Background: Medical face masks are integral personal protective equipment against infectious airborne disease and become scarce during epidemic outbreaks such as COVID-19. A novel, sustainably manufactured face mask with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties from oil of Folium Plectranthii amboinicii can be an effective alternative to internationally sold masks. Methods: This prospective, randomized study assigned subjects (n=67) to either conventional surgical face mask or Lamdong Medical College (LMC) face mask for three hours. Fractional concentration of nitric oxide in exhaled breath (FENO) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured before and after mask use. Subjective reporting on respiratory symptoms was also analyzed. Masks were then incubated and analyzed for microorganism growth. Results: Subjects assigned the LMC mask had a lowered FENO (p<0.05) compared to conventional face masks after mask wearing. Subjects with LMC mask use reported higher comfortability (p<0.05), breathability (p<0.05), and lower allergy symptoms (p<0.05). The LMC mask has visually less microorganism growth in the cultured medium, measured by sterile ring radius. Conclusions: The LMC face mask is a renewably manufactured personal protective tool with antibacterial capacity that can serve as an effective alternative to internationally sold surgical face mask during shortage of mask due to COVID-19.

No abstract

Background: Clinical implications of reduced vancomycin susceptibility (RVS) among pediatric Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections are unknown. Methods: We identified all children at 2 children's hospitals with ≥1 blood culture positive for S. aureus. We compared patient and clinical factors for RVS and non-RVS infections using Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-squared tests. Treatment failure and the duration of bacteremia for RVS versus non-RVS and for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) versus methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections were compared using multivariable logistic and Poisson regressions, respectively. For MRSA infections, the association of empiric vancomycin monotherapy with treatment failure was assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: RVS was present in 72% (309/426) of cases. No patient or infection characteristics, including methicillin resistance, were associated with RVS. RVS was associated with an increased duration of bacteremia compared with non-RVS infections, aIRR = 1.15 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.30). The odds of treatment failure was similar for RVS and non-RVS infections, aOR = 1.04 (0.62-1.74). In contrast, MRSA infections were more likely to have treatment failure than MSSA infections, aOR = 3.03 (95% confidence interval: 1.84-5.00). For MRSA infections, empiric vancomycin monotherapy was associated with an increased odds of treatment failure compared with non-vancomycin or combination anti-MRSA antibiotics, aOR = 3.23 (1.12-9.26). Conclusions: RVS was common and was associated with a longer duration of bacteremia but not with treatment failure. Treatment failure was more common for MRSA than for MSSA bloodstream infections. Empiric vancomycin monotherapy increased the odds of treatment failure for MRSA infections.

No abstract

Introduction: Comprehensive prenatal care of congenital heart disease (CHD) relies on a multi-disciplinary approach that includes timely prenatal counseling and individualized care plans for the pregnancy, delivery and neonatal period. With the COVID-19 pandemic our fetal therapy clinic (FTC) approach to patient care was altered to accommodate restrictions, including the use of telehealth visits. We investigated whether counseling and access to care for fetal patients with CHD was negatively impacted by COVID-19. Hypothesis: Fetuses with CHD would experience a delay in timing of diagnosis and referral; parents would receive a shorter counseling session during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Retrospective chart review of all fetal cardiology patients seen in our multidisciplinary FTC both before (5/1/19-12/31-19) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (5/1/20-12/31/20). Data collected included gestational age (GA) at referral, GA at first fetal echo, use of telehealth, total time counseled, number of sub-specialty consults, and total number of fetal cardiology visits. Results: A comparable number of dyads were seen before and during the pandemic (Table 1). GA at initial diagnosis was similar, but GA at referral and first visit was earlier during the pandemic. Additionally, families seen during the pandemic had longer counselling across all disciplines with significant differences in pediatric cardiology and neonatology. There was no difference in total number of consults or access to care based on insurance. Conclusions: While prenatal counseling and referral to FTC is multifaceted, we demonstrated that COVID-19 and alterations in care delivery did not in fact lead to delays in referrals for patients across a large geographical catchment. Moreover, with telemedicine we were able to ensure our families continued to receive multidisciplinary care and families were able to spend more time with our care team developing comprehensive individualized plans.