Maria Tsolia (Greece)

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Second Department of Paediatrics
Maria Tsolia is currently Professor and Chair of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases at the Second Department of Paediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) at the P. and A. Kyriakou Children’s Hospital. Maria has served as Board member, Committee member and for two terms as Secretary of ESPID. She is now President of the Hellenic Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. She is member of the National Committee for Immunization Practices. Maria has a special scientific interest in the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, respiratory infections, tuberculosis and in the use of molecular signature diagnosis. The Unit for Clinical Research of the Second Department of Paediatrics at the NKUA participates in multi-center clinical trials of vaccines and antibiotics and also in several research networks. The center has been a member of the PERFORM consortium and now is also a member of DIAMONDS which aims to bring personalized medicine into routine use for the management of fever. These both are collaborative Horizon2020 projects supported by the EU. Maria Tsolia has supervised 10 PhD students and 6 thesis projects. She has been the author or a co-author of over 180 publications in international peer-review journals (SCI).

Author Of 9 Presentations

Summary and Closing Remarks

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
09:45 - 11:15
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
11:10 - 11:15

Welcome

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 17:00
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
15:30 - 15:35

Conclusions

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 17:00
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
16:58 - 17:00

Opening Remarks

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
09:45 - 11:15
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
09:45 - 09:50

Welcome Words by the Meeting Chairs

Date
Tue, 10.05.2022
Session Time
18:45 - 19:40
Session Type
Plenary Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
18:45 - 18:55

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH MIS-C DURING THREE PANDEMIC WAVES IN GREECE

Date
Wed, 11.05.2022
Session Time
13:40 - 15:10
Session Type
Joint Symposium
Room
BANQUETING HALL
Lecture Time
14:50 - 14:58

Abstract

Backgrounds:

The Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but potentially severe complication of COVID-19.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study of children aged <18 years hospitalized with MIS-C in 10 tertiary hospitals in Greece during three pandemic waves characterized by different SARS-CoV-2 variant: i. from August 2020 to January 2021 (EU1-B.1.177), ii. from February 2021 to July 2021 (Alpha-B.1.1.7) and iii. from August 2021 to December 2021 (Delta-B.1.617.2). The aim of the study was to document the incidence over time, clinical characteristics and outcome of children admitted with MIS-C in Greek hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results:

table 1.jpg

In total, 119 patients were included, 91.6% (109/119) met the WHO criteria of MIS-C diagnosis: 26.9% (32/119), 39.5% (47/119) and 33.6% (40/119) were hospitalized during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd study period, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. No cases were found before October 2020. The incidence of MIS-C significantly decreased over the three waves from 3.3/1000 to 0.25/1000 confirmed COVID-19 cases (P <0.0001). No other significant difference was observed in the clinical manifestations and disease severity of children hospitalized with MIS-C over the three waves.

Conclusions/Learning Points:

This study indicates that the incidence of MIS-C may vary according to the predominant variant. Outcome remains favourable regardless of the variant leading to MIS-C. Larger studies are needed to clarify if clinical characteristics and/or disease severity may differ, as well.

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THE IDENTIFICATION AND SUBSEQUENT CROSS-PLATFORM VALIDATION OF A HOST GENE EXPRESSION SIGNATURE FOR DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN MIS-C AND OTHER INFECTIOUS AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

Date
Wed, 11.05.2022
Session Time
13:40 - 15:10
Session Type
Joint Symposium
Room
BANQUETING HALL
Lecture Time
14:58 - 15:06

Abstract

Backgrounds:

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) occurs several weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection with symptoms including fever, shock and multiorgan failure. Clinical features of MIS-C overlap with Kawasaki Disease (KD), bacterial, and viral infections, making accurate diagnosis challenging. Host genes, measurable through whole blood transcriptomics, are an alternative tool for diagnosing infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Methods

Patients with MIS-C, KD, bacterial, and viral infections were recruited to the EU-funded PERFORM and DIAMONDS studies and the NIH-funded PREVAIL study. Patients were phenotyped using a standardised algorithm. Genome wide RNA sequencing of whole blood was undertaken, and feature selection was performed to identify a diagnostic signature for distinguishing between MIS-C and other infectious and inflammatory conditions. The expression levels of the genes identified were measured using RT-qPCR assays in an independent validation cohort.

Results:

Through feature selection and differential expression analysis, 11 genes with diagnostic potential were identified and taken forward into cross-platform validation using RT-qPCR. With up to 11 genes, it was possible to distinguish between MIS-C vs. KD, bacterial, and viral infections with high accuracy, with an AUC of 92.9% (95% CI: 88.2%-97.6%) in the validation cohort. The diagnostic gene signature retained its high performance when tested within the groups separately in the validation cohort: MIS-C vs. bacterial infections (AUC: 94.6%), vs. viral infections (AUC: 93.1%), and vs. KD (AUC: 89.8%).

