Use of laryngeal mask for neonatal resuscitation in Brazil: A national survey.

Background: The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation suggests using the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as an alternative to the face mask for performing positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the delivery room in newborns ≥34 weeks. Because not much is known about the health professionals' familiarity in using LMA in Brazil, this study aimed to describe the health professionals' knowledge and practice of using LMA, who provide neonatal care in the country. Methods: An online questionnaire containing 29 questions was sent to multi-healthcare professionals from different regions in the country through email and social media groups (WhatsApp®, Instagram®, Facebook®, and LinkedIn®). The participants anonymously answered the questions regarding their knowledge and expertise in using LMA to ventilate newborns in the delivery room. Results: We obtained 749 responses from all the regions in Brazil, with 80% from health professionals working in public hospitals. Most respondents were neonatologists (73%) having > 15 years of clinical practice. Among the respondents, 92% recognized the usefulness of LMA for performing PPV in newborns, 59% did not have specific training in LMA insertion, and only 8% reported that they have already used LMA in the delivery room. In 90% of the hospitals, no written protocol was available to use LMA; and in 68% of the hospitals, LMA was not available for immediate use. Conclusion: This nationwide survey showed that most professionals recognize the usefulness of LMA. However, the device is scarcely available and underused in the routine of ventilatory assistance for newborns in delivery rooms in Brazil.

O efeito do peso e da idade gestacional na via auditiva de lactentes / Effects of weight and gestational age on infants' auditory pathway / El efecto del peso y la edad gestacional en la vía auditiva de los lactentes

Introdução: Lactentes nascidos com baixo peso ao nascer em relação a sua idade gestacional são mais propensos à morbimortalidade neonatal e infantil. O Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefálico (PEATE) é uma ferramenta útil para averiguar a atividade neuroelétrica da via auditiva do tronco encefálico. Objetivo: Investigar o efeito do peso e da idade gestacional na via auditiva do tronco encefálico em lactentes. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado em um hospital público, no período de janeiro de 2017 a dezembro de 2018, composto por lactentes nascidos pequenos para idade gestacional (PIG), como grupo estudo e lactentes adequados para idade gestacional (AIG), como grupo comparação. Ambos foram semelhantes com relação à idade gestacional, indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva e idade no momento da avaliação audiológica. Todos foram submetidos aos exames de emissões otoacústicas evocadas por estímulo transiente e PEATE. Resultados: Participaram 172 lactentes com idade média de 1,3 meses para os nascidos PIG e de 1,5 meses para os AIG. Na avaliação por meio do PEATE, houve aumento significativo apenas para os valores das latências absolutas, entretanto, os valores das medianas tanto das latências absolutas como das latências interpicos foram semelhantes entre os grupos. Conclusão: O efeito do peso ao nascimento e da idade gestacional, em lactentes nascidos com peso inferior ao percentil 10, não demonstrou comprometimento da via auditiva no primeiro mês de vida.

Introduction: Infants born with low birth weight in relation to their gestational age are more prone to neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) is a useful tool to investigate the neuroelectric activity of the auditory pathway of brainstem. Objective: To investigate the birth weight and gestational age effect on the infants' auditory pathway. Methods: cross-sectional study, conducted in a public hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 composed by small-for-gestational-age (SGA) born infants in the study group, and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants, as control group. Both groups were similar in relation to gestational age, risk indicators for hearing loss, and age at the moment of audiological evaluation. All of them were submitted to the exams of transient otoacoustic emissions and BAEP. Results: 172 infants participated, with an average age of 1.3 months for those born SGA and 1.5 months for AGA. In the evaluation using the BAEP, there was a significant increase only in the values of the absolute latencies; however, the median values of both absolute and interpeak latencies were similar between them. Conclusion: The birth weight and gestational age effect in infants born weighing less than the 10th percentile, did not demonstrate impairment on the auditory pathway in the first month of life.

Introducción: Niños nacidos con bajo peso al nacer en relación con su edad gestacional son más propensos a la morbilidad y mortalidad neonatal e infantil. El Potencial Evocado Auditivo del Tronco Cerebral (PEATC) es una herramienta útil para investigar la actividad neuroeléctrica de la vía auditiva del tronco encefálico. Objetivo: Investigar el efecto del peso y la edad gestacional sobre la vía auditiva del tronco encefálico en los lactantes. Métodos: Estudio transversal, realizado en un hospital público, de enero de 2017 a diciembre de 2018, compuesto por lactantes nacidos pequeños para la edad gestacional (PEG), el grupo de estudio y lactantes aptos para la edad gestacional (AEG), como grupo de comparación. Ambos fueron similares con respecto a la edad gestacional, los indicadores de riesgo de hipoacusia y la edad en el momento de la evaluación audiológica. Todos fueron sometidos a pruebas de otoemisiones acústicas y PEATC. Resultados: Participaron 172 lactantes, con una edad promedio de 1,3 meses para los nacidos PEG y 1,5 meses para los AEG. En la evaluación con el BAEP, se observó un aumento significativo solo para los valores de las latencias absolutas sin embargo, los valores medianos de latencias absolutas e latencias entre picos fueron similares entre ellos. Conclusión: El efecto del peso e del edad gestacional en los lactantes con un peso inferior al percentil 10 no demostró deterioro de la vía auditiva en el primer mes de vida.

The impact of coronavirus outbreak on breastfeeding guidelines among Brazilian hospitals and maternity services: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recognizes exclusive breastfeeding a safe source of nutrition available for children in most humanitarian emergencies, as in the current pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the Brazilian national guideline protecting breastfeeding practices, there are many concerns about protecting infants from their infected mothers. This study aimed to analyze how the Brazilian hospitals and maternity services promote and support mothers suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional and multicenter study which collected data from 24 Brazilian hospitals and maternity services between March and July 2020. Representatives of the institutions completed a questionnaire based on acts to promote and support breastfeeding, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Brazil's federal law recommendations. RESULTS: The results showed that in delivery rooms, 98.5% of the services prohibited immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their infants and did not support mothers to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour. On the postnatal ward, 98.5% of the services allowed breastfeeding while implementing respiratory hygiene practices to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Companions for mothers were forbidden in 83.3% of the hospitals. Hospital discharge was mostly between 24 and 28 h (79.1%); discharge guidelines were not individualized. Additionally, a lack of support was noticed from the home environment's health community network (83.3%). Hospital and home breast pumping were allowed (87.5%), but breast milk donation was not accepted (95.8%). There was a lack of guidance regarding the use of infant comforting strategies. Guidelines specific for vulnerable populations were not covered in the material evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, hospitals have not followed recommendations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak. The disagreement between international guidelines has been a major issue. The absence of recommendations on breastfeeding support during the pandemic led to difficulties in developing standards among hospitals in different regions of Brazil and other countries worldwide. The scientific community needs to discuss how to improve maternal and infant care services to protect breastfeeding in the current pandemic.

Brazilian Portuguese version of the Amsterdam infant stool scale: a valid and reliable scale for evaluation of stool from children up to 120 days old.

BACKGROUND: For newborns and infants wearing diapers the difficulties in characterizing the appearance of the stool are significant, since the changes in consistency, quantity, and color of the stool are higher than in other age groups. The Amsterdam Infant Stool Scale (AISS) was created and validated in 2009, providing a specific tool for the evaluation of the stool of children up to 120 days old. However, to be used in clinical practice and scientific investigations in Brazil, it is mandatory to perform the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process for Brazilian Portuguese language. Thus, we aim to perform the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of AISS into Brazilian Portuguese and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the translated version. METHODS: The process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to the internationally accepted methodology, including: translation, summary of translations, backtranslation, preparation of the pre-final version, application of the pre-test and determination of the final version. The evaluation of the psychometric properties was performed through the application of Brazilian Portuguese AISS, by five examiners (including child health field specialists and a literate adult lay on the subject), analyzing 238 stool photographs of children under 120 days old. The intra and inter-examiner agreement values were determined using kappa statistic. The validity of the criterion was investigated through correlation analysis (Kendall's coefficient) between the classifications determined by the non-specialist examiner and the expert examiners. RESULTS: In all 30 tests performed between different examiners, there was an agreement considered as at least moderate (kappa values above 0.40). The intra-examiner reliability was considered as substantial (kappa> 0.6). There was a statistically significant correlation (p <  0.05) between the classifications determined by the examiners considered as specialists and the examiner considered as non-specialist. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian Portuguese AISS version proved to be valid and reliable to be used by healthcare professionals and the general public in the evaluation of stool from children up to 120 days old.

