Long-lasting effects of control measures on trends in incidence in neonatal late-onset sepsis due to multiresistant bacteria in a Brazilian neonatal unit.

BACKGROUND: In response to a 1995 outbreak of sepsis caused by multidrug-resistant (MR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), a Brazilian level III neonatal unit established a series of control and prevention measures. This study evaluated the long-term effects of these measures on late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) caused by MR bacteria from 2000 to 2020 and examined their impact on in-hospital mortality. METHODS: Newborns with LONS and positive cultures for Staphylococcus aureus, GNB, and Enterococcus sp were selected, adhering to Center for Desease Control and Prevention and local criteria. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess annual trends. RESULTS: Over the 21-year period, the overall LONS rate was 4.6%, showing a significant decline from 2000 to 2016 (P < .0001, slope -0.36). However, from 2016 to 2020, there was a non-significant increase in sepsis rates (slope +0.92, P = .08). MR sepsis were in 15.8% of sepsis cases and displayed a non-significant upward trend (slope +0.50, P = .08) with no major shifts. In-hospital mortality rates for MR and non-MR LONS showed no significant differences (P = .413). DISCUSSION: The study indicates a low prevalence of MR sepsis due to effective antimicrobial use and educational interventions. CONCLUSIONS: MR sepsis prevalence remained low and stable, not increasing in-hospital mortality.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) to Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation and assess the content validity of the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) for the Brazilian context. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation was completed in six steps, including translation, synthesis of translations, back translation, submission to an expert committee, testing of the prefinal version, and appraisal by the original author. The expert committee assessed the equivalence between versions based on the percentage of agreement, and content validity was evaluated using the content validity index (CVI) for each item of the scale (I-CVI) and for the overall scale (S-CVI) in terms of representativeness and clarity. Participants of the prefinal version also evaluated the CVI for clarity. RESULTS: After two evaluation rounds of the expert committee it was attained 98% agreement, attesting to the equivalence between the instrument versions, maximum values for representativeness I-CVI and S-CVI/Ave (1.00), and high values for clarity I-CVI (all items ≥0.97) and S-CVI/Ave (0.98). The expert committee members defined that the Brazilian version of the instrument would be called Índice Clínico Neonatal (NMI-Br). The NMI-Br reached high values of CVI for clarity (all I-CVI ≥0.86 and S-CVI/Ave=0.99) among the participants of the prefinal version. CONCLUSIONS: The NMI-Br is the Brazilian version of the NMI, obtained in a rigorous cross-cultural validation process, counting with adequate values of content validity.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: temporal trend from 2010 to 2019 in the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the temporal trend of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants who survived to at least 36 weeks' post-menstrual age (PMA) and BPD or death at 36 weeks' PMA, and to analyse variables associated with both outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort with data retrieved from an ongoing national registry. SETTING: 19 Brazilian university public hospitals. PATIENTS: Infants born between 2010 and 2019 with 23-31 weeks and birth weight 400-1499 g. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Temporal trend was evaluated by Prais-Winsten model and variables associated with BPD in survivors or BPD or death were analysed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 11 128 included infants, BPD in survivors occurred in 22%, being constant over time (annual per cent change (APC): -0.80%; 95% CI: -2.59%; 1.03%) and BPD or death in 45%, decreasing over time (APC: -1.05%; 95% CI: -1.67%; -0.43%). Being male, small for gestational age, presenting with respiratory distress syndrome, air leaks, needing longer duration of mechanical ventilation, presenting with treated patent ductus arteriosus and late-onset sepsis were associated with an increase in the chance of BPD. For the outcome BPD or death, maternal bleeding, multiple gestation, 5-minute Apgar <7, late-onset sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis and intraventricular haemorrhage were added to the variables reported above as increasing the chance of the outcome. CONCLUSION: The frequency of BPD in survivors was constant and BPD or death decreased by 1.05% at each study year. These results show some improvement in perinatal care in Brazilian units which resulted in a reduction of BPD or death, but further improvements are still needed to reduce BPD in survivors.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) to Brazil / Adaptação transcultural do Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) para o Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation and assess the content validity of the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) for the Brazilian context. Methods: The cross-cultural adaptation was completed in six steps, including translation, synthesis of translations, back translation, submission to an expert committee, testing of the prefinal version, and appraisal by the original author. The expert committee assessed the equivalence between versions based on the percentage of agreement, and content validity was evaluated using the content validity index (CVI) for each item of the scale (I-CVI) and for the overall scale (S-CVI) in terms of representativeness and clarity. Participants of the prefinal version also evaluated the CVI for clarity. Results: After two evaluation rounds of the expert committee it was attained 98% agreement, attesting to the equivalence between the instrument versions, maximum values for representativeness I-CVI and S-CVI/Ave (1.00), and high values for clarity I-CVI (all items ≥0.97) and S-CVI/Ave (0.98). The expert committee members defined that the Brazilian version of the instrument would be called Índice Clínico Neonatal (NMI-Br). The NMI-Br reached high values of CVI for clarity (all I-CVI ≥0.86 and S-CVI/Ave=0.99) among the participants of the prefinal version. Conclusions: The NMI-Br is the Brazilian version of the NMI, obtained in a rigorous cross-cultural validation process, counting with adequate values of content validity.

RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar a adaptação transcultural e avaliar a validade de conteúdo do Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) para o contexto brasileiro. Métodos: A adaptação transcultural foi realizada em seis etapas, incluindo tradução, síntese das traduções, retrotradução, submissão a um comitê de especialistas, teste da versão pré-final e avaliação do autor original. O comitê de especialistas avaliou a equivalência entre as versões com base na porcentagem de concordância, e a validade de conteúdo foi avaliada por meio do índice de validade de conteúdo (IVC) para cada item da escala (I-IVC) e para a escala geral (S-IVC) em termos de representatividade e clareza. Os participantes da versão pré-final também avaliaram o IVC quanto à clareza. Resultados: Após duas rodadas de avaliação do comitê de especialistas obteve-se 98% de concordância, atestando a equivalência entre as versões do instrumento, valores máximos para representatividade I-IVC e S-IVC/Ave (1,00) e altos valores para clareza I-IVC (todos os itens ≥0,97) e S-IVC/Ave (0,98). Os membros do comitê de especialistas definiram que a versão brasileira do instrumento se chamaria Índice Clínico Neonatal (NMI-Br). O NMI-Br alcançou altos valores de IVC para clareza (todos I-IVC ≥0,86 e S-IVC/Ave=0,99) entre os participantes da versão pré-final. Conclusões: O NMI-Br é a versão brasileira do NMI, obtido em rigoroso processo de validação transcultural, contando com valores adequados de validade de conteúdo.

Skin-to-skin contact and late-onset sepsis in newborns weighing up to 1.800g: a cohort study / Contato pele a pele e sepse tardia em recém-nascidos com peso até 1.800g: estudo de coorte

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the association between the time to initiate the first skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and the daily practice time with the rates of late-onset sepsis in newborns ≤1,800g. Methods: a multicentric cohort study was carried out at the neonatal units located in three Brazilian geographic regions. The SSC time was recorded in individual files by the hospital staff and the newborn's parents. Maternal and neonatal data were obtained from medical records and through questionnaires applied to the mothers. Data analysis was carried out using a tree algorithm classification, which divided the data set into mutually exclusive subsets that best described the variable response. Results: 405 newborns participated in the study, with an average of 31.3 ± 2.7 weeks and 1,412g (QR=1,164-1,605g) as a median birth weight. The first SSC was carried out within 137 hours of life (≤5.7 days) was associated with a lower rate of late sepsis (p=0.02) for newborns who underwent daily SSC of 112.5 to 174.7 min/day (1.9 to 2.9h/day), with a reduction in the sepsis rate from 39.3% to 27.5%. Furthermore, the duration of SSC >174.7min/day (>2.9h/day) was relevant (p<0.001) for newborns who weighed >1,344g, with a reduction in this rate from 24.1% to 6%. Conclusions: SSP has been proven to be significant in reducing late-onset sepsis rates in preterm newborns, especially when carried out in a timely manner (≤5.7 days) and prolonged (>2.9h/day).

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar a associação entre o tempo para iniciar o primeiro contato pele a pele (CPP) e o tempo diário praticado com a taxa de sepse tardia em recém-nascidos ≤1.800g. Métodos: coorte multicêntrica realizada em unidades neonatais de três regiões geográficas brasileiras. O CPP foi registrado em ficha individual pela equipe e pais do recém-nascido. Dados maternos e neonatais foram obtidos por questionários aplicados às mães e em prontuários médicos. A análise dos dados foi realizada por algoritmo da árvore de classificação, que dividiu o conjunto de dados em subconjuntos mutuamente exclusivos que melhor descreveram a variável resposta. Resultados: 405 recém-nascidos participaram do estudo, com média de 31,3±2,7 semanas de idade gestacional e mediana de peso ao nascer 1.412g (IQ=1.164-1.605g). Realizar o primeiro CPP com até 137h de vida (≤5,7 dias) foi associado a menor taxa de sepse tardia (p=0,02) para recém-nascidos que fizeram CPP diário de 112,5 a 174,7 min/dia (1,9 a 2,9h/dia), com redução na taxa de sepse (39,3% para 27,5%). Além disso, a duração do CPP>174,7min/dia (>2,9h/dia) foi relevante (p<0,001) para os recém-nascidos >1.344g, com redução nesse desfecho (21,1% para 6%). Conclusões: o CPP mostrou-se importante para redução das taxas de sepse tardia em recém-nascidos pré-termo, especialmente quando realizado de forma oportuna (≤5,7 dias) e prolongada (>2,9h/dia).

Impact of resuscitation training program on neonatal outcomes in a region of high socioeconomic vulnerability in Brazil: an interventional study.

OBJECTIVES: This pre/post-intervention study aimed to evaluate neonatal outcomes after the implementation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. METHOD: This interventional study was conducted across five secondary healthcare regions that supported 62 cities in the southwestern mesoregion of Piauí. It included 431 healthcare professionals responsible for neonatal care in the study region. The participants were trained in neonatal resuscitation through the Neonatal Resuscitation Program of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Delivery room structuring, healthcare professionals' knowledge, and neonatal care outcomes were analyzed immediately before and after intervention and after 12 months between February 2018 and March 2019, and healthcare professionals were evaluated. RESULTS: Training was conducted for over 106 courses. As a participant could take multiple courses, 700 training sessions were conducted. Regarding delivery room structuring, the acquisition of materials required for resuscitation increased from 28.4 to 80.6% immediately after the intervention and to 83.3% after 12 months. Knowledge retention was significant in the post-training period, with a 95.5% approval rate, and knowledge acquisition was satisfactory after 12 months. The number of newborns transferred during the study period increased significantly. A 72.6% reduction in mortality at birth was recorded, and 479 newborns were resuscitated. CONCLUSION: Following the implementation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, structural improvements in delivery rooms, adequate knowledge retention regarding neonatal resuscitation, and a consequent reduction in neonatal mortality were observed.

Evaluation of two polyethylene bags in preventing admission hypothermia in preterm infants: a quasi-randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two polyethylene bags in preventing admission hypothermia in preterm infants born at <34 weeks gestation. METHOD: Quasi-randomized unblinded clinical trial conducted at a level III neonatal unit between June 2018 to September 2019. The authors assign infants between 240/7 and 336/7 weeks' gestation to receive NeoHelp™ bag (intervention group) or a usual plastic bag (control group). The primary outcome was admission hypothermia, considering an axillary temperature at admission to the neonatal unit of <36.0 °C. Hyperthermia was considered if the admission temperature reached 37.5 °C or more. RESULTS: The authors evaluated 171 preterm infants (76, intervention group; 95, control group). The rate of admission hypothermia was significantly lower in the intervention group (2.6% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.007), with an 86% reduction in the admission hypothermia rate (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03-0.64), particularly for infants weighing >1000 g and >28 weeks gestation. The intervention group also had a higher median of temperature at admission - 36.8 °C (interquartile range 36.5-37.1) vs. 36.5 °C (interquartile range 36.1-36.9 °C), p = 0.001, and showed a higher hyperthermia rate (9.2% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.023). Birth weight was also associated to the outcome, and it represented a 30% chance reduction for every 100-g increase (OR, 0.997; 95% CI, 0.996-0.999). The in-hospital mortality rate was similar between groups. CONCLUSION: The intervention polyethylene bag was more effective in preventing admission hypothermia. Nonetheless, the risk of hyperthermia is a concern during its use.

Factors associated with skin-to-skin contact less than 180 min/day in newborns weighing up to 1,800 g: multicenter study.

This article aims to evaluate the factors associated with a skin-to-skin contact time <180 min/day in newborns weighing up to 1,800 g during neonatal hospitalization. Prospective observational cohort study conducted in neonatal units of reference for the Kangaroo Method in Brazil. Data from 405 dyads (mother/child) were analyzed from May 2018 to March 2020. Maternal and neonatal explanatory variables were collected from medical records and interviews. Skin-to-skin contact was recorded in forms posted at the bedside, filled out by parents and staff. The outcome variable was the mean time of skin-to-skin contact < 180 min/day. Hierarchical modeling was performed by Poisson regression with robust variance. The variables associated with the outcome were "without easy access to the hospital", "without previous knowledge of the kangaroo method" and "having had morbidities during pregnancy". Mothers without easy access to the hospital and who are unaware of the kangaroo method should be priority targets for health policies to develop strategies that promote greater exposure to skin-to-skin contact during the hospitalization period of their children.

