Risk factors and clinical outcomes for carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative late-onset sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant (CR), Gram-negative (GN), late-onset sepsis (LOS) is a serious threat in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). AIM: To assess the prevalence of CR-GN-LOS in NICU patients and to identify the risk factors and outcomes associated with its acquisition. METHODS: Neonates with carbapenem-susceptible (CS)-GN-LOS were compared with those with CR-GN-LOS in a two-year observational study. FINDINGS: A total of 158 patients had GN-LOS; 100 infants had CS-GN-LOS and 58 infants had CR-GN-LOS. The incidence rate of CR-GN-LOS was 6.5 cases per 1000 patient-days. The most frequent bacterial strain in both groups was Klebsiella pneumoniae. The duration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (P=0.006) and prior carbapenem use (P=0.01) were independent risk factors for CR-GN-LOS acquisition. CR-GN-LOS was associated with higher mortality than CS-GN-LOS (P=0.04). Birth weight, small for gestational age, time to start enteral feeding, exclusive formula feeding, previous surgery, previous antifungal use, central venous device before onset, duration of central venous device, and infectious complications were identified as dependent risk factors for overall mortality. However, only male gender (P=0.04) and infectious complications (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors associated with mortality. Infectious complication rates, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of hospital stay were significantly higher in infants with CR compared to CS-GN-LOS. CONCLUSION: The duration of TPN and carbapenem use were the independent predictors for CR-GN-LOS acquisition. CR-GN-LOS is associated with higher mortality, infectious complication rates, longer mechanical ventilation, and longer hospital stay. Male gender and infectious complications were the independent risk factors for mortality in neonates with GN-LOS.

Assessment of pain during application of nasal-continuous positive airway pressure and heated, humidified high-flow nasal cannulae in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pain and compare its severity in preterm infants during application of nasal-continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and heated, humidified high-flow nasal cannulae (HHHFNC). STUDY DESIGN: An observational cross-sectional study. Sixty preterm infants, categorized into nCPAP (n=37) and HHHFNC groups (n=23). Pain response was assessed using Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP), duration of first cry and salivary-cortisol concentrations. RESULT: The PIPP scores were significantly higher in the nCPAP compared with HHHFNC group (10 (7-12) vs 4 (2-6), P<0.01). None of the infants in the HHHFNC group had severe pain defined as a PIPP score >12, compared with 5 (13.5%) infants in the nCPAP group. Salivary-cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in nCPAP group compared with the HHHFNC group (5.0 (3.6-5.9) vs 1.6 (1.0-2.3) nmol l(-1), P<0.01). A lower incidence of cry was observed for infants in the HHHFNC group compared with the nCPAP group (11 (47.8%) vs 30 (81.1%), P<0.001), however, the duration of first cry was not significantly different between groups. The respiratory rate was significantly lower after application of HHHFNC compared with nCPAP (P<0.001). There were no significant differences between groups with regard to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2) and heart rate. CONCLUSION: The application of HHHFNC in preterm infants is associated with less pain compared with nCPAP, as it is associated with less PIPP scores and lower salivary-cortisol concentrations.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in neonatal intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing (ESBL) Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important cause of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Our objectives were to determine (1) the incidence of ESBL K. pneumoniae in our NICU, (2) the frequency of SHV-1 and SHV-2 gene acquisition among ESBL K. pneumoniae isolates, (3) the risk factors associated with ESBL K. pneumoniae infection and (4) the clinical outcomes of infected infants. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective surveillance study in our NICU over a period of 1 year on all neonates admitted without evidence of early sepsis. We collected specimens from blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, swabs from wounds and throat and endotracheal tube aspirates of infants whenever sepsis was suspected. Bacterial isolates were identified via clinical morphology, Gram stain and standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method, and phenotypic confirmation of ESBL production was done by the double-disc synergy test and Etest. Genetic detection of SHV-1 and SHV-2 genes in ESBL K. pneumoniae isolates was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Risk factors associated with ESBL K. pneumoniae infection were analysed by both univariate and multiple logistic regression methods. RESULTS: A total of 980 cultures were obtained from 380 neonates, and 372 screening cultures were collected from the environment. K. pneumoniae was cultured from 27 (7%) infants (3.8/1000 patient-days); of them, 18 (67%) were ESBL producers. PCR amplicons revealed the presence of SHV-2 in all 18 isolates (100%), and SHV-1 gene in 8 isolates (44%). Independent risk factors for ESBL K. pneumoniae infection were mechanical ventilation (OR: 4.2, confidence interval (CI): 1.6-11.0); birth weight <1500 g (OR: 3.2, CI: 1.2-8.3) ); duration of hospitalization >15 days (OR: 4.1, CI: 1.2-14.4); total parenteral nutrition (OR: 4.9, CI: 1.1-21.7); and previous use of oxyimino-antibiotics (OR: 4.9, CI: 1.1-21.5). ESBL was associated with higher mortality (RR=3.1, CI: 1.04-9.1) and prolonged hospitalization in those who survived (OR=3.8 CI: 1.02-11.2). Environmental cultures (n=372) had ESBL K. pneumoniae in nine isolates: four from suction tubes, two from the incubators and three from the hands of care givers. CONCLUSION: ESBL K. pneumoniae is a significant source for mortality and morbidity in infants admitted to NICU. Use of oxyimino-antibiotics is a significant risk factor for infection. The clinical significance for the SHV-1 and SHV-2 genes should be further explored.

Gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha(-308), IL-10(-1082), IL-6(-174), and IL-1Ra(VNTR) related to susceptibility and severity of rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an inflammatory disease of the heart tissues caused by interactive immune, genetic, and environmental factors. The objective of this study is to test for the association of polymorphisms related to cytokine genes with susceptibility and severity of RHD among affected children from the Nile Delta region of Egypt. The study included 50 children with chronic RHD (29 males and 21 females), with a mean age of 12.2 years, in addition to 98 healthy unrelated controls. Cases were further classified on the basis of echocardiographic findings into those with only mitral valve disease (MVD) or multivalvular lesions (MVLs) and also as mild, moderate, or severe valve lesions. For all cases and controls, DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of cytokine genes tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha(-308 )G/A, interleukin (IL)-10(-1082 )G/A, and IL-6(-174 )G/C as well as a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) in intron 2 of the IL-1Ra gene. All cases showed a significantly higher frequency of homozygous genotypes of TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A [odds ratio (OR) = 5.7, p < 0.001], IL-10(-1082) A/A (OR = 3.1, p < 0.05), IL-10(-1082) G/G (OR = 5.2, p < 0.05), and IL-1Ra A1/A1 (OR = 2.2, p < 0.05). Cases with MVD showed higher frequencies of genotypes TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A, G/G; IL-10(-1082) G/G; and IL-1Ra(VNTR) A1/A1 (p < 0.05). Cases with MVL showed a significantly higher frequency of homozygous A/A genotype of both TNF-alpha(-308 )(OR = 10.6, p < 0.05) and IL-10(-1082) (OR = 5.2, p < 0.05). The same was observed for cases with severe valve lesions. On the other hand, all studied groups showed significantly lower frequency of heterozygous genotypes of TNF-alpha(-308 )G/A, IL-10(-1082) G/A, and IL-1Ra(VNTR) A1/A2. No significant difference was found regarding the frequency of IL-6(-174 )G/C polymorphisms in total cases or subgroups compared to controls (p > 0.05). Predisposition to RHD is influenced by genetic factors including cytokine gene polymorphisms, with possible susceptibility to severe disease with multivalvular affection among cases with composite polymorphism (TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A and IL-10(-1082) A/A) and (TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A and IL-10(-1082) G/G).

Erythromycin and feeding intolerance in premature infants: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose oral erythromycin to treat feeding intolerance in preterm infants. DESIGN: This study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on 60 premature infants suffering from feeding intolerance. Thirty infants were given oral erythromycin 1 mg/kg every 8 h and 30 infants were given placebo (normal saline). Randomization was stratified on enrollment according to gestational age whether >32 weeks or 32 weeks, the erythromycin group achieved full enteral feeding earlier than placebo group (10.5+/-4.1 vs 16.3+/-5.7 days, respectively; P=0.01) had fewer episodes of gastric residuals (P<0.05) and shorter duration of parenteral nutrition (PN) (P<0.05). On the other hand, in infants with gestational age 32 weeks gestation. A similar effect on younger preterm infants was not demonstrable.

Randomized controlled trial of discontinuation of nasal-CPAP in stable preterm infants breathing room air.

This trial assessed the consequences of discontinuation of nasal-CPAP in stable preterm infants breathing room air. Eighty-eight infants with a mean gestational age of 29 (24-33) weeks and a mean birthweight of 1264 (665-2060)g, randomized to either discontinuation of CPAP or its continuation, were clinically observed and monitored for 6 h by cardiorespiratory monitor, pulse oximeter and transcutaneous blood gas monitor. The abdominal circumference and gastric air and aspirate volumes were measured prior to meals at trial entry and after 6 h. Discontinuation of CPAP led to a small but significant decrease in oxygenation at 1 and 6 h. During the trial, five infants in the experimental group required supplemental oxygen and one infant was put back on CPAP owing to excessive apnoeas. Discontinuation of CPAP did not influence the TcPCO2 or the number of apnoeas and bradycardias during the trial, but led to significantly increased respiratory rate, retractions, and flaring at 6 h. It also led to a significant decrease in the abdominal circumference and gastric air volume. Thirty-nine percent of infants were put back on CPAP some time after the trial, mainly because of recurrent apnoeas and bradycardias. Taking the infant off CPAP during the trial reduced subsequent use of CPAP.