The importance of retesting the hearing screening as an indicator of the real early hearing disorder / A importância do reteste da triagem auditiva como indicador da real alteração auditiva precoce

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of hearing loss minimizes its impact on child development. We studied factors that influence the effectiveness of screening programs.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between gender, weight at birth, gestational age, risk factors for hearing loss, venue for newborn hearing screening and "pass" and "fail" results in the retest.METHODS: Prospective cohort study was carried out in a tertiary referral hospital. The screening was performed in 565 newborns through transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in three admission units before hospital discharge and retest in the outpatient clinic. Gender, weight at birth, gestational age, presence of risk indicators for hearing loss and venue for newborn hearing screening were considered.RESULTS: Full-term infants comprised 86% of the cases, preterm 14%, and risk factors for hearing loss were identified in 11%. Considering the 165 newborns retested, only the venue for screening, Intermediate Care Unit, was related to "fail" result in the retest.CONCLUSIONS: Gender, weight at birth, gestational age and presence of risk factors for hearing loss were not related to "pass" and/or "fail" results in the retest. The screening performed in intermediate care units increases the chance of continued "fail" result in the Transient Otoacoustic Evoked Emissions test.

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico precoce da surdez minimiza impactos no desenvolvimento infantil. Fatores que interferem na efetividade dos programas de triagem são estudados.OBJETIVO: Verificar a relação entre sexo, peso ao nascimento, idade gestacional, presença de risco para deficiência auditiva, local de realização da triagem auditiva neonatal e resultados "passa" e "falha" no reteste.MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte prospectiva, em hospital de referência terciário. A triagem foi realizada em 565 neonatos, por meio das emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes, em três unidades de internação antes da alta hospitalar e o reteste, no ambulatório. Sexo, peso ao nascimento, idade gestacional, presença de indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva e local de realização do exame foram considerados.RESULTADOS: Nasceram a termo 86%, prematuros 14% e risco para deficiência auditiva, 11%. Dentre os 165 neonatos retestados, apenas o local de realização do exame, Unidade de Cuidados Intermediários, se relacionou com manutenção da "falha" no reteste.CONCLUSÕES: Sexo, peso ao nascimento, idade gestacional e presença de indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva não se relacionaram com "passar" e/ou "falhar" no reteste. A realização do exame em unidades de cuidados intermediários aumenta a chance de permanência de "falha" no exame de Emissões Otoacústicas Evocadas Transientes.

The importance of retesting the hearing screening as an indicator of the real early hearing disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of hearing loss minimizes its impact on child development. We studied factors that influence the effectiveness of screening programs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between gender, weight at birth, gestational age, risk factors for hearing loss, venue for newborn hearing screening and "pass" and "fail" results in the retest. METHODS: Prospective cohort study was carried out in a tertiary referral hospital. The screening was performed in 565 newborns through transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in three admission units before hospital discharge and retest in the outpatient clinic. Gender, weight at birth, gestational age, presence of risk indicators for hearing loss and venue for newborn hearing screening were considered. RESULTS: Full-term infants comprised 86% of the cases, preterm 14%, and risk factors for hearing loss were identified in 11%. Considering the 165 newborns retested, only the venue for screening, Intermediate Care Unit, was related to "fail" result in the retest. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, weight at birth, gestational age and presence of risk factors for hearing loss were not related to "pass" and/or "fail" results in the retest. The screening performed in intermediate care units increases the chance of continued "fail" result in the Transient Otoacoustic Evoked Emissions test.