Factors associated with skin-to-skin contact less than 180 min/day in newborns weighing up to 1,800 g: multicenter study / Fatores associados ao contato pele a pele inferior a 180 min/dia em recém-nascidos com peso até 1.800 g: estudo multicêntrico

Abstract This article aims to evaluate the factors associated with a skin-to-skin contact time <180 min/day in newborns weighing up to 1,800 g during neonatal hospitalization. Prospective observational cohort study conducted in neonatal units of reference for the Kangaroo Method in Brazil. Data from 405 dyads (mother/child) were analyzed from May 2018 to March 2020. Maternal and neonatal explanatory variables were collected from medical records and interviews. Skin-to-skin contact was recorded in forms posted at the bedside, filled out by parents and staff. The outcome variable was the mean time of skin-to-skin contact < 180 min/day. Hierarchical modeling was performed by Poisson regression with robust variance. The variables associated with the outcome were "without easy access to the hospital", "without previous knowledge of the kangaroo method" and "having had morbidities during pregnancy". Mothers without easy access to the hospital and who are unaware of the kangaroo method should be priority targets for health policies to develop strategies that promote greater exposure to skin-to-skin contact during the hospitalization period of their children.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar os fatores associados ao tempo de contato pele a pele < 180 min/dia em recém-nascidos com peso até 1.800 g durante a internação neonatal. Estudo observacional tipo coorte prospectivo conduzido em unidades neonatais de referência no Brasil. Foram analisados dados de 405 díades (mãe/filho), no período de maio de 2018 a março de 2020. As características da mãe e do recém-nascido foram coletadas em prontuários e entrevistas, a realização do contato pele-a-pele era registrada em fichas anexadas ao leito, preenchidas pela equipe e pelos pais. A variável desfecho foi o tempo médio diário de contato pele-a-pele inferior a 180 minutos. Foi realizada modelagem hierarquizada utilizando a regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para cálculo das razões de prevalência. As variáveis que permaneceram independentemente associadas foram: "não ter fácil acesso ao hospital" (morar longe ou ter dificuldade de transporte), "não possuir conhecimento prévio sobre o método canguru" e "ter apresentado morbidades durante a gestação". Mães sem fácil acesso ao hospital e que desconhecem o método canguru devem ser alvos prioritários das políticas de saúde para desenvolver estratégias que promovam maior exposição ao contato pele a pele durante o período de internação de seus filhos.

Conservative management of newborns with 35 weeks or more of gestational age at risk for early-onset sepsis: a Brazilian cohort study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the conservative management of newborns born at ≥35 weeks of gestational age, at risk for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). Methods: Retrospective, analytic cohort study (2016 to 2019), including newborns ≥35 weeks of gestational at risk of EOS, asymptomatic at birth, managed conservatively in full rooming-in: serial physical examination and clinical observation for at least 48 h. They were classified into three groups, according to the clinical course: asymptomatic (group A), symptomatic for other reasons (group B), and with sepsis (group C). Risk factors, clinical signs and differential diagnoses of sepsis, length of stay, and discharge conditions were evaluated. Results: The authors evaluated 769 asymptomatic newborns at risk of EOS. (mean birth weight 2999 ± 485 g and gestational age 37.6 ± 1.7 weeks, respectively) corresponding to 12.2% of rooming-in admissions. The most prevalent risk factors were colonization by Group B Streptococcus (29%), prolonged rupture membrane duration (21.9%) and preterm labor (21.4%). Most of all of them (53.9%) remained asymptomatic (group A). Group B corresponded for 45.3%, and the most common clinical signs were hypothermia (24.5%), tremors (8.7%) and vomiting (8%). Environmental dysthermia (50.7%), prematurity (20.0%), and feeding intolerance (15.7%) were common in Group B. Laboratory tests were performed in 3.5%. Five patients (one confirmed) comprised group C (0.8/1,000 live births). There were no deaths. The median length of stay was 64 h (IQR 50-93). Conclusion: The rate of clinical/confirmed EOS was low. Most of the symptomatic patients only needed clinical evaluation to rule out sepsis. Management was shown to be safe.

Growth phenotypes of very low birth weight infants for prediction of neonatal outcomes from a Brazilian cohort: comparison with INTERGROWTH

Abstract Objective: To assess the predictive value of selected growth phenotypes for neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm infants < 30 weeks and to compare them with INTERGROWTH-21st (IG21). Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from the Brazilian Neonatal Research Network (BNRN) database for very low birth weight (VLBW) at 20 public tertiary-care university hospitals. Outcome: the composite neonatal morbidity and mortality (CNMM) consisted of in-hospital death, oxygen use at 36 weeks, intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 or 4, and Bell stage 2 or 3 necrotizing enterocolitis. Selected growth phenotypes: small-for-gestational-age (SGA) defined as being < 3rd (SGA3) or 10th (SGA10) percentiles of BW, and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) as being > 97th percentile of BW. Stunting as being < 3rd percentile of the length and wasting as being < 3rd percentile of BMI. Single and multiple log-binomial regression models were fitted to estimate the relative risks of CNMM, comparing them to IG21. Results: 4,072 infants were included. The adjusted relative risks of CNMM associated with selected growth phenotypes were (BNRN/IG21): 1.45 (0.92-2.31)/1.60 (1.27-2.02) for SGA; 0.90 (0.55-1.47)/1.05 (0.55-1.99) for LGA; 1.65 (1.08-2.51)/1.58 (1.28-1.96) for stunting; and 1.48 (1.02-2.17) for wasting. Agreement between the two references was variable. The growth phenotypes had good specificity (>95%) and positive predictive value (70-90%), with poor sensitivity and low negative predictive value. Conclusion: The BNRN phenotypes at birth differed markedly from the IG21 standard and showed poor accuracy in predicting adverse neonatal outcomes.

Growth phenotypes of very low birth weight infants for prediction of neonatal outcomes from a Brazilian cohort: comparison with INTERGROWTH.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of selected growth phenotypes for neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm infants < 30 weeks and to compare them with INTERGROWTH-21st (IG21). METHOD: Retrospective analysis of data from the Brazilian Neonatal Research Network (BNRN) database for very low birth weight (VLBW) at 20 public tertiary-care university hospitals. OUTCOME: the composite neonatal morbidity and mortality (CNMM) consisted of in-hospital death, oxygen use at 36 weeks, intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 or 4, and Bell stage 2 or 3 necrotizing enterocolitis. Selected growth phenotypes: small-for-gestational-age (SGA) defined as being < 3rd (SGA3) or 10th (SGA10) percentiles of BW, and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) as being > 97th percentile of BW. Stunting as being < 3rd percentile of the length and wasting as being < 3rd percentile of BMI. Single and multiple log-binomial regression models were fitted to estimate the relative risks of CNMM, comparing them to IG21. RESULTS: 4,072 infants were included. The adjusted relative risks of CNMM associated with selected growth phenotypes were (BNRN/IG21): 1.45 (0.92-2.31)/1.60 (1.27-2.02) for SGA; 0.90 (0.55-1.47)/1.05 (0.55-1.99) for LGA; 1.65 (1.08-2.51)/1.58 (1.28-1.96) for stunting; and 1.48 (1.02-2.17) for wasting. Agreement between the two references was variable. The growth phenotypes had good specificity (>95%) and positive predictive value (70-90%), with poor sensitivity and low negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: The BNRN phenotypes at birth differed markedly from the IG21 standard and showed poor accuracy in predicting adverse neonatal outcomes.

Conservative management of newborns with 35 weeks or more of gestational age at risk for early-onset sepsis: a Brazilian cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the conservative management of newborns born at ≥35 weeks of gestational age, at risk for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). METHODS: Retrospective, analytic cohort study (2016 to 2019), including newborns ≥35 weeks of gestational at risk of EOS, asymptomatic at birth, managed conservatively in full rooming-in: serial physical examination and clinical observation for at least 48 h. They were classified into three groups, according to the clinical course: asymptomatic (group A), symptomatic for other reasons (group B), and with sepsis (group C). Risk factors, clinical signs and differential diagnoses of sepsis, length of stay, and discharge conditions were evaluated. RESULTS: The authors evaluated 769 asymptomatic newborns at risk of EOS. (mean birth weight 2999 ± 485 g and gestational age 37.6 ± 1.7 weeks, respectively) corresponding to 12.2% of rooming-in admissions. The most prevalent risk factors were colonization by Group B Streptococcus (29%), prolonged rupture membrane duration (21.9%) and preterm labor (21.4%). Most of all of them (53.9%) remained asymptomatic (group A). Group B corresponded for 45.3%, and the most common clinical signs were hypothermia (24.5%), tremors (8.7%) and vomiting (8%). Environmental dysthermia (50.7%), prematurity (20.0%), and feeding intolerance (15.7%) were common in Group B. Laboratory tests were performed in 3.5%. Five patients (one confirmed) comprised group C (0.8/1,000 live births). There were no deaths. The median length of stay was 64 h (IQR 50-93). CONCLUSION: The rate of clinical/confirmed EOS was low. Most of the symptomatic patients only needed clinical evaluation to rule out sepsis. Management was shown to be safe.

