Factors associated with survival of very-low-birth-weight infants in a Brazilian fee-paying maternity in the 1990s.

This study describes intra-hospital survival rates of very-low-birth-weight infants, as well as factors present at birth associated with survival, during a period of 10 years. This is a Retrospective cohort study performed in a 3rd level nursery at Santa Joana Maternity Hospital, a fee-paying institution in Sao Paulo, Brazil. From January 1991 to December 2000, 963 live-born infants with a birth weight of 500-1499 g, without congenital anomalies, were followed until discharge. Survival was studied according with year of birth, and stratified by birth weight and gestational age. Factors present at birth associated with survival were analyzed by logistic regression. Patient characteristics were: birth weight 500-999 g (38%), gestational ages or=750 g, and gestational age >or=26 weeks.

Sobrevida de recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso em maternidade privada de nível terciário / Survival of very low birth weight infants in level III private maternity hospital

Objetivo: descrever a sobrevida intra-hospitalar dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso, de acordo com as faixas de peso ao nascer (PN) e idade gestacional (IG) no período de 4 anos, em naternidade privada de nível terciário. Métodos: Coorte prospectiva de 146 RN com PN de 500 a 1499g, sem anolmalias congênitas incompatíveis com a vida, com IG superior a 22 semanas, que nasceram e permaneceram internados na Maternidade Pro-Matre Paulista até a alta, no período de março de 2000 a fevereiro de 2004. Descreve-se a taxa de sobrevida por faixa de PN e IG e nalisam-se fatores presentes ao nascimento, associados à sobrevida intra-hospitalar por meio de regressão logística. Resultados: características dos 146 RN: PN 1096+-284g, IG 29,4+-3,2 semanas, pequeno/IG 42 por cento, gestações múltiplas 39 por cento, sexo masculino 47 por cento e parto cesáreo 79 por cento. A sobrevida, nas faixas de 500-749g, 1000-1249g e 1250-1499g foi, respectivamente, 39, 78, 85 e 98 por cento. A sobrevida dos pacientes de 23-24, 25-27 semanas, 28-30 e 31-33 semanas foi respectivamente, 36, 69, 86 e 94 por cento. A análise de regressão mostrou que a sobrevida intra-hospitalar aumentou com a elevação do PN (OR 0,995; IC 95 por cento 0,993-0,997) e não teve influêncian dos fatores IG, adequação PN/IG, gestação múltipla, sexo, parto ou ano de nascimento. Conclusões: em 4 anos, a sobrevida foi crescente de acordo com o aumento do peso ao nascer. Esforços devem ser direcionados para que taxas maiores de sobrevida sejam obtidas, em especial, nos nascidos entre 500 e 750g e/ou idade gestacional entre 23 e25 semanas.

A survey of the incidence of neonatal sepsis by group B Streptococcus during a decade in a Brazilian maternity hospital.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the main etiological agent of neonatal sepsis in developed countries, however there is no detailed information on its incidence in Brazil. We registered the incidence and lethality of GBS infection in a Brazilian private maternity hospital from April 1991 to March 2000. Maternal risk factors contributing to neonatal infections were also scored. The rate of infection was determined by checking for GBS in the blood and liquor of symptomatic neonates within 72 hours of birth. Sepsis and/or early onset meningitis were diagnosed in 43 neonates (32 cases in blood, 1in liquor and 10 in blood and liquor). The overall incidence was 0.39 per thousand neonates and remained quite constant throughout the period, ranging from 0.25-0.63. Septic shock occurred in 33 neonates within 1 to 36 hours of birth (mean 15 hours). Among those patients, 26 (60%) died between the 5th and the 85th hour after birth. Maternal risk factors, according to CDC criteria, included: gestational age below 37 weeks in 26 cases (60%), amniorrhexis equal or superior to 18 hours in 7 cases (16%), and maternal temperature equal or superior to 38(o)C in 4 cases (9%). None of the mothers had received prophylactic antibiotics during labor nor were urine, rectal or vaginal swabs screened for GBS. Although the incidence of GBS infection in the population in this study was lower than that found in developed countries, its rate of mortality was higher. The death rate could be reduced through recognition of the risk factors and prophylactic antibiotics during labor.

A survey of the incidence of neonatal sepsis by group B Streptococcus during a decade in a Brazilian maternity hospital

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the main etiological agent of neonatal sepsis in developed countries, however there is no detailed information on its incidence in Brazil. We registered the incidence and lethality of GBS infection in a Brazilian private maternity hospital from April 1991 to March 2000. Maternal risk factors contributing to neonatal infections were also scored. The rate of infection was determined by checking for GBS in the blood and liquor of symptomatic neonates within 72 hours of birth. Sepsis and/or early onset meningitis were diagnosed in 43 neonates (32 cases in blood, 1in liquor and 10 in blood and liquor). The overall incidence was 0.39 per thousand neonates and remained quite constant throughout the period, ranging from 0.25-0.63. Septic shock occurred in 33 neonates within 1 to 36 hours of birth (mean 15 hours). Among those patients, 26 (60) died between the 5th and the 85th hour after birth. Maternal risk factors, according to CDC criteria, included: gestational age below 37 weeks in 26 cases (60), amniorrhexis equal or superior to 18 hours in 7 cases (16), and maternal temperature equal or superior to 38(o)C in 4 cases (9). None of the mothers had received prophylactic antibiotics during labor nor were urine, rectal or vaginal swabs screened for GBS. Although the incidence of GBS infection in the population in this study was lower than that found in developed countries, its rate of mortality was higher. The death rate could be reduced through recognition of the risk factors and prophylactic antibiotics during labor.

Listeriose neonatal / Neonatal listeriosis

Os autores descrevem e discutem três casos de infecçäo por Listeria mono cytogenes no período de janeiro de 1994 a dezembro de 1995, diagnosticados na Unidade Neonatal do Hospital e Maternidade Santa Joana, Säo Paulo. Nos três casos observamos líquido amniótico meconial. Em dois havia história materna de infecçäo de vias urinárias, fisometria e a idade gestacional (IG) era menor que 35 semanas. O quadro clínico nestes casos foi mais grave, evoluindo para óbito em menos de 24 horas. O terceiro recém-nascido(RN) tinha uma IG de 37 semanas, sem antecedentes de patologias maternas e a evoluçäo clínica foi satisfatória. É importante lembrar que o obstetra de estar atento para situaçöes de risco, já que o tratamento precoce da mäe pode modificar a...