title: Surgical infections in children.
abstract: Infection remains a major cause of death and complication in pediatric surgery today. Impaired host resistance from such circumstances as immaturity, cancer chemotherapy, or AIDS predisposes to opportunistic infection by fungi, viruses, mycobacteria, and even protozoa. This review considers recent advances in five areas: 1) sepsis, 2) soft-tissue and wound infections, 3) chest infections, 4) abdominal infections, and 5) miscellaneous (including nosocomial) infections. Of particular importance are the new concepts of sepsis. The new terminology distinguishes stages in the septic process and a complex interaction of inflammatory mediators. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome may progress independently of the original infection to multiorgan dysfunction syndrome, and death. The reports cited herein are, for the most part, retrospective observational studies. There is a great need for prospective, randomized trials to answer questions about the optimal management of, and prevention of, pediatric surgical infections.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kosloske
mesh_terms: D015984:Causality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies