The impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on breastfeeding rates at maternity units in France.

BACKGROUND: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is associated with improved breastfeeding outcomes in many high-income countries including the UK and the USA, but its effectiveness has never been evaluated in France. We investigated the impact of the BFHI on breastfeeding rates in French maternity units in 2010, 2016 and 2021 to assess if the BFHI aids to reduce inequalities in breastfeeding. METHODS: We examined breastfeeding in maternity units (exclusive, mixed and any breastfeeding) in mothers of singleton full-term newborns using the 2010 (n = 13 075), 2016 (n = 10 919) and 2021 (n = 10 209) French National Perinatal Surveys. We used mixed-effect hierarchical multinomial regression models adjusting for neonatal, maternal, maternity unit and French administrative department characteristics, and tested certain interactions. RESULTS: The adjusted rate of exclusive breastfeeding was higher by +5.8 (3.4-8.1) points among mothers delivering in BFHI-accredited maternity units compared with those delivering in non-accredited units. When compared with average-weight newborns, this difference was sharper for infants with low birthweight: +14.9 (10.0-19.9) points when their birthweight was 2500 g. Mixed breastfeeding was lower by -1.7 points (-3.2-0) in BFHI-accredited hospitals, with no notable difference according to the neonatal or maternal characteristics. CONCLUSION: Mothers delivering in BFHI-accredited maternity units had higher exclusive breastfeeding rates and lower mixed breastfeeding rates than those delivering in non-accredited maternity units. The positive impact of the BFHI was stronger among low-birthweight neonates, who are less often breastfed, helping reduce the gap for this vulnerable group while favouring mothers with higher education levels.

Neurological development in children born moderately or late preterm: national cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess long term neurodevelopmental outcomes of children born at different gestational ages, particularly 32-33 weeks (moderately preterm) and 34-36 weeks (late preterm), compared with 39-40 weeks (full term). DESIGN: Nationwide cohort study. SETTING: Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 1 281 690 liveborn singleton children without congenital malformations born at 32+0 to 41+6 weeks between 1998 and 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes of interest were motor, cognitive, epileptic, hearing, and visual impairments and a composite of any neurodevelopmental impairment, diagnosed up to age 16 years. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox regression adjusted for parental and infant characteristics in the study population and in the subset of full siblings. Risk differences were also estimated to assess the absolute risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 13.1 years (interquartile range 9.5-15.9 years), 75 311 (47.8 per 10 000 person years) liveborn singleton infants without congenital malformations had at least one diagnosis of any neurodevelopmental impairment: 5899 (3.6 per 10 000 person years) had motor impairment, 27 371 (17.0 per 10 000 person years) cognitive impairment, 11 870 (7.3 per 10 000 person years) epileptic impairment, 19 700 (12.2 per 10 000 person years) visual impairment, and 20 393 (12.6 per 10 000 person years) hearing impairment. Children born moderately or late preterm, compared with those born full term, showed higher risks for any impairment (hazard ratio 1.73 (95% confidence interval 1.60 to 1.87) and 1.30 (1.26 to 1.35); risk difference 4.75% (95% confidence interval 3.88% to 5.60%) and 2.03% (1.75% to 2.35%), respectively) as well as motor, cognitive, epileptic, visual, and hearing impairments. Risks for neurodevelopmental impairments appeared highest from 32 weeks (the earliest gestational age), gradually declined until 41 weeks, and were also higher at 37-38 weeks (early term) compared with 39-40 weeks. In the sibling comparison analysis (n=349 108), most associations remained stable except for gestational age and epileptic and hearing impairments, where no association was observed; for children born early term the risk was only higher for cognitive impairment compared with those born full term. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that children born moderately or late preterm have higher risks of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The risks should not be underestimated as these children comprise the largest proportion of children born preterm. The findings may help professionals and families achieve a better risk assessment and follow-up.

Frequency and burden of disease for SARS-CoV-2 and other viral respiratory tract infections in children under the age of 2 months.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and burden of disease of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in children under the age of 2 months. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted between March 2021 and February 2022. All children under the age of 2 months and tested for SARS-CoV-2 were included. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2, of other respiratory viruses and the burden of disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses were evaluated. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-seven children with an RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 were included (mean age: 0.9 months (±0.6); boys: 57%); 514 (71%) in the emergency room and 213 (29%) in hospital. Among them, 62 (8.5%) had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, more often in the Omicron period (23%) than in the Alpha period (4%). Of the 565 (78%) with a multiplex RT-PCR test for other viruses, 325 (58%) were positive. Children with a positive SARS-CoV-2 were less likely to have required respiratory support (p = 0.001), enteral nutrition (p = 0.03), or intensive care admission (p = 0.01) and had a shorter hospital stay than children with other respiratory viruses (5 days vs. 7 days, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: In this young population of children, SARS-CoV-2 infection was less frequent and less severe than other viral respiratory infections.

Term-born infants with a perinatal stroke frequently had seizures and were prescribed anti-seizure medication at discharge.

AIM: We investigated the prevalence of seizures in term-born infants with a perinatal stroke in Swedish neonatal wards, assessed the anti-seizure medication prescribed and determined the accuracy of diagnostic codes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register. The cases were infants born at ≥37 weeks in 2009-2018 and admitted to a neonatal ward in Stockholm County with a stroke diagnosis, confirmed by their medical chart. The controls were all Swedish infants born during those years. RESULTS: There were 76 infants with a confirmed perinatal stroke: 51 ischaemic and 25 haemorrhagic. Seizures were documented in 66/76 (87%) of infants with a stroke and 0.2% of the controls. Anti-seizure medication was administered to 64/66 (97%) infants with a stroke and seizures. In 60 cases, the drugs administered were specified, with phenobarbital used in 59/60 cases (98%). More than one drug was administered to 25/60 (42%) infants and 31/60 (52%) were discharged with anti-seizure medication. The positive predictive value for the stroke diagnostic codes was 80.5% (95% CI 76.5-84.5). CONCLUSION: Seizures were common in infants with a perinatal stroke. More than one anti-seizure drug was often required and many infants were on anti-seizure medication at discharge, against Swedish recommendations.

Association of maternal snuff use and smoking with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a national register study.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study whether non-combustible nicotine (Swedish snuff) use in pregnancy is associated with elevated risk of post neonatal mortality, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and to study how cessation before the antenatal booking influenced these risks. METHODS: This was a population-based register study of all infants with information on tobacco exposure in early pregnancy born in Sweden 1999-2019, n = 2,061,514. Self-reported tobacco use in early pregnancy was categorized as nonuse, snuff use, and moderate and heavy smoking. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Maternal snuff use was associated with increased risks of post neonatal mortality, SIDS, and SUID. The risks of snuff use and moderate smoking were of similar magnitude. Heavy smoking was associated with the highest risks. Cessation of smoking and snuff use before the antenatal booking was associated with lower risks of SIDS and SUID compared to that of continuous usage. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal snuff use was associated with increased risks of post neonatal mortality, SIDS, and SUID. Nicotine is the common substance in cigarette smoke and snuff. These findings support the hypothesis that nicotine contributes to an elevated risk of SIDS. IMPACT: Maternal snuff use and smoking in early pregnancy were associated with increased risks of post neonatal mortality, SIDS, and SUID. Cessation of smoking and snuff use before the first antenatal visit was associated with reduced risks of SIDS and SUID. The common substance in cigarette smoke and snuff is nicotine. Our findings suggest that nicotine contributes to an elevated risk of SIDS and SUID. The implication of our findings is that all forms of nicotine should be avoided in pregnancy.

Early skin-to-skin contact and risk of late-onset-sepsis in very and extremely preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between exposure to early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in extremely and very preterm infants. METHODS: Observational study using the national population-based EPIPAGE-2 cohort in 2011. A propensity score for SSC exposure was used to match infants with and without exposure to SSC before day 4 of life and binomial log regression used to estimate risk ratios and CIs in the matched cohort. The primary outcome was at least one episode of LOS during hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of any late-onset neonatal infection (LONI), LOS with Staphylococcus or Staphylococcus aureus, incidence of LOS and LONI per 1000 central venous catheter days. RESULTS: Among the 3422 included infants, 919 were exposed to early SSC. The risk ratio (RR) for LOS was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.67-1.10), for LONI was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.83-1.21), and for LOS with Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus or Staphylococcus aureus infection was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.68-1.21) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.31-1.87). The incidence RR for LOS per-catheter day was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.64-1.18). CONCLUSION: Early SSC exposure was not associated with LOS or LONI risk. Thus, their prevention should not be a barrier to a wider use of SSC. IMPACT: Kangaroo Mother Care decreased neonatal infection rates in middle-income countries. Skin-to-skin contact is beneficial for vulnerable preterm infants but barriers exist to its implementation. In a large population-based study using a propensity score methods, we found that skin-to-skin contact before day 4 of life was not associated with a decreased risk of late-onset-sepsis in very and extremely preterm infants. Early skin-to-skin contact was not associated with an increased risk of any late-onset-neonatal-infection, in particular with staphylococcus. The fear of neonatal infection should not be a barrier to a wider use of early skin-to-skin contact in this population.

Neonatal Morbidities and Feeding Tolerance Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants, before and after Introduction of Probiotic Supplementation.

While probiotics are reported to reduce the risks of neonatal morbidities, less is known about probiotics and feeding tolerance. With this retrospective cohort study, we investigate whether introduction of probiotic supplementation as the standard of care was associated with fewer neonatal morbidities and improved feeding tolerance in very preterm infants. Using the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register, 345 live-born very preterm infants (28-31 weeks' gestation), from January 2019-August 2021, in NICUs in Stockholm, Sweden, either received probiotic supplementation (Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Streptococcusthermophilus) (139) or no supplementation (206); they were compared regarding a primary composite outcome of death, sepsis, and/or necrotising enterocolitis and secondary outcomes: time to full enteral feeding and antibiotics use. Probiotics seemed associated with a reduced risk of the composite outcome (4.3% versus 9.2%, p = 0.08). In the subgroup of 320 infants without the primary outcome, probiotics were associated with shorter time to full enteral feeding (6.6 days versus 7.2 days) and less use of antibiotics (5.2 days versus 6.1 days). Our findings suggest that probiotics improve feeding tolerance and further support that very preterm infants may benefit from probiotic supplementation.

Early Antibiotic Exposure and Adverse Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants at Low Risk of Early-Onset Sepsis: The EPIPAGE-2 Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between early empirical antibiotics and neonatal adverse outcomes in very preterm infants without risk factors for early-onset sepsis (EOS). STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of the EPIPAGE-2 study, a prospective national population-based cohort that included all liveborn infants at 22-31 completed weeks of gestation in France in 2011. Infants at high risk of EOS (ie, born after preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes or from a mother who had clinical chorioamnionitis or had received antibiotics during the last 72 hours) were excluded. Early antibiotic exposure was defined as antibiotic therapy started at day 0 or day 1 of life, irrespective of the duration and type of antibiotics. We compared treated and untreated patients using inverse probability of treatment weighting based on estimated propensity scores. RESULTS: Among 648 very preterm infants at low risk of EOS, 173 (26.2%) had received early antibiotic treatment. Early antibiotic exposure was not associated with death or late-onset sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.72-1.50); however, it was associated with higher odds of severe cerebral lesions (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.25-5.86) and moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.21-4.38). CONCLUSIONS: Early empirical antibiotic therapy administrated in very preterm infants at low risk of EOS was associated with a higher risk of severe cerebral lesions and moderate-severe BPD.

Neonatal Morbidities in Infants Born Late Preterm at 35-36 Weeks of Gestation: A Swedish Nationwide Population-based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk for neonatal morbidities among infants born late preterm at 35-36 gestational weeks, early term (37-38 weeks), and late-term (41 weeks) infants, compared with full-term (39-40 weeks) infants. STUDY DESIGN: This nationwide population-based cohort study included 1 650 450 non-malformed liveborn singleton infants born at 35-41 weeks between 1998 and 2016 in Sweden. The relative risks for low Apgar score (0-3) at 5 minutes; respiratory, metabolic, infectious, and neurologic morbidities; and severe neonatal morbidity (composite outcome) were adjusted for maternal, pregnancy, delivery, and infant characteristics. RESULTS: Compared with infants born at 39-40 weeks, the adjusted relative risks and proportions of infants born at 35-36 weeks were higher for metabolic morbidity 7.79 (95%, 7.61 to 7.97; 33.75% vs 3.11%), respiratory morbidity 5.54 (95% CI, 5.24 to 5.85; 5.49% vs 0.75%), severe neonatal morbidity 2.42 (95% CI, 2.27 to 2.59; 3.40% versus 1.03%), infectious morbidity 1.98 (95% CI, 1.83 to 2.14; 2.53% vs 0.95%), neurologic morbidity 1.74 (95% CI, 1.48 to 2.03; 0.54% vs 0.23%), and low Apgar score 2.07 (95% CI, 1.72 to 2.51; 0.42% vs 0.12%). The risks for respiratory, severe neonatal morbidity, infectious, neurologic morbidities, and low Apgar score were highest at 35 weeks, gradually decreased until 39 weeks, and increased during 39-41 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Infants born late preterm at 35-36 weeks of gestation are at increased risk of neonatal morbidities, although the absolute risks for severe neonatal morbidities are low. Our findings reinforce the need of preventing late preterm delivery to decrease the burden of neonatal morbidity and help professionals and families with a better risk assessment.

Cause of preterm birth and late-onset sepsis in very preterm infants: the EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants is poorly understood and knowledge about risk factors, especially prenatal risk factors, is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between the cause of preterm birth and LOS in very preterm infants. METHODS: 2052 very preterm singletons from a national population-based cohort study alive at 72 h of life were included. Survival without LOS was compared by cause of preterm birth using survival analysis and Cox regression models. RESULTS: 437 (20.1%) had at least one episode of LOS. The frequency of LOS varied by cause of preterm birth: 17.1% for infants born after preterm labor, 17.9% after preterm premature rupture of membranes, 20.3% after a placental abruption, 20.3% after isolated hypertensive disorders, 27.5% after hypertensive disorders with fetal growth restriction (FGR), and 29.4% after isolated FGR. In multivariate analysis, when compared to infants born after preterm labor, the risk remained higher for infants born after hypertensive disorders (hazard ratio HR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2-2.5), hypertensive disorders with FGR (HR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.9-3.6) and isolated FGR (HR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.9-4.4). CONCLUSION: Very preterm infants born after hypertensive disorders or born after FGR had an increased risk of LOS compared to those born after preterm labor. IMPACT: Late-onset sepsis risk differs according to the cause of preterm birth. Compared with those born after preterm labor, infants born very preterm because of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and/or fetal growth restriction display an increased risk for late-onset sepsis. Antenatal factors, in particular the full spectrum of causes leading to preterm birth, should be taken into consideration to better prevent and manage neonatal infectious morbidity and inform the parents.

Maternal body mass index in early pregnancy and severe asphyxia-related complications in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the associations between maternal body mass index (BMI) and asphyxia-related morbidity in preterm infants (<37 weeks). We aimed to investigate associations between maternal BMI in early pregnancy and severe asphyxia-related neonatal complications in preterm infants (<37 weeks) and to examine whether possible associations were mediated by overweight- or obesity-related complications. METHODS: In this Swedish population-based cohort of 62 499 singleton non-malformed preterm infants born from 1997 to 2011, risks of low Apgar scores (0-3) at 5 and 10 minutes, neonatal seizures and intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) were estimated through two analytical approaches. In the conventional approach, the denominator for risk was all live births at a given gestational age. In the fetuses-at-risk (FAR) approach, the denominator for risk was ongoing pregnancies at a given gestational age. RESULTS: Using the conventional approach, adjusted risk ratios per 10-unit BMI increase were 1.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.54] and 1.37 (95% CI 1.12-1.67) for low Apgar scores at 5 and 10 minutes, respectively; 1.28 (95% CI 1.00-1.65) for neonatal seizures; and 1.18 (95% CI 1.01-1.37) for IVH. Using the FAR approach, corresponding risks were higher. These associations varied by gestational age (<32 and 32-36 weeks). Associations between maternal BMI and asphyxia-related outcomes were partly mediated through lower gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing maternal BMI in early pregnancy is associated with increased risks of severe asphyxia-related complications in preterm infants. Our findings add to the evidence to support interventions to reduce obesity in woman of reproductive age.

The impact of neonatal unit policies on breast milk feeding at discharge of moderate preterm infants: The EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

Facilitating factors and barriers to breast milk feeding (BMF) for preterm infants have been mainly studied in very preterm populations, but little is known about moderate preterm infants. We aimed to analyze hospital unit characteristics and BMF policies associated with BMF at discharge for infants born at 32 to 34 weeks' gestation. EPIPAGE-2, a French national cohort of preterm births, included 883 infants born at 32 to 34 weeks' gestation. We investigated kangaroo care in the first 24 hr, early involvement of parents in feeding support, volume of the unit, BMF information given to mothers hospitalized for threatened preterm delivery, protocols for BMF, presence of a professional trained in human lactation, unit training in neurodevelopmental care, and regional BMF initiation rates in the general population. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between unit policies and BMF at discharge, adjusted for individual characteristics and estimating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, 59% (490/828) of infants received BMF at discharge (27% to 87% between units). Rates of BMF at discharge were higher with kangaroo care (adjusted OR 2.03 [95% CI 1.01, 4.10]), early involvement of parents in feeding support (1.94 [1.23, 3.04]), unit training in a neurodevelopmental care programme (2.57 [1.18, 5.60]), and in regions with a high level of BMF initiation in the general population (1.85 [1.05, 3.28]). Creating synergies by interventions at the unit and population level may reduce the variability in BMF rates at discharge for moderate preterm infants.

