Browsing by Author "Gutierrez, Valentina"

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    Cytomegalovirus viral load at initiation of pre-emptive antiviral therapy impacts cytomegalovirus dynamics in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients
    (2024) Gutierrez, Valentina; Stanek, Joseph; Ardura, Monica I.; Song, Eunkyung
    Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) contributes to morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients. Pre-emptive antiviral therapy (PET) reduces the incidence of CMV end-organ disease (EOD), though relevant viral thresholds to initiate PET remain undefined. We evaluated the impact of viral loads (VLs) at PET initiation on virologic and clinical outcomes following pediatric allo-HCT. Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort analysis of children who underwent their first allo-HCT from January 2014 to December 2020. Weekly quantitative plasma CMV polymerase chain reaction was performed until Day +100 and PET was initiated once VL exceeded a pre-defined threshold per institutional guidelines. Patients were followed for 1-year post-HCT to evaluate virologic and clinical outcomes including end-organ disease (EOD), overall survival (OS), and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Results: Among 146 allo-HCT recipients, CMV DNAemia occurred in 40 patients (27%) at a median of 15 days post-HCT (interquartile range 6-28.5). Ten percent (n = 4) had spontaneous resolution of DNAemia, while 90% (n = 36) required PET. PET initiated when CMV VL was >= 1000 IU/mL (n = 21) vs when VL < 1000 IU/mL (n = 15) resulted in higher peak CMV VL (12,670 vs. 1284 IU/mL, p = 0.0001) and longer time to CMV DNAemia resolution (36 vs. 24 days, p = 0.035). There were no differences in EOD, OS, or NRM at 12 months post-HCT based on VL at PET initiation. Conclusions: Initiating PET when CMV VL was >= 1000 IU/mL resulted in significantly higher peak VL and prolonged DNAemia, with no differences in EOD, OS, or NRM at 12 months post pediatric HCT.
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    Epidemiological changes of invasive fungal disease in children with cancer: Prospective study of the National Child Program of Antineoplastic Drugs network, Chile
    (2024) Barraza, Marlon; Valenzuela, Romina; Villarroel, Milena; de la Maza, Veronica; Contardo, Veronica; Alvarez, Ana Maria; Gutierrez, Valentina; Zubieta, Marcela; Martinez, Daniela; Santolaya, Maria E.
    Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are high morbidity and mortality infections in children with cancer suffering episodes of high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN). IFD epidemiology has changed in the last two decades, with an increasing incidence in recent years due to the growing number of immunocompromised children at risk for IFD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of IFD in children with cancer in the period 2016-2020 compared to 2004-2006 in six hospitals in Chile. Methods: Prospective, multicentre study, carried out between 2016 and 2020 in six hospitals in Chile. The defined cohort corresponds to a dynamic group of HRFN episodes in patients <18 years old with cancer, who at the fourth day of evolution still presented fever and neutropenia (persistent HRFN). Each episode was followed until resolution of FN. The incidence of IFD was calculated between 2016 and 2020 and compared with data obtained in the period 2004-2006. The incidence rate was estimated. Results: A total of 777 episodes of HRFN were analysed; 257 (33.1%) were considered as persistent-HRFN occurring in 174 patients. The median age was 7 years (IQR: 3-12 years) and 52.3% (N = 91) were male. Fifty-three episodes of IFD were detected: 21 proven, 14 probable and 18 possible. Possible IFD were excluded, leaving 239 episodes of persistent-HRFN with an IFD incidence of 14.6% (95% CI 10.5-19.9) and an incidence rate of 13.6 IFD cases per 1000 days of neutropenia (95% CI 9.5-20.0). Compared to 2004-2006 cohort (incidence: 8.5% (95% CI 5.2-13.5)), a significant increase in incidence of 6.1% (95% CI 0.2-12.1, p = .047) was detected in cohorts between 2016 and 2020. Conclusion: We observed a significant increase in IFD in 2016-2020, compared to 2004-2006 period.
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    Invasive fungal infections in children with cancer and severe aplastic anemia in nine hospitals from PINDA Network, Chile. 2016-2020
    (2023) Gutierrez, Valentina; Contardo, Veronica; de la Maza, Veronica; Claverie, Ximena; Salgado, Carmen; Zubieta, Marcela; Silva, Beatriz; Torres, Juan P.; Greppi, Claudia; Venegas, Marcela; Martinez, Daniela; Alvarez, Ana M.; Labrana, Yenis; Diaz, Paulina; Ducasse, Karen; Inostroza, Tamara; Cordova, Marcela; Santolaya, Maria E.
    Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric oncology patients and severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Aim: To describe the epidemiology of IFI from 2016 to 2020 in children with cancer and SAA to assess the indication of antifungal prophylaxis. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective study of IFIs in pediatric oncology patients and SAA. Probable and proven IFIs were included. Results: Over the 5-year period, 57 IFIs were found, median age 9 years, 70% were proven and 30% were probable. Yeast infections were 42% and mold infections 56%. The most frequent infection sites were lung 38%, blood 36% and rhinosinusal 21%. The total IFI frequency was 5.4%, 21% in SAA, 10% in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 6.9% in relapsed AML, 5.4% in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 3.8% in ALL. Mold infections were predominant in AML, relapsed AML, and SAA. IFIs mortality was 11%. Conclusion: Frequency of IFI was consistent with the literature. We strongly recommend antifungal prophylaxis against mold infections in patients with SAA, AML, and relapsed AML. Would consider in high risk ALL relapse in induction chemotherapy.