Características do contato pele a pele em unidades neonatais brasileiras: estudo multicêntrico / Características del contacto piel con piel en unidades neonatales brasileñas: estudio multicéntrico / Characteristics of skin-to-skin contact in Brazilian neonatal units: a multicenter study

Resumo Objetivo Descrever o início, duração, local e quem realiza o contato pele a pele em unidades neonatais brasileiras. Métodos Estudo multicêntrico descritivo, longitudinal, realizado de maio de 2018 a março de 2020, em cinco unidades neonatais referência para o Método Canguru no Brasil, que incluiu recém-nascidos com peso até 1800g. As características maternas e dos recém-nascidos foram coletadas em prontuários e entrevistas. A prática do contato pele a pele era registrada em cartões anexados ao leito, preenchidos pela equipe e pelos pais. A análise ocorreu por meio de estatística descritiva. Resultados Foram incluídos 405 recém-nascidos, 51,4% do sexo masculino, mediana de idade gestacional de 31,4 semanas e de peso ao nascimento de 1.412g. Em relação ao tempo de realização do contato pele a pele, a mediana da frequência do contato diário foi de 1,5 vezes (IIQ: 1,2 - 2,4), o tempo/dia de 147 min/dia (IIQ: 106,7 - 263,0) e a realização do primeiro contato aos cinco dias de vida (IIQ:4,0-8,0). O maior tempo de contato/dia foi realizado pelas mães, com mediana de 137,8 min/dia (IIQ:95,6-232,1) e a segunda etapa do Método Canguru, Unidade de Cuidados Intermediários Canguru, foi o local onde se realizou por maior tempo o contato, com mediana de 184,4 min/dia (IIQ:124,7-455,4). Conclusão Nas unidades avaliadas, o contato pele a pele é praticado de forma intermitente, poucas vezes por dia, predominantemente pelas mães e com maior tempo de exposição na segunda etapa. É necessário buscar meios que possibilitem mais encontros entre mãe/pai-filho e que dê condições de maior permanência dos genitores no hospital.

Resumen Objetivo Describir el inicio, duración, lugar y quién realiza el contacto piel con piel en unidades neonatales brasileñas. Métodos Estudio multicéntrico descriptivo, longitudinal, realizado de mayo de 2018 a marzo de 2020, en cinco unidades neonatales de referencia del Método Canguro en Brasil, que incluyó recién nacidos de hasta 1800 g de peso. Las características maternas y de los recién nacidos fueron recopiladas en historias clínicas y entrevistas. La práctica del contacto piel con piel fue registrada en tarjetas anexadas a la cama, completadas por el equipo y por los padres. El análisis se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva. Resultados Se incluyeron 405 recién nacidos, 51,4 % de sexo masculino, mediana de 31,4 semanas de edad gestacional y de 1412 g de peso al nacer. Con relación al tiempo de realización del contacto piel con piel, la mediana de la frecuencia del contacto diario fue 1,5 veces (IIQ: 1,2 - 2,4), el tiempo/día fue de 147 min/día (IIQ: 106,7 - 263,0) y la realización del primer contacto a los cinco días de vida (IIQ:4,0-8,0). El mayor tiempo de contacto/día fue realizado por las madres, con una mediana de 137,8 min/día (IIQ:95,6-232,1) y la segunda etapa del Método Canguro, la Unidad de Cuidados Intermedios Canguro, fue el lugar donde se realizó el contacto por mayor tiempo, con una mediana de 184,4 min/día (IIQ:124,7-455,4). Conclusión En las unidades analizadas, el contacto piel con piel se practica de forma intermitente, pocas veces por día, predominantemente por las madres y con mayor tiempo de exposición en la segunda etapa. Es necesario buscar medios que permitan más encuentros entre madre/padre-hijo y que ofrezcan condiciones de mayor permanencia de los progenitores en el hospital.

Abstract Objective To describe the beginning, duration, location and who makes skin-to-skin contact in Brazilian neonatal units. Methods This is a descriptive, longitudinal multicenter study, carried out from May 2018 to March 2020, in five reference neonatal units for Kangaroo Mother Care in Brazil, which included newborns weighing up to 1,800 grams. Maternal and newborn characteristics were collected from medical records and interviews. Skin-to-skin contact was recorded on cards attached to the bed, filled in by the team and fathers. Analysis occurred through descriptive statistics. Results We included 405 newborns, 51.4% male, median gestational age of 31.4 weeks and birth weight of 1,412 grams. Regarding skin-to-skin contact time, the median daily contact frequency was 1.5 times (IQR: 1.2 - 2.4), the time/day was 147 min/day (IQR: 106.7 - 263.0) and the first contact at five days of life (IQR:4.0-8.0). The longest contact time/day was performed by mothers, with a median of 137.8 minutes per day (IQR:95.6-232.1), and the second stage of kangaroo Mother Care, kangaroo Intermediate Care Unit, was the place where contact was performed for the longest time, with a median of 184.4 minutes per day (IQR:124.7-455.4). Conclusion In the units assessed, skin-to-skin contact is practiced intermittently, a few times a day, predominantly by mothers and with longer exposure time in the second stage. It is necessary to seek ways that allow more encounters between mother/father-child and that gives conditions of greater permanence of fathers in the hospital.