Conclusions/Learning Points:

Despite the clinical similarities between MIS-C and other infectious and inflammatory conditions, there are key differences in gene expression profiles that can be used in diagnostic contexts. It will be necessary for the genes reported here to undergo further validation prior to their development into tests with clinical utility.

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GUIDELINE ADHERENCE IN FEBRILE CHILDREN BELOW THREE MONTHS VISITING EUROPEAN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL MULTICENTER STUDY

Date
Wed, 11.05.2022
Session Time
15:40 - 17:15
Session Type
Parallel Symposium
Room
DIMITRIS MITROPOULOS HALL
Lecture Time
16:45 - 16:53

Abstract

Backgrounds:

Febrile children below three months have a higher risk of serious bacterial infections, which often leads to extensive diagnostics and treatment. However, there is practice variation in management due to differences in guidelines and the usage and adherence. We aimed to assess whether management in febrile children below three months attending European Emergency Departments (EDs) was according to the available guidelines for fever.

Methods

This study is part of the MOFICHE study, which is an observational multicenter study including routine data of febrile children (0-18 years) attending twelve European EDs. In febrile children <3 months (excluding bronchiolitis), we analyzed actual management compared to the available guidelines for fever. Ten EDs applied the (adapted) NICE guideline and two EDs applied local guidelines. Management included diagnostic tests, antibiotic treatment and admission. Subgroup analyses in children <1 month and 1-3 months were performed. Data on follow-up was not collected.

Results:

We included 913 children (median age 1.7 months) with the majority triaged as intermediate/high urgent (53%), 40% having a respiratory tract infection and 56% having a viral illness. Management per ED varied: diagnostic tests 14-83%, antibiotic treatment 23-54%, admission 34-86%. Adherence to the guidelines varied: blood cultures were obtained in 43% (374/868), lumbar punctures in 30% (144/488), antibiotics were prescribed in 55% (270/492) and 67% (573/859) were admitted. Full adherence to all these four components occurred in 15% (132/868, range 0-38%), 31% (71/223) in children <1 month and 10% (61/645) in children 1-3 months respectively.

Conclusions/Learning Points:

There is large practice variation in management and guideline adherence was limited, but highest for admission which implies good safety netting. Future studies should focus on guideline revision with new biomarkers in order to optimize management in young febrile children.

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Presenter of 6 Presentations

Summary and Closing Remarks

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
09:45 - 11:15
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
11:10 - 11:15

Welcome

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 17:00
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
15:30 - 15:35

Conclusions

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 17:00
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
16:58 - 17:00

Opening Remarks

Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
09:45 - 11:15
Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
09:45 - 09:50

Welcome Words by the Meeting Chairs

Date
Tue, 10.05.2022
Session Time
18:45 - 19:40
Session Type
Plenary Symposium
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Lecture Time
18:45 - 18:55

Moderator of 3 Sessions

Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 17:00
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Session Description
Broad protection: The fundamental aspect in achieving meningococcal disease control through vaccination – Supported by Pfizer.

Session Description:

The agenda will focus on what we can learn from meningococcal epidemiology and the importance of MenB breadth of coverage and fHbp in protecting against meningococcal disease. The agenda will also include emerging data for the MenB-fHbp vaccine and discuss next steps for controlling meningococcal disease.

Session Type
Plenary Symposium
Date
Tue, 10.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 16:45
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Session Type
Parallel Symposium
Date
Wed, 11.05.2022
Session Time
15:40 - 17:10
Room
NIKOS SKALKOTAS HALL

Facilitator Of

Session Type
Sponsored Symposium
Date
Mon, 09.05.2022
Session Time
15:30 - 17:00
Room
ALEXANDRA TRIANTI HALL
Session Description
Broad protection: The fundamental aspect in achieving meningococcal disease control through vaccination – Supported by Pfizer.

Session Description:

The agenda will focus on what we can learn from meningococcal epidemiology and the importance of MenB breadth of coverage and fHbp in protecting against meningococcal disease. The agenda will also include emerging data for the MenB-fHbp vaccine and discuss next steps for controlling meningococcal disease.

Poster Author Of 17 e-Posters

AS13. COVID 19 and MIS-C
AS05.a. Zoonosis, vector-borne and emerging infections

PD060 - PREVALENCE OF RICKETTSIA CONORII AND RICKETTSIA TYPHI INFECTIONS IN POPULATION IN EUROPE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS (ID 478)

Session Name
0300 - Poster Discussion Session 02: Global Health & TB (ID 11)
My link to connect
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/9043264999?pwd=THpzQVhqWTBscnZ6eHBwNFo5dkdVUT09
Availability (Date and Time)
12/04/2022 13:00-14:00 pm
e-Poster Audio MP3