Compliance with guidelines recommending the use of simulation for neonatal and infant resuscitation training in Austria.

BACKGROUND: Current international resuscitation guidelines recommend simulation for the training of neonatal and infant resuscitation. We aimed at assessing compliance rates with these recommendations in Austria. METHOD: We performed a national questionnaire survey among 31 neonatal institutions in Austria. RESULTS: 25 questionnaires (80.6%) were analyzed. 22/25 institutions (88%) used simulation as an instructional modality. 8 institutions (32%) had access to medical simulation centers, with 6/8 being used for neonatal and infant resuscitation training. Simulation equipment was available at 17/25 institutions (68%), with a median of 1 part-task trainer (0-2), 2 low-fidelity resuscitation mannequins (0-10), and 0 high-fidelity patient simulators (0-7). Resuscitation training frequency varied widely, ranging from one training per month to one training per year. 5 simulation centers utilized interdisciplinary resuscitation training with other medical specialties and team training including physicians and nursing staff. Of the 17 institutions with simulation equipment at their disposal, 8 (47.1%) carried out interdisciplinary training and 13 (76.5%) performed team-oriented training sessions. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The majority of surveyed institutions adopted simulation for neonatal and infant resuscitation training according to current guidelines and had simulation equipment at their disposal. However, educational practice varied widely, especially in regard to training frequency. Therefore, we suggest a national consensus agreement on best practices in simulation-based neonatal and infant resuscitation training.

Early exposure to latex products mediates latex sensitization in spina bifida but not in other diseases with comparable latex exposure rates.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of latex sensitization in patients with spina bifida (SB) has been attributed to repeated and early exposure to latex products. Other diseases such as gastroschisis/omphalocoele and post-haemorrhagic/congenital hydrocephalus are also associated with repeated and early latex exposure. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the high prevalence of latex sensitization in patients with SB is rather related to the underlying disease itself than to disease-associated known risk factors. METHODS: We compared children with SB (n=35), children with gastroschisis/omphalocoele (G/O, n=20) and children with post-haemorrhagic/congenital hydrocephalus (PH, n=45). All children with SB and PH had a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt since a very young age. Patients who underwent three or less surgical procedures matched in terms of age, number of operations, atopy and gender distribution, and were analysed for IgE sensitization rates to latex. RESULTS: In the SB group, 16 of 35 patients (46%) showed elevated latex-specific IgE antibodies in contrast to one of 20 patients (5%) in the G/O group and four of 45 patients (8.9%) in the PH group (P<0.0005 and P<0.005, Fisher's exact test). Comparing matched control groups (