Evaluation of two polyethylene bags in preventing admission hypothermia in preterm infants: a quasirandomized clinical trial

Abstract Objective: To compare two polyethylene bags in preventing admission hypothermia in preterm infants born at <34 weeks gestation. Method: Quasi-randomized unblinded clinical trial conducted at a level III neonatal unit between June 2018 to September 2019. The authors assign infants between 240/7 and 336/7 weeks' gestation to receive NeoHelpTM bag (intervention group) or a usual plastic bag (control group). The primary outcome was admission hypothermia, considering an axillary temperature at admission to the neonatal unit of <36.0 °C. Hyperthermia was considered if the admission temperature reached 37.5 °Cor more. Results: The authors evaluated 171 preterm infants (76, intervention group; 95, control group). The rate of admission hypothermia was significantly lower in the intervention group (2.6% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.007), with an 86% reduction in the admission hypothermia rate (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03-0.64), particularly for infants weighing >1000 g and >28 weeks gestation. The intervention group also had a higher median of temperature at admission - 36.8 °C (interquartile range 36.5-37.1) vs. 36.5 °C (interquartile range 36.1-36.9 °C), p = 0.001, and showed à higher hyperthermia rate (9.2% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.023). Birth weight was also associated to the outcome, and it represented a 30% chance reduction for every 100-g increase (OR, 0.997; 95% CI, 0.996-0.999). The in-hospital mortality rate was similar between groups. Conclusion: The intervention polyethylene bag was more effective in preventing admission hypothermia. Nonetheless, the risk of hyperthermia is a concern during its use.

Impact of resuscitation training program on neonatal outcomes in a region of high socioeconomic vulnerability in Brazil: an interventional study

Abstract Objectives: This pre/post-intervention study aimed to evaluate neonatal outcomes after the implementation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Method: This interventional study was conducted across five secondary healthcare regions that supported 62 cities in the southwestern mesoregion of Piauí. It included 431 healthcare professionals responsible for neonatal care in the study region. The participants were trained in neonatal resuscitation through the Neonatal Resuscitation Program of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Delivery room structuring, healthcare professionals' knowledge, and neonatal care outcomes were analyzed immediately before and after intervention and after 12 months between February 2018 and March 2019, and healthcare professionals were evaluated. Results: Training was conducted for over 106 courses. As a participant could take multiple courses, 700 training sessions were conducted. Regarding delivery room structuring, the acquisition of materials required for resuscitation increased from 28.4 to 80.6% immediately after the intervention and to 83.3% after 12 months. Knowledge retention was significant in the post-training period, with a 95.5% approval rate, and knowledge acquisition was satisfactory after 12 months. The number of newborns transferred during the study period increased significantly. A 72.6% reduction in mortality at birth was recorded, and 479 newborns were resuscitated. Conclusion: Following the implementation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, structural improvements in delivery rooms, adequate knowledge retention regarding neonatal resuscitation, and a consequent reduction in neonatal mortality were observed.

Neonatal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment as a late-onset sepsis mortality predictor in very low birth weight newborns: a Brazilian cohort study.

Death is a frequent occurrence in late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS). We aimed to evaluate if the Neonatal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (nSOFA) is associated with mortality due to LOS in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. This is a single-center Brazilian cohort study including VLBW infants admitted between 2006 and 2020 who were diagnosed with LOS caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp or Gram-negative bacteria. The primary outcome was mortality associated with sepsis. Two groups of patients-survivors and non-survivors-were compared regarding descriptive maternal and neonatal variables and the nSOFA score, evaluated at nine moments, from 48 hours before the diagnosis of sepsis to 48 hours later (T-48, T-24, T-12, T-6, T0, T+6, T+12, T+24, T+48). Diagnostic accuracy was expressed as the area under the curve (AUC). Among the 1574 VLBW infants hospitalized in the period, 114 episodes of culture-confirmed LOS occurred. There were 21 sepsis-related deaths (18.4%), mostly from Gram-negative bacteria and Enterococcus sp. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding maternal and neonatal variables. Median nSOFA was significantly higher in the non-survivor group at all time points (range 2 to 13 versus 1 to 3). In the logistic regression analysis, each increment of one point in the score significantly increases the risk of death in eight of the nine moments, but no difference was found in T-24. Time T-6 had the best accuracy (88.1%).   Conclusion: The nSOFA score was significantly associated with the risk of death from LOS in VLBW infants. What is Known: • The neonatal sepsis may result in organ dysfunction and death, and it is important to find indicators that could identify this clinical progression. • The nSOFA score was proposed in 2020 to predict mortality from LOS, but since it is recent and still in the research phase, further studies are important to improve it before being widely used in clinical practice. What is New: • We showed a significative association between higher nSOFA scores and mortality. Our results corroborate the validity and the importance of the nSOFA score and highlight its high NPV.

