EP579 - THE CHANGING NATURE OF PAEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONSULTATIONS OVER THE SARS-COV-2 PANDEMIC (ID 704)
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Paediatric infectious disease (PID) services have played a leading role in the COVID-19 pandemic. PID leadership has been essential for the management of novel conditions such as paediatric COVID-19 pneumonitis and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). With limited evidence-based treatment options, the management of these critically ill children remains challenging. We describe the changing nature of referrals to a specialist PID service from local network hospitals, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
All PID consultations to our service are recorded for clinical governance purposes. As part of service evaluation, anonymised data from referrals between 01/01/2019 - 31/12/21 was analysed retrospectively. This included patients' location, age, clinical condition, comorbidities, differential diagnoses, outcome and PID input.
Results:
Over the 3-year study period a total of 1581 referrals were made from 54 institutions. The majority of referrals regarded inpatients in other hospitals (94%) with a range of clinical conditions (table 1). There was an annual increase in the number of referrals (54% increase 2019-2020, 25% increase 2020-2021) and number of patients transferred to a specialist centre over the study period (9.4% to 17.2%, 183% increase). This correlated with an increase in consultations regarding patients with MIS-C and acute COVID-19. However, even excluding these SARS-CoV-2 related conditions, referrals over the study period increased (29% increase 2019-2020, 2% increase 2020-2021).
Conclusions/Learning Points:
SARS-CoV-2 related conditions have led to an increase in referrals and transfers to our specialist PID service. However, referrals for other conditions have also increased compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. This may reflect increasing diagnostic uncertainty and / or more awareness of PID services. This data will be used for workforce planning and outreach training in 2022.
