Recurrent pharyngo-tonsillar infections caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) occur frequently in young children, and the treatment of these infections contributes substantially to the total current requirement for antibiotic prescribing. Our study goal was to assess through a retrospective observational analysis whether the administration of the oral probiotic, Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SsK12), could reduce the occurrence of GABHS pharyngo-tonsillar infections in children who had a recent history of recurrent episodes of these infections. Twelve primary care pediatricians identified, through their databases, a total of 130 children who had experienced recurrent GABHS pharyngo-tonsillar infections over a period of at least 6–12 months prior to their inclusion in the study. Of these children, 76 then undertook a 90-day program requiring once-a-day dosing with a commercially available (Bactoblis) lozenge containing SsK12. No probiotic supplement was given to the remaining 54 (control) children. Each subject was monitored for the occurrence of GABHS pharyngo-tonsillitis and also for acute otitis media, bronchitis, sinusitis, and bronchopneumonia for at least 12 months following their entry to the study. Even 9 months after the use of SsK12 had been stopped, the probability of new GABHS infections was significantly lower (P>0.001) when compared to the period before dosing commenced. When compared to the untreated children, those taking SsK12 appear to have had significantly fewer GABHS infections both during the 90-day period of prophylaxis and during the following 9 months (P<0.001). These observations are supportive of the use of probiotic SsK12 for the control of recurrent GABHS pharyngo-tonsillar infections in children, and as an associated benefit, the use of this probiotic could lead to reduced antibiotic consumption. Follow-up controlled prospective studies should now be initiated in order to further establish the efficacy of this newly emerging prophylactic strategy.

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Background Individuation and management of the contacts of confirmed COVID-19 infection cases allows to quickly identify and isolate any secondary cases and interrupt the chain of transmission of the infection. Contact tracing is unquestionably very useful in stemming the spread of the pandemic from SARS-Cov 2 however there are no pediatric data that have measured the effectiveness of this method.MethodsFrom 30 October 2020 to 30 April 2021 ,during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, 19 primary care pediatricians reported suspected cases of SAR Cov 2 to the Public Health Service of the Piacenza district via a digital platform relating to a total pediatric population of about 17,500 children. All reported cases underwent a molecular PCR test as soon as possible and in any case within 48 hours. At the same time Public Hygiene Service implemented contact tracing in the same pediatric population in all children who were in close contact with positive cases .Results On the basis of clinical suspicion 1306 subjects underwent a molecular PCR nose pharyngeal swab for Covid -19, 107 of them tested positive (8,2% of reports-0.6% of the monitored population). In the same period, the Public Hygiene Service, through contact-tracing, identified another 1244 positive subjects in the same population of 17,500 children (7,1% of the monitored population).ConclusionsOur experience confirm that contact tracing is strongly raccomended for the managment of the SAR Cov 2 pandemic .It was about eleven times more sensitive than the clinical criteria for identifying positive subjects in pediatric age, often asymptomatic, during the second wave of the Covid pandemic.