Bacterial contamination of expressed breast milk in neonatal intensive care unit

The milks expressed from the mothers' breast might be infected during squeeze, storage and/or transmission. The infection level has been reported as different in various studies up to 97 percent. The main purpose of this study is to determine the infection level and its relevant organisms as well as to specify drug allergy of the expressed milks from the mothers with their infant admitted to NICU ward. In this study, among the expressed milks from 80 mothers, were cultured each in an amount of 0.5-1cc and antibiotic discs selected for every strain was placed. The results indicate that 85 percent of samples were infected and dominant microorganisms were firstly Klebsiella [13.7%] and then S. epidermidis [12.5%]. In addition, 95% of Gram negative bacteria strains were susceptible to imipenem. The most effective antibiotic on isolated staphylococci was ceftizoxime [46.6% resistance]. The colony count in 32.4% gram negative bacteria and in 66.7% gram positive bacteria was between 10[4] to 10[5]CFU/ml and the remaining was above 10[5]CFU/ml [p=0.02]. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between bacterial infection of the expressed milks with the site of milk expressing [house or hospital], mode of expressing[by pump or hand], storage duration and the mother's demographic characteristics including age and/or literacy. The studies show that infection prevalence in the milk samples was 85%; the most common infection factor was Klebsiella and then S. epidermidis that is indicative of high prevalence of hospital infection [nosocomial infection] in the infants ward

effect of educational intervention on decreasing mothers' expressed breast milk bacterial contamination whose infants are admitted to neonatal intensive care unit

Various reasons accounted for the infection of infants kept at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU]. Expressed breast milk may be regarded as a source of infection in infants. This study investigated the source of bacterial contamination and the impact of educational interventions on the contamination of mothers' expressed breast milk [EBM] level whose infants are hospitalized at NICU. Fifteen mothers used to express breast milking their infants admitted at NICU, involved in this study was conducted during October 2011-March 2012. Samples taken from hands, breast, pumps, breast milk, and milk storage containers and therefore 244 samples were prepared by sterile cotton swab and cultured on Blood Agar and EBM. After presenting enough training to mothers, cultures of the same positions were carried out again. Only those samples proved infected that number of their bacterial colonies exceeded 104 cfu / ml or even there was a growth of pathogenic organism. Before intervention 80% of mothers had infected by at least one sample that reduced to 36% after the intervention. Before intervention 25.4% of samples were contaminated; however after intervention, it reduced to 8.2%. The main source of contamination was milk containers and pumps; moreover, Pseudomonas, E-coli, and Klebsiella were among the most common bacteria of samples' contamination. The possibility of EBM contamination was relatively high but educational interventions might reduce the risk of prevalence

Relationship between maternal periodontal disease and low birth weight babies

Periodontal infections, which serve as a reservoir of inflammatory mediators, may pose a threat to the fetal-placental unit and cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was assessing the periodontal status of women during puerperium and determining the possible relationship between their periodontal disease and low birth weight delivery. This was a case-control study. The sample included 88 ex-pregnant women were seen at maternity hospitals of Yazd, Iran. Half of the mothers had low birth babies [LBW] [birth weight below 2500g- case group] and the others had normal weight babies [>2500g- control group]. The mothers' data were obtained from medical files, interview and periodontal clinical examination carried out up to 3 days after delivery. Bleeding on probing, presence of supra-gingival calculus and CPITN [Community Periodontal Index for Treatment Needs] were used for periodontal assessment. Among the known risk factors of LBW babies, history of previous LBW infant among case mothers reached statistical significance [p=0.0081, Student t-test]. Mothers of LBW infants had less healthy areas of gingiva [p=0.042], and more deep pockets [p=0.0006, Mann-Whitney test]. The maternal periodontal disease can be a potential independent risk factor for LBW

Hearing status in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by auditory brain stem evoked response and transient evoked otoacoustic emission

Hyperbilirubinemia at neonatal period is one of the major deteriorating factors of the auditory system. If left untreated, it may cause certain cerebral damage. This study aims to evaluate the impact of hyperbilirubinemia on the hearing of neonate. This study was conducted on 35 newborn babies with jaundice [bilirubin more than 20 mg/dL]. Auditory brainstem response [ABR] and transient evoked otoacoustic emission [TEOAE] tests were performed, after treatment and one year after. ABR test results indicated that 26 children [74.3%] had normal hearing but 9 [25.7%] suffered from an impairment. As for TEOAE test, 30 children [85.7%] passed whereas the remaining [14.3%] seemed to be failures. The comparative results of the two tests pointed to autonomic neuropathy /autonomic dysreflexia symptoms in 5 babies. Due to the high incidence of Autonomic neuropathy/autonomic dysreflexia among hyperbilirubinemic babies, screening in this regard seems reasonable. Our result emphasizes the necessity of more experiments on the afflicted areas

Theophylline for prevention of kidney dysfunction in neonates with severe asphyxia

Recent studies have suggested theophylline for prevention of kidney dysfunction in asphyxia. This study was designed to determine whether theophylline could prevent or ameliorate kidney dysfunction in term neonates with perinatal asphyxia. We assigned 36 severely asphyxiated term infants [Apgar score

[Comparing the antipyretic effectiveness of oral and rectal acetaminophen in children]

Introduction: Acetaminophen is the most commonly used drug for temperature reduction in febrile children, which is used orally or rectally. The effectiveness of rectal versus oral Acetaminophen is not well established

Objective: This study is designed to compare the antipyretic effectiveness of rectal acetaminophen dose 15mg/kg to the standard oral dose of 15mg/kg

Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 patients aged 6 months to 6 years with fever>/=39 rectally. The patients were randomly assigned in one of two groups. First 39[degree]c group received 15mg/kg Acetaminophen rectally and the second group received same dose orally and their body temperature was measured one and three hours after Acetaminophen administration

Results: The mean temperature reduction, 60 and 180 minutes after use of acetaminophen were 1.07 +/- 0.16 and 1.74 +/- 0.25

Conclusion: Effectiveness of oral and rectal Acetaminophen with 15mg/kg dose is similar in decreasing children's fever. Standard [15mg/kg] oral and [15mg/kg] rectal acetaminophen has similar antipyretic effectiveness