Use of impregnated catheters to decrease colonization rates in neonates - A randomized controlled pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: Nosocomial infections increase mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Central venous line colonization is a major risk factor for the development of such infections. In adults and children, antibiotic and antimycotic impregnated catheters have been demonstrated to reduce colonization. However, recently published data showed no significant difference in bloodstream infection in neonates when an impregnated catheter was used. We investigated the effect of impregnation of percutaneously inserted micro-catheters (PICC) on colonization in preterm and sick term infants in our unit. METHODS: Neonates were randomly assigned to receive either a standard (S-PICC; n = 34) or antibiotic and antimycotic impregnated (IP-PICC; n = 37) PICC. Catheters were placed and removed according to a standard procedure and subsequently examined by roll-out culture. The primary outcome was the rate of colonization defined as >15 colony-forming-units/ml. Additional outcomes were catheter associated or systemic infections. RESULTS: The rate of colonization was lower in neonates who received an IP-PICC as compared to S-PICC (5.6% vs. 12.1% respectively; p = 0.42). However, the difference was not significant. In IP-PICC vs S-PICC, catheter related local infection (CRI) although lower was not statistically significant (2.9% vs. 6.1%; p = 0.60). We observed no difference in catheter related systemic infection (CR-SI) (0% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.48). The neonates whose catheters were colonized were predominantly of a lower gestational age (median 254/7, p = 0.05) and males (100%, p = 0.01). In addition, the median colony count in the colonized IP-PICC catheters was lower as compared to S- PICC group (53 vs 250, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The use of antibiotic and antimycotic impregnated PICC-lines in neonates tended to decrease colonization rates in neonates in our centers but this difference was not significant. Lower gestational age and male sex are risk factors for catheter colonization.

[Establishment of a Neonatal ECMO Programme on the Basis of a Special Training Programme--A 6-year Analysis]. / Etablierung neonataler ECMO bei Lungenversagen auf der Grundlage eines speziellen Trainingsprogramms--Eine 6-Jahres-Analyse.

BACKGROUND: Internationally the need for neonatal ECMO is decreasing and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) recommends that centres providing neonatal ECMO should treat at least 6 children per year. METHOD: After a one-year training programme and preparation of the clinical application, neonatal ECMO was established and subsequently 41 infants [median age 1 day (1-172 days), median weight 3.25 kg (1.27-5.79 kg)] with severe respiratory failure have been treated within a 6-year period (fall 2008-fall 2014). For rescue therapy we provide inhaled nitric oxide, high-frequency oscillation and other differentiated ventilator strategies. Parallel to the clinical use of ECMO all employees have been trained in a special programme at 3-monthly intervals. RESULTS: By establishing an elaborate training programme and concentrating the treatment of critically ill newborns in one centre, the expertise of both running and preventing of neonatal ECMO due to pulmonary failure can be achieved. The diagnoses correlate to those of other centres which perform neonatal ECMO. 13 infants needed ECMO. The resulting overall survival rate was 11/12 (91.7%) infants treated with ECMO with a curative approach. All patients could be weaned from ECMO. CONCLUSION: In the context of a specialised university hospital with all treatment options for critically ill newborns and with the establishment of a specialised training programme, neonatal ECMO for pulmonary failure can achieve equally good results in comparison to those of national and international ECMO centres.

[Hydrocephalus in childhood : causes and imaging patterns]. / Hydrozephalus im Kindesalter : Ursachen und bildmorphologische Darstellung.

CLINICAL ISSUE: Causes and imaging patterns of hydrocephalus differ depending on the age of the patient. Traditionally, hydrocephalus was classified into non-communicating and communicating hydrocephalus but more recent classifications also take the site of occlusion and the etiology into account. DIAGNOSTICS: For the diagnostic work-up computed tomography (CT), sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are available and MRI is the method of choice for children and adolescents as it allows determination of the cause and location of a possible obstruction. In the first 12-18 months sonography allows evaluation of the lateral ventricles and the third ventricle and CT is usually only chosen in children in emergency situations and/or if no other modality is available. PERFORMANCE: We retrospectively evaluated a population of 785 children and adolescents (426 males aged 0-17 years) referred for MRI between April 2009 and March 2012 due to headaches, somnolence, concentration difficulties or developmental delay. Among these 80 (49 male) met the MRI criteria for hydrocephalus, 75 (46 male) had non-communicating hydrocephalus and 5 (3 male) communicating hydrocephalus. Of the patients 24 (15 male) had posthemorrhagic aqueductal stenosis, 16 (8 male) intracranial tumors, 9 (6 male) Chiari II malformations, 5 (4 male) other congenital malformations including malformations of the Dandy Walker spectrum, 9 (3 male) idiopathic aqueductal stenosis, 7 (5 male) arachnoidal cysts and 10 (8 male) other disorders, such as post-infections, macrocephaly cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (M-CMTC) syndrome, mesencephalic arteriovenous malformation (AVM), Langerhans cell histiocystosis. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: It is important to take the age of the patient and the imaging pattern into account and to exclude tumors when reporting MR images of children with hydrocephalus.

Higher order multiples--socioeconomic impact on family life.

AIMS: Assisted reproduction led to an enormous increase of multifetal gestation. Apart from the obstetrical risks the physical, psychological and socioeconomic problems in families after the birth of higher order multiples often lack attention. STUDY DESIGN: Anonymous questionnaires were sent to 92 families who had delivered higher order multiples at our hospital (1983--1998). In a retrospective analysis (rate of return: 70%) the study group included 54 families with triplets, nine families with quadruplets and one family with quintuplets. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: a joint section to be answered by both parents together, and two identical sections for each separately. RESULTS: Most parents suffered from severe physical and psychological exhaustion mainly caused by worries about the multiples' development, handicaps and acute and chronic diseases as well as by personal and by financial problems. Nearly all of the families had to rely on additional manpower and on financial support. The inability to cope with the "self-inflicted" family-situation as a consequence of "optional" infertility treatment led to feelings of guilt. CONCLUSIONS: Aside from psychological guidance, the need for personnel aid as well as financial and material support in families after the delivery of higher order multiples is striking.

[Breastfeeding in premature infants]. / Stillen beim Frühgeborenen.

Preterm infants have fewer nutrient reserves at birth than term infants. Additional physiological and metabolic stress factors, such as infection or respiratory distress, can affect their nutritional needs and metabolism. Hence, the provision of appropriate nutrition for growth and development is a cornerstone of care of preterm infants. Well infants of a gestational age > 34 weeks are usually able to suck effectively and coordinate swallowing and breathing. Therefore establishment of breast feeding seems reasonable for newborns of this gestational age. For less mature infants, national and international advisory boards also recommend enteral human milk feeding early postnatally. Challenges remain, particularly in establishing evidence-based standards of breastfeeding and the use of human milk for preterm infants in the intensive-care nursery. This article highlights the aspects of growth and nutritional needs, infection prophylaxis and neurological development with regard to the use of human milk versus formula for the preterm infant. Approaches to the initiation and maintenance of milk supply and the decision about when to replace gavage by breast feeding are illustrated.