Immunocompromised Children and Young Patients Living with Pets: Gaps in Knowledge to Avoid Zoonosis
Table 1
Sociodemographic and disease data of the surveyed population, number, and type of owned pets.
Patient features
Results
Sex
(i) Female
45.1% (128/284)
(ii) Male
54.9% (156/284)
Median current age
11 years [IQR 5.9–15.4] ≤12 years: 6 years [IQR 3.4–9] >12 years: 16 [IQR 13.6–20]
Median age at diagnosis/transplant
3 years [IQR 1–9.7]
Median time elapsed since diagnosis/transplantation
4.9 years [IQR 2–8.9]
Type of diagnosis:
(i) Transplant
85.2% (242/284)
SOT
73.1% (177/242)
Liver transplantation
45.8% (81/177)
Kidney transplantation
25.4% (45/177)
Cardiac transplantation
11.9% (21/177)
Multivisceral transplantation
10.7% (19/177)
Intestinal transplantation
6.2% (11/177)
HSCT
26.9% (65/242)
(ii) Inborn errors of immunity
14.8% (42/284)
Current immunosuppressive treatment
64.1% (182/284)
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy
6.3% (18/284)
Antibiotic prophylaxis
20.4% (58/284)
Pet features
Results
Number of pets/patient
0 pet
54.2% (154/284)
1 pet
28.9% (82/284)
2 pets
9.2% (26/284)
3 pets
3.1% (9/284)
≥4 pets
4.6% (13/284)
Type of pet
Dogs
53.7% (108/201)
Cats
20.4% (41/201)
Birds
7% (14/201)
Turtles/Reptiles
6% (12/201)
Fish
4.5% (9/201)
Rabbits/Hamsters/Guinea pigs
3.9% (8/201)
Others
4.5% (9/201)
SOT: solid organ transplantation; HSCT: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bold values indicate the type of pets that should be avoided in immunocompromised owners due to their species.
