Factors associated with inter-institutional variations in sepsis rates of very-low-birth-weight infants in 34 Malaysian neonatal intensive care units

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to determine whether patient loads, infant status on admission and treatment interventions were significantly associated with inter-institutional variations in sepsis rates in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in the Malaysian National Neonatal Registry (MNNR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a retrospective study of 3,880 VLBW (≤ 1,500 g) infants admitted to 34 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the MNNR. Sepsis was diagnosed in symptomatic infants with positive blood culture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sepsis developed in 623 (16.1%) infants; 61 (9.8%) had early-onset sepsis (EOS) and 562 (90.2%) had late-onset sepsis (LOS). The median EOS rate of all NICUs was 1.0% (interquartile range [IQR] 0%, 2.0%). Compared with NICUs reporting no EOS (n = 14), NICUs reporting EOS (n = 20) had significantly higher patient loads (total live births, admissions, VLBW infants, outborns); more mothers with a history of abortions, and antenatal steroids and intrapartum antibiotic use; more infants requiring resuscitation procedures at birth; higher rates of surfactant therapy, pneumonia and insertion of central venous catheters. The median LOS rate of all NICUs was 14.5% (IQR 7.8%, 19.2%). Compared with NICUs with LOS rates below the first quartile (n = 8), those above the third quartile (n = 8) used less intrapartum antibiotics, and had significantly bigger and more mature infants, more outborns, as well as a higher number of sick infants requiring ventilator support and total parenteral nutrition.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patient loads, resuscitation at birth, status of infants on admission and treatment interventions were significantly associated with inter-institutional variations in sepsis.</p>

Growth of Very Low Birth-Weight Indian Infants During Hospital Stay.

Objectives: To evaluate the growth pattern of Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants (birthweight <1500g) during hospital stay and to compare the growth of Small for gestational age (SGA) and Appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Study design: Prospective observational study. Setting. Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Northern India. Participants: A cohort of 97 VLBW infants, admitted to NICU at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, from 1 January, 2007 to 31 July, 2008. Intervention/Measurement: Weight, length and head circumference (HC) were serially measured from birth till discharge and respective Z scores were calculated as per data from Fenton’s references. Growth was also assessed by superimposing these trends on Ehrenkranz’s postnatal growth charts. Results: The mean Z scores for weight, length and HC at birth were –1.17, –1.09 and –0.54, respectively. These decreased to –2.16, –2.24 and –1.35, respectively by discharge. Both SGA and AGA infants exhibited a decrease of approximately 1 Z score in all parameters. On postnatal charts, growth of infants remained at or above respective reference lines, except in those below 1000g at birth. Average daily weight gain after regaining birth weight was 15.18 ± 1.7 g/kg/d, whereas the increase in HC and length were 0.48 ± 0.2 cm/week and 0.60 ± 0.4 cm/week, respectively. These increments when compared to the intrauterine growth rates, indicated discrepant growth trends. Conclusions: VLBW infants suffered significant growth lag during NICU stay and exhibited disproportionately slow growth of HC and length.

Perinatal factor and neonatal outcome of very low birth weight infants with leukemoid reaction / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE:Leukemoid reaction (LR) represents inflammatory reaction in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, and has been reported to relate with the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study was done to assess the relationship between perinatal characteristics and neonatal outcome of leukemoid reaction in VLBW infants. METHODS:Three hundred and seventy two VLBW infants admitted to the NICUs of SNUCH and SNUBH between June 2005 to June 2008 were studied in a retrospective case-controlled manner. Of these VLBW infants, 32 LR (+) infants were compared with 83 LR (-) infants who were matched for gestational age and birth weight with respect to perinatal and neonatal clinical characteristics. LR was defined as a white blood cell (WBC) count of more than 40,000 cells/mm3 or absolute neutrophil count of more than 30.000 cells/mm3 during the first month of life. RESULTS:Of 413 VLBW infants, There was no significant difference between the LR (+) and LR (-) infants in sex, Apgar scores, maternal peripheral WBC count, the use of antenatal steroids and maternal age. Comparing with LR (-) infants, LR (+) infants had a higher positive rate for amniotic fluid culture (67% vs 11%; P< or =0.01), U. ureaplasma in amniotic fluid (52% vs 10%; P=0.01), histologic chorioamnionitis (81% vs 33%; P=0.01) and funisitis (50% vs 7%; P=0.01). The incidences of respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage and BPD showed no significant difference between LR (+) and LR (-) infants. CONCLUSION:LR during the first month of life in VLBW infants was associated with chorioamnionitis, but not with the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia or other neonatal morbidities. These findings suggest that LR may be a simple reflection of transient accelerated neutrophil production induced by prenatal inflammation without significant neonatal consequences.