes more common, it may be difficult to stay current with recent related publications. A group of multidisciplinary OPAT clinicians reviewed and ranked all OPAT publications published in 2021. This article provides a high-level summary of the OPAT manuscripts that were voted the “top 10” publications of 2021.