Ashlesha Kaushik

UnityPoint Health · Department of Infectious Diseases

Introduction Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been a huge public health challenge that has led to significant morbidity and mortality across the globe. Given the high prevalence and continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection globally, accurate and rapid point-of-care testing is critical. Areas covered Knowledge of role of digital technol...

We report our experience of COVID-19 disease with hypoxemic respiratory failure among patients aged 12–21 years admitted to the intensive care unit at two tertiary care institutions in Northeastern and Midwestern United States. Our results showed that during the main study period that spanned the initial surge at both geographic locations, adolesce...

We report our experience of COVID-19 disease burden among patients aged 0–21 years at two tertiary care institutions in the Northeast and Midwest from New Jersey and Iowa. Our results showed that during the initial surge (March to August 2020) at both geographic locations, majority of COVID-19 disease burden occurred in adolescents and that they we...

Enteritis as the only manifestation of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adolescents without features of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or a prior history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been described. We report two adolescent patients (a 14-year-old male and a 20-year-old pregnant female) presenting t...

There is an ongoing debate about rooming-in for neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 disease. Rooming-in promotes bonding and leads to better outcomes for both mother and baby. The unprecedented nature of COVID-19 has led to practices aimed at protecting newborns but may come with risks of losing the momentum of rooming-in that has been achieved...

We report three critically ill pediatric patients (aged 6–10 years), presenting with features of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) from April 4 to May 10, 2020, to a tertiary-care center in New Jersey, United States. All patients tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and were...

Adolescent pregnancies are a global health problem with over 16 million children born to this age group globally. Adolescent females also represent almost half of all adolescent global migrants. Adolescent pregnancy by itself is associated with poor health care access and morbidities; the additional risk of social insecurity in the case of undocume...

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have seen considerable increase in pediatric intensive care units over the past several decades. IFIs are predominantly caused by Candida species, and candidemia is the third most common cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) in children. IFIs are opportunistic infections that affect pediatric...

Osteoarticular infections (OSI) are a significant cause of hospitalizations and morbidity in young children. The pediatric patient with OSI presents unique challenges in diagnosis and management due to higher morbidity, effect on growth plate with associated long-lasting sequelae, and challenges in early identification and management. Methicillin-r...

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is one of the most devastating congenital infections and yet the only one which is vaccine preventable and is a public health challenge for clinicians and policymakers across the developing world including India. The clinical manifestations of CRS include growth retardation, cardiac defects, cataracts, and hearing...

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) invasive infections can be severe in the pediatric population with high morbidity and mortality. MRSA colonization can predispose to recurrent skin and soft tissue infections and invasive MRSA disease and is a frequent challenge faced by clinicians. This article reviews the importance of MRSA as a...

Reports of children with non-type b Haemophilus influenzae infection in the United States in recent years have been limited. Here, we report the spectrum and severity of disease associated with invasive non-type b H influenzae infection in 17 patients at 2 tertiary-care children's hospitals over a 2-year period. Meningitis was the most common diagn...

Background . Sexual behaviors and knowledge among PHIV-infected (PHIV + ) adolescents in comparison with HIV-uninfected youths are not well understood and continue to be studied actively. Objective . To compare sexual behavior and sexual knowledge of PHIV + and HIV-uninfected adolescents at an urban, tertiary-care center in New Jersey. Study Design...

Objective To study the impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) surveillance on the incidence of MRSA-related bloodstream infection (BSI) in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to evaluate cost-effectiveness of MRSA surveillance. Study Design MRSA surveillance policy was introduced in our NICU in April 2008. Pre-MRSA surveil...

Background: The epidemiology of bloodstream infections caused by resistant Gram-negative bacteria in children has not been well defined. Pathogens resistant to third generation cephalosporins are responsible for an increasing proportion of pediatric bloodstream infections. Selection of active empiric antimicrobial agents is directly proportional to...

Background: The heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) caused overall reduction of the incidence of IPD. However, an increase in IPD caused by non-vaccine serotypes was observed. PCV-13 was licensed in the US in February 2010 and has the potential to reduce further the incidence of IPD. Post-licensure monitoring will help characterize t...

This is the first reported case of maternal sepsis and placental transmission of Candida kefyr to premature fraternal twins. The mother consumed organic dairy products regularly throughout her pregnancy and developed sepsis with chorioamnionitis caused by C. kefyr. The twins developed respiratory distress at birth. The placenta, fetal membranes, an...

Background: Strategies to prevent healthcare associated MRSD including active surveillance with isolation/cohorting of colonized patients have been implemented in several NICUs across the country. Therefore, studies delineating impact on MRSD are needed. Methods: An IRB approved retrospective observational study that included all admissions t...

The misdiagnosis of acute appendicitis is not uncommon. Rarely does infection of the triradiate cartilage imitate this entity. This case highlights an uncommon presentation of acetabular osteomyelitis as acute appendicitis and the severity of its sequelae. Like septic arthritis of the hip, acute appendicitis overtreatment is acceptable in part beca...

Today, dengue is considered among the most important arthropod-borne viral diseases in humans. It is transmitted by the bite of an infective female Aedes mosquito. (2)(6) According to the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the incidence of dengue in the United States is increasing and may be underreported due...

Quantitative computed tomography was performed to determine bone mineral density (BMD) at initial presentation and following 6-months of therapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Of 46 children enrolled, the complete set of observations was available in 32. The combined mean BMD of three lumbar vertebrae at diagnosis and during t...