Diagnosis and treatment of pustular disorders in the neonate.

The diagnosis of a pustular dermatosis occurring during the first months of life is usually based on clinical findings. However, some cases may require simple investigations including microscopic examination of pustular content, cultures, and skin biopsies. The main benign transient neonatal types of pustulosis include erythema toxicum neonatorum, infantile acropustulosis, transient neonatal pustular melanosis, and neonatal acne. The most common causes of infectious pustular skin lesions include bacterial infections, which may be initially localized (Staphylococcus aureus) or septicemic (with Listeria monocytogenes as the leading causitive agent); viral infections (herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, and cytomegalovirus infections); fungal infections (candidiasis); or parasitic disorders (scabies). The main objective of this article is to propose a systematic approach to pustular eruptions in the neonate. The need for investigating every neonate with pustules for an infectious disease is emphasized. The Tzanck smear, the Gram's stain, and a potassium hydroxide preparation are the most important quick diagnostic tests. The Tzanck smear is a very easy, rapid, and sensitive test for detection of a herpetic infection (multinucleated giant cells) as well as noninfectious pustular eruptions (eosinophils, neutrophils). Therefore the Tzanck smear should be the first test performed. Moreover, a Gram's stain and potassium hydroxide preparation should be performed in cases of neonatal pustular disorders to detect bacterial and fungal infections. The goal of this diagnostic approach is to spare a healthy neonate with a benign transient condition an invasive evaluation for sepsis, potentially harmful antibiotic therapy, and prolonged hospitalization, with its own inherent morbidity.

Congenital mumps pneumonia: a rare cause of neonatal respiratory distress.

A case of a fullterm infant with severe neonatal respiratory distress due to mumps infection is reported. Pregnancy was complicated by a self-limited febrile illness of the mother about two weeks before birth. Foetal heart rate patterns and delivery were normal. Immediately after birth the infant needed mechanical ventilation. Bacterial infections, as well as congenital cardiac or pulmonary malformations were excluded. The infant showed serologic evidence of mumps infection: IgM antibodies to mumps virus were highly positive. He expired on the 9th day of life due to bilateral pneumothoraces and pneumopericardium. Post-mortem examination showed interstitial pneumonia with intra-alveolar multinucleated giant cells, suggesting viral disease. This case demonstrates, that mumps pneumonia should be included in the differential diagnosis of severe neonatal respiratory distress in fullterm neonates.

Cerebral lesions in preterm infants after tocolytic indomethacin.

The incidence and type of cerebral lesions in 159 infants born before 30 weeks gestation were studied, using ultrasound. Indomethacin was given as part of tocolytic management to mothers with a high incidence of early rupture of membranes and preterm labour; and 76 fetuses were exposed to the drug as a result. For the remaining 83 pregnancies, in which there was a high incidence of chronic fetal distress and in utero hypoxia, tocolysis was either not started or limited to fenoterol. The neonatal course was similar for both groups of infants, except that patent ductus arteriosus was less commonly diagnosed in the 76 infants exposed to indomethacin. However, the incidence of periventricular leukomalacia was increased among infants exposed to any tocolytic agent; and cystic lesions occurred more commonly in those exposed to indomethacin.

Pulmonary hypoplasia secondary to oligohydramnios with very premature rupture of fetal membranes.

Over a 3-year-period, pulmonary hypoplasia was diagnosed in 14 cases out of a group of 150 infants born prematurely after prolonged rupture of fetal membranes and prolonged amniotic fluid leakage of whom 30 died. Review of these patients revealed pulmonary hypoplasia to be the main single cause of neonatal death (13/30). In contrast to literature data, infection was only a minor complication in this series. Lung hypoplasia was clearly correlated with long-standing rupture of membranes with oligohydramnios. It is concluded that upon premature rupture of fetal membranes, prenatal care should focus on oligohydramnios, because if this condition is prolonged, the risk of pulmonary hypoplasia increases accordingly.

Five years of cefotaxime use in a neonatal intensive care unit.

In 1983 our antibiotic regimen for suspected neonatal septicemia was changed from amoxicillin-gentamicin to cefotaxime-amoxicillin. During the subsequent 5-year period we studied the effect of this change in regimen on the bacterial flora of the infants in the unit and the occurrence of serious infections. This was done with bacteriologic surveillance and analysis of the positive blood cultures from 1978 through 1987. A change in the relative numbers of isolated pathogens was observed; Klebsiella sp. and Escherichia coli decreased whereas Enterobacter sp. increased. The susceptibility of the Enterobacter isolates to cefamandole decreased from 85.3% in 1982 to 52.9% in 1983. The susceptibility of these bacteria to cefotaxime was 55.2% in 1983 and 55.0% in 1987. No change in susceptibilities to cefotaxime, amoxicillin or gentamicin was found in other pathogens. Although colonization with Enterobacter strains has increased and the susceptibility of these bacteria to the cephalosporins has decreased, the incidence of serious infections with Gram-negative bacteria decreased.

Failure to detect fetal obstructive uropathy by second trimester ultrasound.

The prenatal diagnosis, management and outcome of an hereditary obstructive uropathy is presented. Serial ultrasonic assessment of the fetal urinary tract was carried out from the early second trimester onward. Slight bilateral hydronephrosis as a first sign of obstructive uropathy was only established as late as 30 weeks of gestation. On the basis of weekly ultrasound scans, a conservative approach was adopted. In view of fetal maturity, labour was induced at 36 weeks resulting in the vaginal delivery of a male infant with moderate bilateral hydronephrosis. Neonatally, anuria developed due to bilateral obstruction of the ureters as a result of increasing bladder wall hypertrophy due to urethral valves. A bilateral uretero-cutaneostomy was carried out. The infant so far develops normally, and renal function is normal for age. Women at risk for fetal obstructive uropathy should have ultrasonic monitoring throughout pregnancy.

Countercurrent arterial contrast echocardiography in the assessment of left to right ductal shunting in preterm infants.

A method of performing contrast echocardiography for the assessment of left to right ductal shunting in infants in a neonatal intensive care unit is described. Echo contrast was obtained by countercurrent injection of a small volume of blood through a radial artery canula . The technique was simple and reliable in 32 infants and no serious adverse reactions were observed.