TY - JOUR
T1 - Severe pneumonia caused by influenza A (H1N1) virus successfully managed with extracorporeal life support in a comorbid former preterm infant
AU - Raffaeli, Genny
AU - Cavallaro, Giacomo
AU - Pugni, Lorenza
AU - Leva, Ernesto
AU - Artoni, Andrea
AU - Neri, Simona
AU - Baracetti, Chiara
AU - Cotza, Mauro
AU - Gentilino, Valerio
AU - Terranova, Leonardo
AU - Esposito, Susanna
AU - Mosca, Fabio
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is a global health burden, leading to significant pediatric morbidity and mortality. Prematurity, young age and comorbidities are important risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. Preventive strategies, such as healthcare workers and household contacts vaccination as well as the implementation of infection control practices during the epidemic season, are crucial to protect the most vulnerable populations. Early diagnosis, timely administration of antiviral drugs and supportive therapy are crucial to lead to a complete recovery. When conventional treatment fails, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) may be employed. In neonates and young infants, this high-tech support is burdened by specific technical complexity. Despite the potential risks related to this aggressive approach, ECLS is a life-saving procedure in 65% of pediatric viral pneumonia and in 73% of sepsis cases. Here, we report the successful outcome of a 51-day formerly preterm infant, suffering from a surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), complicated with hospital-acquired pneumonia due to influenza A (H1N1) virus. She developed a severe respiratory failure, unresponsive to conventional therapy, and successfully treated with ECLS. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of ECLS in a formerly preterm infant, suffering from NEC complicated by influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
AB - Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is a global health burden, leading to significant pediatric morbidity and mortality. Prematurity, young age and comorbidities are important risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. Preventive strategies, such as healthcare workers and household contacts vaccination as well as the implementation of infection control practices during the epidemic season, are crucial to protect the most vulnerable populations. Early diagnosis, timely administration of antiviral drugs and supportive therapy are crucial to lead to a complete recovery. When conventional treatment fails, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) may be employed. In neonates and young infants, this high-tech support is burdened by specific technical complexity. Despite the potential risks related to this aggressive approach, ECLS is a life-saving procedure in 65% of pediatric viral pneumonia and in 73% of sepsis cases. Here, we report the successful outcome of a 51-day formerly preterm infant, suffering from a surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), complicated with hospital-acquired pneumonia due to influenza A (H1N1) virus. She developed a severe respiratory failure, unresponsive to conventional therapy, and successfully treated with ECLS. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of ECLS in a formerly preterm infant, suffering from NEC complicated by influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
KW - Extracorporeal life support (ECLS)
KW - Infection control measures
KW - Influenza A (H1N1) virus
KW - Neonatal intensive care unit
KW - Neonate
KW - Oseltamivir
KW - Pneumonia
KW - Preterm infant
KW - Young infant
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016973118&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.3390/ijerph14040360
DO - 10.3390/ijerph14040360
M3 - Article
C2 - 28362356
AN - SCOPUS:85016973118
VL - 14
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 4
M1 - 360
ER -