Diagnostic accuracy of semi-quantitative and quantitative culture techniques for the diagnosis of catheter-related infections in newborns and molecular typing of isolated microorganisms.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) have become the most common cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in neonatal intensive care units (ICUs). Microbiological evidence implicating catheters as the source of bloodstream infection is necessary to establish the diagnosis of CR-BSIs. Semi-quantitative culture is used to determine the presence of microorganisms on the external catheter surface, whereas quantitative culture also isolates microorganisms present inside the catheter. The main objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these two techniques for the diagnosis of CR-BSIs in newborns from a neonatal ICU. In addition, PFGE was used for similarity analysis of the microorganisms isolated from catheters and blood cultures. METHODS: Semi-quantitative and quantitative methods were used for the culture of catheter tips obtained from newborns. Strains isolated from catheter tips and blood cultures which exhibited the same antimicrobial susceptibility profile were included in the study as positive cases of CR-BSI. PFGE of the microorganisms isolated from catheters and blood cultures was performed for similarity analysis and detection of clones in the ICU. RESULTS: A total of 584 catheter tips from 399 patients seen between November 2005 and June 2012 were analyzed. Twenty-nine cases of CR-BSI were confirmed. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms, including S. epidermidis as the most prevalent species (65.5%), followed by S. haemolyticus (10.3%), yeasts (10.3%), K. pneumoniae (6.9%), S. aureus (3.4%), and E. coli (3.4%). The sensitivity of the semi-quantitative and quantitative techniques was 72.7% and 59.3%, respectively, and specificity was 95.7% and 94.4%. The diagnosis of CR-BSIs based on PFGE analysis of similarity between strains isolated from catheter tips and blood cultures showed 82.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSION: The semi-quantitative culture method showed higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CR-BSIs in newborns when compared to the quantitative technique. In addition, this method is easier to perform and shows better agreement with the gold standard, and should therefore be recommended for routine clinical laboratory use. PFGE may contribute to the control of CR-BSIs by identifying clusters of microorganisms in neonatal ICUs, providing a means of determining potential cross-infection between patients.

Polyethylene glycol addition does not improve exogenous surfactant function in an experimental model of meconium aspiration syndrome.

Meconium (MEC) is a potent inactivator of pulmonary surfactant. The authors studied the effects of polyethylene glycol addition to the exogenous surfactant over the lung mechanics and volumes. Human meconium was administrated to newborn rabbits. Animals were ventilated for 20 minutes and dynamic compliance, ventilatory pressure, and tidal volume were recorded. Animals were randomized into 3 study groups: MEC group (without surfactant therapy); S100 group (100 mg/kg surfactant); and PEG group (100 mg/kg porcine surfactant plus 5% PEG). After ventilation, a pulmonary pressure-volume curve was built. Histological analysis was carried out to calculate the mean alveolar size (Lm) and the distortion index (DI). Both groups treated with surfactant showed higher values of dynamic pulmonary compliance and lower ventilatory pressure, compared with the MEC group (P < .05). S100 group had a larger maximum lung volume, V(30), compared with the MEC group (P < .05). Lm and DI values were smaller in the groups treated with surfactant than in the MEC group (P < .05). No differences were observed between the S100 and PEG groups. Animals treated with surfactant showed significant improvement in pulmonary function as compared to nontreated animals. PEG added to exogenous surfactant did not improve lung mechanics or volumes.

Is urine interleukin-8 level a reliable laboratory test for diagnosing late onset sepsis in premature infants?

The present study is aimed to determine serum and urine interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in premature infants with late onset sepsis (LOS) and to evaluate if urine IL-8 is a useful test for LOS diagnosis. Fifty-six premature infants admitted to the NICU over 1 year had serum and urine IL-8 determined by ELISA. They were divided into three groups: I definite sepsis, II probable sepsis and III non-infected. Results were expressed as mean or median. Differences between groups were assessed by ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Dunn's Method. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated and a receiver operator characteristic curve was constructed to determine serum and urine IL-8 accuracy. There were no differences between groups for birth weight, and gestational and post-natal age. Median serum and urine IL-8 levels were significantly higher in GI and GII: 929 x 906 x 625 pg/ml; P = 0.024, and 249 x 189 x 42 pg/mgCr; P < 0.001. Optimal cut-off point was 625 pg/ml for serum IL-8 with 69% sensitivity and 75 pg/mgCr for urine IL-8 with 92% sensitivity. IL-8 can be determined in urine from premature infants with LOS and is an accurate and feasible diagnosis method.

