Prospective evaluation of the Whitt Neonatal Trigger Score in an 'at-risk' neonatal population.

AIM: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the Whitt Neonatal Trigger Score (W-NTS), determining optimum threshold scores for consideration of medical intervention and intensive care unit admission. METHODS: All neonates on the postnatal ward (PNW) with a set of pre-defined risk factors were scored on the W-NTS. Neonates were divided into three groups: 'unwell' admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); 'well', who remained on the PNW receiving standard care; and 'intervention', who received antibiotics but did not require admission to NICU. RESULTS: A total of 3315 scores from 455 neonates were collected. The W-NTS area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC ROC) was 0.968, with a score of 2 or more predicting NICU admission, with 82.5% sensitivity and 95.0% specificity. Adopting a cut-off score of 2 for admission would significantly improve speed to admission (11.6 vs. 6.9 h, P 0.037). A score of 0 was strongly predictive of being well enough to remain on the PNW without intervention (odds ratio 565.6, P < 0.001), and a score of 1 or more predicted the need for intravenous antibiotics with 100.0% sensitivity and 86.1% specificity (AUC ROC 0.977). CONCLUSION: The W-NTS observation chart, previously shown to outperform existing early warning scores, acts well as an adjunct to clinical assessment on the PNW, with its simplicity allowing for the successful and safe use by non-paediatric specialists. We recommend that neonates scoring 1 should be reviewed, with a septic screen and commencement of antibiotic therapy considered, while those scoring 2 or more should be strongly considered for NICU admission for further management.

Neonatal resuscitation equipment: A hidden risk for our babies?

AIM: Neonatal infections carry a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality. Poor practice can result in unintentional colonisation of medical equipment with potentially pathogenic organisms. This study will determine the prevalence and type of bacterial contamination on exposed neonatal resuscitation equipment in different clinical settings and explore simple measures to reduce contamination risk. METHODS: A survey determined the rates of resuscitation equipment usage. All environmentally exposed items were identified on resuscitaires hospital-wide and swabbed for bacterial contamination. A new cleaning and storage policy was implemented and the prevalence of environmentally exposed equipment re-measured post-intervention. RESULTS: Resuscitation equipment was used in 28% of neonatal deliveries. Bacterial colony forming units were present on 44% of the 236 exposed equipment pieces swabbed. There was no significant difference in contamination rates between equipment types. Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the most prevalent species (59 pieces, 25%) followed by Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae (20 pieces, 9% each). Opened items stored inside plastic remained sterile, whilst those in low-use areas had significantly less contamination than those in high-use areas (22% vs. 51%, P < 0.05). Implementing a simple educational programme led to a significant reduction in environmentally exposed equipment (79% reduction, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pathogenic bacteria can colonise commonly used pieces of neonatal resuscitation equipment. Whilst the clinical significance remains uncertain, equipment should be kept packaged until required and discarded once open, even if unused. Standardising cleaning policies results in rapid and significant improvements in equipment storage conditions, reducing microbial colonisation opportunities.

Retrospective evaluation of a new neonatal trigger score.

OBJECTIVES: To design and validate an objective clinical scoring system to identify unwell neonates, by using routinely collected bedside observations. METHODS: A Neonatal Trigger Score (NTS) was designed by using local expert consensus and incorporated into a new observation chart. All neonates >35 weeks' gestation admitted to the NICU over an 18-month period, and an age-matched "well" cohort, were retrospectively scored by using the newly constructed NTS and all established pediatric early warning system (PEWS) scores. RESULTS: Scores were calculated for 485 neonates. The NTS score area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.924 with a score of 2 or more predicting need for admission to the NICU with 77% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Neonates scoring ≥2 had increased odds of needing intensive care (odds ratio [OR] 48.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 27.5-86.3), intravenous fluids (OR 48.1, 95% CI 23.9-96.9), and continuous positive airway pressure (OR 29.5, 95% CI 6.9-125.8). The NTS was more sensitive than currently established PEWS scores. CONCLUSIONS: The NTS observation chart acts as an adjunct to clinical assessment, highlighting unwell neonates. Its simplicity allows successful and safe use by nonpediatric specialists. NTS out-performed PEWS, with significantly better sensitivity, particularly in neonates who deteriorated within the first 12 hours after birth (P < .001) or in neonates with sepsis or respiratory symptoms (P < .001). Neonates with a score of 1 should be reviewed and those scoring ≥2 should be considered for NICU admission for further management.

Pyloric stenosis in an iniencephalic infant with a congenital intra-thoracic stomach.

We report the first case of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in an intrathoracic stomach in a neonate with congenital ultra-short oesophagus and iniencephaly clausus. Antenatal ultrasound detected right-sided thoracic cystic lesions and postnatal investigations revealed an intra-thoracic stomach and spleen with an ultra-short oesophagus and intact diaphragm. Subsequently, she developed pyloric stenosis. Such neonates require urgent referral to surgical centres for what is a challenging diagnosis and complicated management.