Reduction in the incidence of chronic lung disease in very low birth weight infants: results of a quality improvement process in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease by introducing potentially better practices in our delivery room and NICU. METHODS: We compared the incidences of chronic lung disease in infants with birth weights of 501 to 1500 g in 2002 and 2005, after implementation of the changes. Medical records for infants of 501 to 1500 g who were born in 2002 and 2005 were reviewed for maternal characteristics, care of the infant in the delivery room and the NICU (including surfactant usage, duration of ventilation, duration of continuous positive airway pressure therapy, and duration of oxygen treatment), length of stay, and short-term clinical outcomes (eg, pneumothorax, severe intracranial hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and weight gain). RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in our incidence of chronic lung disease, from 46.5% in 2002 to 20.5% in 2005. The number of infants discharged from the hospital with oxygen therapy also decreased significantly, from 16.4% in 2002 to 4.1% in 2005. The overall relative risk reduction for chronic lung disease in 2005, compared with 2002, was 55.8%. CONCLUSIONS: By using a quality improvement process that included avoidance of intubation, adoption of new pulse oximeter limits, and early use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy, we demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of chronic lung disease in infants with birth weights of <1500 g in 2005, in comparison with 2002. These results have persisted to date. There were no significant short-term complications.

A randomized comparison of continuous vs. intermittent infliximab maintenance regimens over 1 year in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of infliximab in psoriasis have demonstrated rapid improvement with induction therapy and sustained response with regularly administered maintenance therapy. OBJECTIVE: The efficacy and safety of continuous (every-8-week) and intermittent (as-needed) maintenance regimens were compared. METHODS: Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (n = 835) were randomized to induction therapy (weeks 0, 2, and 6) with infliximab 3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg or placebo. Infliximab-treated patients were randomized again at week 14 to continuous or intermittent maintenance regimens at their induction dose. RESULTS: At week 10, 75.5% and 70.3% of patients in the infliximab 5 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg groups, respectively, achieved PASI 75; 45.2% and 37.1% achieved PASI 90 (vs 1.9% [PASI 75] and 0.5% [PASI 90] for placebo; P < .001). Through week 50, PASI responses were better maintained with continuous compared with intermittent therapy within each dose, and with 5 mg/kg compared with 3 mg/kg continuous therapy. LIMITATIONS: Longer term (>1 year) maintenance therapy and further study of infliximab serum concentrations over this period, in both PASI 75 responders and non-responders, would be preferable. CONCLUSIONS: Through week 50, response was best maintained with continuous infliximab therapy. Infliximab was generally well-tolerated in most patients.