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Acute Paediatric Mastoiditis in the UK Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Observational Study
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  • Matthew Smith,
  • G. Huw Jones,
  • John Hardman,
  • Jaya Nichani,
  • sadie khwaja,
  • . INSERT COLLABORATOR LIST HERE,
  • Iain Bruce,
  • Peter Rea
Matthew Smith
Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

Corresponding Author:emailmatthewsmith@gmail.com

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G. Huw Jones
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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John Hardman
Royal Marsden Hospital
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Jaya Nichani
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
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sadie khwaja
Stepping Hill Hospital
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. INSERT COLLABORATOR LIST HERE
INTEGRATE UK Acute Paediatric Mastoiditis Audit Collaborators
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Iain Bruce
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
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Peter Rea
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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Abstract

Objectives To explore the impact of COVID-19 on the management and outcomes of acute paediatric mastoiditis across the UK. Design National retrospective and prospective audit Setting 48 UK secondary care ENT departments Participants Consecutive children aged 18 years or under, referred to ENT with a clinical diagnosis of mastoiditis. Main outcome measures Cases were divided into: Period 1 (01/11/19-15/03/20) before the UK population were instructed to reduce social contact, and Period 2 (16/03/20-30/04/21), following this. Periods 1&2 were compared for population variables, management and outcomes. Secondary analyses compared outcomes by primary treatment (medical/needle aspiration/surgical). Results 286 cases met criteria (median 4 per site, range 0-24). 9.4 cases were recorded per week in period 1 versus 2.0 in period 2, with no winter increase in cases in Dec 2020-Feb 2021. Patient age differed between period 1&2 (3.2 Vs 4.7 years respectively, p<0.001). 85% of children in period 2 were tested for COVID-19 with a single positive test. In period 2 cases associated with P. aeruginosa significantly increased. 48.6% of children were scanned in period 1 vs 41.1% in period 2. Surgical management was used more frequently in period 1 (43.0% Vs 24.3%, p=0.001). Treatment success was high, with failure of initial management in 6.3%, and 30-day re-admission for recurrence in 2.1%. The adverse event rate (15.7% overall) did not vary by treatment modality or between periods 1& 2. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant change in the presentation and case-mix of acute paediatric mastoiditis in the UK.
21 Aug 2021Submitted to Clinical Otolaryngology
23 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
29 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
16 Sep 20211st Revision Received
20 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
20 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
22 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Jan 2022Published in Clinical Otolaryngology volume 47 issue 1 on pages 120-130. 10.1111/coa.13869