The role of skin-to-skin contact in exclusive breastfeeding: a cohort study.

OBJETIVE: To understand the role of exposure to skin-to-skin contact and its minimum duration in determining exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge in infants weighing up to 1,800g at birth. METHODS: A multicenter cohort study was carried out in five Brazilian neonatal units. Infants weighing ≤ 1,800g at birth were eligible. Skin-to-skin contact time was recorded by the health care team and parents on an individual chart. Maternal and infant data was obtained from maternal questionnaires and medical records. The Classification Tree, a machine learning method, was used for data analysis; the tree growth algorithm, using statistical tests, partitions the dataset into mutually exclusive subsets that best describe the response variable and calculates appropriate cut-off points for continuous variables, thus generating an efficient explanatory model for the outcome under study. RESULTS: A total of 388 infants participated in the study, with a median of 31.6 (IQR = 29-31.8) weeks of gestation age and birth weight of 1,429g (IQR = 1,202-1,610). The exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge was 61.6%. For infant's weighting between 1,125g and 1,655g, exposed to skin-to-skin contact was strongly associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Moreover, infants who made an average > 149.6 min/day of skin-to-skin contact had higher chances in this outcome (74% versus 46%). In this group, those who received a severity score (SNAPPE-II) equal to zero increased their chances of breastfeeding (83% versus 63%). CONCLUSION: Skin-to-skin contact proved to be of great relevance in maintaining exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge for preterm infants weighing 1,125g-1,655g at birth, especially in those with lower severity scores.

Skin-to-skin contact and deaths in newborns weighing up to 1800 grams: a cohort study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the association between dose of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) per day and initiation time with the occurrence of deaths in newborns with weight up to 1800g. Method: Multicentric cohort in five Brazilian neonatal units, including newborns with a birth weight of ≤1800g. The time of SSC was registered in individual file, by the team or family during the hospitalization. Maternal and newborn data were obtained through questionnaires applied to mothers and in medical records. Classification Tree was used for data analysis. Results: The performance of the first SSC after 206h was significantly associated with death (p = 0.02). Although there was no association between SSC/day and death (p = 0.09), the number of deaths among those who performed more than 146.9 minutes/day was lower (3;1.5%) than among those who performed this practice for a shorter time (13;6.4%), a fact considered of great clinical importance. Early and late infections present statistically significant associations with the outcome. The chance of death was equal to zero when there was no early infection in the group with the longest duration of SSC. This probability was also equal to zero in the absence of late sepsis for the group with less than 146.9 minutes/day of SSC. Conclusions: The first SSC before 206 hours of life is recommended in order to observe a reduction in the risk of neonatal death. Staying in SSC for more than 146.9 min/day seems to be clinically beneficial for these neonates mostly when it was associated with the absence of infection.

Temporal trends in intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants: A Brazilian multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious problem in preterm infants. Brazilian national data are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and temporal trend of IVH in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants of 18 centers of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research. STUDY DESIGN: National prospective multicenter cohort study including inborn VLBW preterm infants aged 230/7- 336/7 weeks' gestation, admitted between 2013 and 2018. The center with the mean incidence rate was used as reference. We applied two adjustments models using perinatal variables, and perinatal + neonatal diseases. RESULTS: Of 6,420 infants, 1951/30.4% (range 27.1-33.8%) had IVH and the disease showed a significant trend towards an overall increase in incidence over time (p = 0.003), especially in three centers. Severe IVH (grade III or IV) occurred in 32.2% (range 29.2-34.5%) of those affected by IVH, with a stable incidence. After adjustments for perinatal variables, the differences persisted among centers: for global IVH, 7 centers had significantly lower rates (OR ranging from 0.31 to 0.62), and 2 presented rates higher than the reference center (OR ranging from 2.00 to 12.46) for severe HIV. Considering perinatal and neonatal variables, 6 centers had significantly lower rates (OR ranging from 0.36 to 0.60) for global IVH than the reference center and 3 had statistically higher rates (OR 1.72, 1.86 and 11.78) for severe forms. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of IVH in this Brazilian cohort was high and it revealed an increasing trend towards over time. The severe IVH rate was also worrisome.