Comparison of amount of noise and elimination strategies for noise in neonatal intensive care units of government and private hospitals in the Jodhpur district of India.

With technological advancement, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have become noisier than ever. Studies have shown the detrimental effects of increasing noise in NICU on growing pre-term and sick neonates. The present study aimed primarily to compare the amount of noise in NICUs of private and government hospitals. The secondary aim was to compare the strategies adopted by these hospitals to control the detrimental effects of noise on newborns. A detailed noise survey was conducted in the NICUs of two private and two government hospitals in the Jodhpur district, India. The noise survey was performed for a duration of 48 h using "Sound Ear 3-300" noise meters. The analyses were measured in Leq (equivalent continuous sound level) A-weighted decibels (dBA). The extracted data analysis revealed that the noise measured was in the range of 61.62-82.32 dBA in four NICUs of the district. The results also revealed a statistically significant difference between the NICU noise of private and government hospitals. The levels of alarming sounds differed between the hospitals with a general trend of lesser alarming sounds in private hospitals. The major differences in strategies adopted were that both private hospitals had a protocol to purposely reduce levels of alarming sounds when heard, and purposely limited the number of staff present in certain areas of the NICU, which were correlated with reduced sound compared to the government hospitals. Strategies like these require no additional cost to make drastic changes in the average noise measured.

Neonatal hypocalcaemic seizures unmasking asymptomatic maternal primary hyperparathyroidism.

Hypocalcaemia is a common cause of neonatal seizures. Here, we present a breastfed neonate with smooth perinatal transition and no family history of seizures presenting at 3 weeks with recurrent multifocal clonic seizures. On evaluation, the neonate was found to have low iCa and total calcium. 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level was low and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) was inappropriately normal. The maternal evaluation revealed high calcium and low phosphate levels. iPTH was very high and 25(OH)D was very low in the mother. Sestamibi scan showed a left inferior parathyroid adenoma in the mother. Maternal primary hyperparathyroidism causing hypercalcaemia can suppress parathyroid activity in the fetus, resulting in inappropriate parathyroid response to hypocalcaemia after birth causing recurrent hypocalcaemic seizures. So neonatal hypocalcaemic seizures need careful evaluation of the neonate and the mother at times and can help both mother and neonate.

Streptococcus parasanguinis: An emerging pathogen causing neonatal endocarditis: A case report.

Background. The microbial infection of the endocardium, popularly known as Infective Endocarditis (IE), is typically classified on the basis of anatomy, valve nativity and its associated microbiology. As per the associated microbiology, Staphylococcus aureus is the most common microorganism responsible for the cause of IE. Even though, the Streptococcus group accounts for a smaller percentage of IE, however this doesn't give us the liberty of ignoring the high mortality and morbidity associated with this pathogen. Case presentation. We report an unusual case of neonatal sepsis, complicated with endocarditis, caused by penicillin resistant Streptococcus parasanguinis . The neonate however died of the same despite all efforts. The said baby was given birth by a mother with gestational diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: High index of clinical suspicion and prompt diagnosis are the most important factors of patient management, especially in cases of life threatening neonatal infections. In such conditions a coordinated interdepartmental approach is very much needed.

Clinico-epidemiological profile and outcomes of babies with neural tube defects in a tertiary care center in Northern India.

INTRODUCTION: Neural tube defects constitute a major source of disability among children. Proper management requires accurate diagnosis, an assessment of the severity of the lesion, a decision whether intervention is warranted, the nature of the intervention, and educating the family of the need for lifelong medical care. But to do so, reliable data regarding presentation and outcome is very crucial. AIM OF THE STUDY: To discuss the clinical epidemiological profile and outcome of babies admitted with neural tube defects (NTDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study was done by extracting data from case notes and follow-up files in Department of Neonatology, PGIMER and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi over a period from March 2015 to July 2020. RESULTS: A total of 25 babies were included in the study. Majority of babies were born to mother at a median age group of 24 (19-36) yrs and nearly one-third of them were illiterate. The history of maternal periconceptional folic acid intake was seen in only five babies (21%). Two third of babies were male (64%) and the median age at admission was at 9 (1-27) days of life. Majority of the cases were open types of NTDs with most common type being meningomyelocele (88%) followed by occipital encephalocele (12%) and there was one case of closed type of neural tube defect having lipomeningomyelocele (4%). The most common associated anomaly was hydrocephalus (76%) followed by Arnold chiari malformation (56%). Motor weakness in form of paraparesis or paraplegia was present in 21 (84%) babies and sensory deficit was present in 44% babies. Bowel and bladder dysfuntion was present in 48% of cases. Ventriculitis was the most common associated morbidity (38%). Meningomyelocele (MMC) repair was the most commonly performed primary surgery (33%) followed by Ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt repair (24%). Twelve babies (48%) were discharged while 2 (8%) expired and 11 (44%) babies left against medical advice. CONCLUSION: Neural tube defect is a congenital disorder with significant morbidity. The clinical severity of the NTDs and the uncertainty in their cause makes this a priority for further research. National policies for prevention, in utero diagnosis, and early surgical intervention are required for a better prognosis.

The role of early inhaled budesonide therapy in meconium aspiration in term newborns: a randomized control study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical spectrum of Meconium aspiration syndrome babies and to find out the efficacy of early nebulized steroids (Budesonide) in the clinical course and outcome (morbidity and mortality) of neonates with meconium aspiration: randomized controlled trial. METHOD AND MATERIAL: A total of 78 neonates were included in the study. After randomization, intervention group received nebulization with Budesonide (0.5 mg dissolved in 2.5-ml sterile normal saline within 2 h of birth and second dose was given at 12 h of birth) whereas controls were nebulized with normal saline. All neonates were accessed for serial respiratory distress score (Downe's score), requirement (dependence) of oxygen (in days), duration of neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) stay, any complication and their final outcome. RESULTS: The mean days of oxygen requirement for the cases and controls were 1.79 and 3.46, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean respiratory rate in intervention group up to the age of 5 d was significantly less (p value < 0.01). There was significant difference in mean Downe's score and mean duration of NICU stay in intervention group. CONCLUSION: Budesonide nebulization in meconium aspiration results in significant early improvement in general condition (early improvement in respiratory distress and early normalization of Downe's score) of the newborn with lesser oxygen requirement, thus early discharge from NICU but has no impact on final outcome.

To study the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care on pain response in preterm neonates and to determine the behavioral and physiological responses to painful stimuli in preterm neonates: a study from western Rajasthan.

AIMS: To study the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on pain response in preterm neonates and to determine the behavioral and physiological responses to painful stimuli in preterm neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-blind cross over study in which total 140 neonates were enrolled. Pain stimulus was given in the form of heel-lance before and after giving KMC and data were recorded. RESULTS: The effect of KMC on heart rate variability was statistically significant in preterm (30-34 wks) and very low birth weight (1.0-1.5 kg) neonates. The mean fall in SpO2 from base line was less in KMC group as compared to without KMC group at 60 s (1.63% versus 2.22%) and 120 s (0.45% versus 2.22%). The mean duration of cry was less in the KMC group (15.05 s) as compared to without KMC group (24.82 s) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean duration of cry was reduced by 36% in KMC group as compared to the without KMC group. The effect of KMC on pain scores (premature infant pain profile (PIPP)) were significantly lower after heel-lance in KMC at 60 s (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: KMC is a most physiological, non-pharmacological and easy intervention that involves parents: to manage procedural pain that can be implemented for physiological or behavioral stability in their premature infants.

To study prevalence of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborn with meconium aspiration syndrome in western Rajasthan, India: a prospective observational study.

AIM: To study the prevalence of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) in newborn with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) in western Rajasthan, India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hundred full-term newborns who had features of MAS at birth were included in this survey and were evaluated for PPHN using laboratory investigations, including pulse oximetry, ABG, chest X-ray, ECG and 2D color echocardiography. RESULTS: Nineteen neonates showed PPHN, of them 16 had a shunt reversal at PFO level and the rest at PDA level. Most of these newborns were delivered by emergency cesarean section and were unplanned. A majority of neonates of PPHN (84.21%) were diagnosed within 48 h of life and 73.69% had Downey's score more than 6. Neonates of PPHN had mean PH 7.21 ± 0.07, mean PCO2 53.73 ± 6.8, mean PaO2 61.10 ± 10.61 and mean PaO2/FiO2 144.03 ± 46.31. CONCLUSIONS: PPHN is a genuine problem in MAS-born neonates and is commonly seen in neonates born by unplanned and unmonitored delivery, and the prevalence of PPHN can be reduced by providing good antenatal care, regular follow up of high-risk pregnancy. 2D echocardiography is an important point of care in the diagnosis of PPHN in nursery and should be promoted in nurseries of developing countries as being engaged in developed countries for more reliable treatment.