Louisa Pollock
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Louisa Pollock has a total of 37 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
Aditi Sinha
Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
1 shared publication- Alasdair Bamford
UCL Innovative Clinical Trials Unit (former MRC CTU at UCL), Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London , London
1 shared publication - Alison Kent
Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK United Kingdom
1 shared publication Andrew Collaborators Riordan
Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
1 shared publicationAndrew Ives
Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
1 shared publication- Andrew Smith
School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, MVLS, University of Glasgow; NHS GGC SmiRL, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 9 August 2024
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
- Vol. 43 (9) , 841-850
Epidemiology and Management of Pediatric Group A Streptococcal Pneumonia With Parapneumonic Effusion: An Observational Study
Background: During autumn/winter 2022, UK pediatricians reported an unseasonal increase in invasive group A streptococcal infections; a striking proportion presenting with pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. Methods: Clinicians across the United Kingdom were requested to submit pseudonymized clinical data using a standardized report form for children (<16 years) admitted between September 30, 2022 and February 17, 2023, with microbiologically confirmed group A streptococcal pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. Results: From 185 cases submitted, the median patient age was 4.4 years, and 163 (88.1%) were previously healthy. Respiratory viral coinfection was detected on admission for 101/153 (66.0%) children using extended respiratory pathogen polymerase chain reaction panel. Molecular testing was the primary method of detecting group A streptococcus on pleural fluid (86/171; 50.3% samples). Primary surgical management was undertaken in 171 (92.4%) children; 153/171 (89.4%) had pleural drain inserted (96 with fibrinolytic agent), 14/171 (8.2%) had video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Fever duration after admission was prolonged (median, 12 days; interquartile range, 9–16). Intravenous antibiotic courses varied in length (median, 14 days; interquartile range, 12–21), with many children receiving multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics, although evidence for additional bacterial infection was limited. Conclusions: Most cases occurred with viral coinfection, a previously well-recognized risk with influenza and varicella zoster, highlighting the need to ensure routine vaccination coverage and progress on vaccines for other common viruses (eg, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus) and for group A streptococcus. Molecular testing is valuable to detect viral coinfection and confirm invasive group A streptococcal diagnosis, expediting the incorporation of cases into national reporting systems. Range and duration of intravenous antibiotics administered demonstrated the need for research on the optimal duration of antimicrobials and improved stewardship.
- 9 August 2024
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
- Vol. 43 (9) , 841-850
Open AccessEpidemiology and Management of Pediatric Group A Streptococcal Pneumonia With Parapneumonic Effusion: An Observational Study
Background: During autumn/winter 2022, UK pediatricians reported an unseasonal increase in invasive group A streptococcal infections; a striking proportion presenting with pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. Methods: Clinicians across the United Kingdom were requested to submit pseudonymized clinical data using a standardized report form for children (<16 years) admitted between September 30, 2022 and February 17, 2023, with microbiologically confirmed group A streptococcal pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. Results: From 185 cases submitted, the median patient age was 4.4 years, and 163 (88.1%) were previously healthy. Respiratory viral coinfection was detected on admission for 101/153 (66.0%) children using extended respiratory pathogen polymerase chain reaction panel. Molecular testing was the primary method of detecting group A streptococcus on pleural fluid (86/171; 50.3% samples). Primary surgical management was undertaken in 171 (92.4%) children; 153/171 (89.4%) had pleural drain inserted (96 with fibrinolytic agent), 14/171 (8.2%) had video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Fever duration after admission was prolonged (median, 12 days; interquartile range, 9–16). Intravenous antibiotic courses varied in length (median, 14 days; interquartile range, 12–21), with many children receiving multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics, although evidence for additional bacterial infection was limited. Conclusions: Most cases occurred with viral coinfection, a previously well-recognized risk with influenza and varicella zoster, highlighting the need to ensure routine vaccination coverage and progress on vaccines for other common viruses (eg, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus) and for group A streptococcus. Molecular testing is valuable to detect viral coinfection and confirm invasive group A streptococcal diagnosis, expediting the incorporation of cases into national reporting systems. Range and duration of intravenous antibiotics administered demonstrated the need for research on the optimal duration of antimicrobials and improved stewardship.