Different doses of exogenous surfactant for treatment of meconium aspiration syndrome in newborn rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of 2 different doses of exogenous surfactant on pulmonary mechanics and on the regularity of pulmonary parenchyma inflation in newborn rabbits. METHOD: Newborn rabbits were submitted to tracheostomy and randomized into 4 study groups: the Control group did not receive any material inside the trachea; the MEC group was instilled with meconium, without surfactant treatment; the S100 and S200 groups were instilled with meconium and were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of exogenous surfactant (produced by Instituto Butantan) respectively. Animals from the 4 groups were mechanically ventilated during a 25-minute period. Dynamic compliance, ventilatory pressure, tidal volume, and maximum lung volume (P-V curve) were evaluated. Histological analysis was conducted using the mean linear intercept (Lm), and the lung tissue distortion index (SDI) was derived from the standard deviation of the means of the Lm. One-way analysis of variance was used with a = 0.05. RESULTS: After 25 minutes of ventilation, dynamic compliance (mL/cm H2O.kg) was 0.87 +/- 0.07 (Control); 0.49 +/- 0.04 (MEC*); 0.67 +/- 0.06 (S100); and 0.67 +/- 0.08 (S200), and ventilatory pressure (cm H2O) was 9.0 +/- 0.9 (Control); 16.5 +/- 1.7 (MEC*); 12.4 +/- 1.1 (S100); and 12.1 +/- 1.5 (S200). Both treated groups had lower Lm values and more homogeneity in the lung parenchyma compared to the MEC group: SDI = 7.5 +/- 1.9 (Control); 11.3 +/- 2.5 (MEC*), 5.8 +/- 1.9 (S100); and 6.7 +/- 1.7 (S200) (*P < 0.05 versus all the other groups). CONCLUSIONS: Animals treated with surfactant showed significant improvement in pulmonary mechanics and more regularity of the lung parenchyma in comparison to untreated animals. There was no difference in results after treatment with either of the doses used.

Different doses of exogenous surfactant for treatment of meconium aspiration syndrome in newborn rabbits

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos de duas diferentes doses de surfactante exógeno sobre a mecânica pulmonar e sobre a regularidade da expansão do parênquima pulmonar em coelhos recém-nascidos. MÉTODO: Coelhos recém-nascidos foram traqueostomizados e randomizados em quatro grupos de estudo: grupo-Controle, sem aspiração de mecônio; grupo MEC, com aspiração de mecônio e sem tratamento com surfactante exógeno; grupos S100 e S200, ambos com aspiração de mecônio e tratados respectivamente com 100 e 200 mg/kg de surfactante exógeno (produzido e fornecido pelo Instituto Butantan). Os animais dos 4 grupos foram ventilados por 25 minutos. A mecânica pulmonar foi avaliada a partir dos valores de complacência dinâmica, pressão ventilatória, volume-corrente e volume pulmonar máximo (curva P-V). A análise histológica foi feita calculando-se o diâmetro alveolar médio (Lm) e o índice de distorção através do desvio padrão do Lm. Utilizou-se ANOVA One Way com a = 0,05. RESULTADOS: Após 25 minutos de ventilação, os valores de complacência dinâmica (ml/cm H2O.kg) foram: 0,87± 0,07 (Controle); 0,49±0,04 (MEC*); 0,67±0,06 (S100) e 0,67±0,08 (S200) e de pressão ventilatória (cm H2O): 9,0± 0,9 (Controle); 16,5±1,7 (MEC*); 12,4±1,1 (S100) e 12,1±1,5 (S200). Ambos os grupos tratados tiveram padrão de expansão do parênquima mais homogêneo em relação aos animais não tratados: índice de distorção de 7,5± 1,9 (Controle); 11,3±2,5 (MEC*); 5,8±1,9 (S100) e 6,7±1,7 (S200) (*p < 0,05 vs outros grupos). CONCLUSÕES: Animais tratados com surfactante mostraram melhora significativa da mecânica pulmonar e maior homogeneidade do padrão de expansão pulmonar comparados ao grupo não tratado. Não houve influência das doses de surfactante utilizadas.