Unit policies and breast milk feeding at discharge of very preterm infants: The EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Facilitating factors and barriers to breast milk feeding (BMF) very preterm (VP) infants have been widely studied at the individual level. We aimed to describe and analyse factors associated with BMF at discharge for VP infants, with a special focus on unit policies aiming to support BMF. METHODS: We described BMF at discharge in 3108 VP infants enrolled in EPIPAGE-2, a French national cohort. Variables of interest were kangaroo care during the 1st week of life (KC); unit's policies supporting BMF initiation (BMF information systematically given to mothers hospitalised for threatened preterm delivery and breast milk expression proposed within 6 hours after birth) and BMF maintenance (availability of protocols for BMF and a special room for mothers to pump milk); the presence in units of a professional trained in human lactation and regional BMF initiation rates in the general population. Associations were investigated by multilevel logistic regression analysis, with adjustment on individual factors. RESULTS: In total, 47.2% of VP infants received BMF at discharge (range among units 21.1%-84.0%). Unit policies partly explained this variation, regardless of individual factors. BMF at discharge was associated with KC (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40, 3.65)), with policies supporting BMF initiation (aOR 2.19 (95% CI 1.27, 3.77)) and maintenance (aOR 2.03 (95% CI 1.17, 3.55)), but not with BMF initiation rates in the general population. CONCLUSION: Adopting policies of higher performing units could be an effective strategy for increasing BMF rates at discharge among VP infants.

Community-acquired bone and joint infections in children: a 1-year prospective epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of childhood bone and joint infections (BJIs) is not well known, but is useful for identifying epidemiological differences and improving practice. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of BJI in previously well children and describe their clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics. DESIGN: A multicentre, population-based, prospective study performed from July 2008 through June 2009. SETTING: Region of northern France with a population of 872 516 children <16 years old. PATIENTS: All previously well children admitted in the region with septic arthritis, acute osteomyelitis or spondylodiscitis, diagnosed according to consensus criteria and after blinded radiological review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The corrected incidence of BJI, determined with a capture-recapture method that used this prospective database and the discharge summary database. RESULTS: 58 cases were identified (median age: 3.6 years, range: 1 month-15.8 years; male to female ratio: 1.6). The completeness of the prospective database was 90%. The corrected incidence of any BJI was 7.1/100 000 children (95% CI 5.3 to 8.9). Thirty patients had septic arthritis (52%, incidence: 3.7/100 000; 95% CI 2.4 to 4.9), 24 osteomyelitis (41%, incidence 3.0/100 000; 95% CI 1.8 to 4.1), 4 spondylodiscitis (7%) and 0 osteoarthritis. Micro-organisms were identified from 15 patients (26%), with Staphylococcus aureus the most frequent organism. Radiological findings were characteristic of infection in 44% of BJI. CONCLUSIONS: The corrected incidence of BJI in northern France, according to consensus diagnostic criteria, was 7.1/100 000 children <16 years of age.

Neonatal infection and 5-year neurodevelopmental outcome of very preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether neonatal infections are associated with a higher risk of adverse neurodevelopment at 5 years of age in a population-based cohort of very preterm children. METHODS: We included all live births between 22 and 32 weeks of gestation, from 9 regions in France, in 1997 (EPIPAGE study). Of the 2665 live births, 2277 were eligible for a follow-up evaluation at 5 years of age: 1769 had a medical examination and 1495 underwent cognitive assessment. Cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment were studied as a function of early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset sepsis (LOS), after adjustment for potential confounding factors, in multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 139 (5%) of the 2665 live births included in the study presented with EOS alone (without associated LOS), 752 (28%) had LOS alone (without associated EOS), and 64 (2%) displayed both EOS and LOS. At 5 years of age, the frequency of cerebral palsy was 9% (157 of 1769) and that of cognitive impairment was 12% (177 of 1495). The frequency of cerebral palsy was higher in infants with isolated EOS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.70 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-3.45]) or isolated LOS (OR: 1.71 [95% CI: 1.14-2.56]) than in uninfected infants, and this risk was even higher in cases of combined EOS and LOS (OR: 2.33 [95% CI: 1.02-5.33]). There was no association between neonatal infection and cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal infections in these very preterm infants were associated with a higher risk of cerebral palsy at the age of 5 years, particularly in infants presenting with both EOS and LOS.

Consensus in diagnostic definitions for bone or joint infections in children by a Delphi method with European French-speaking experts.

AIM: Various diagnostic criteria have been proposed for bone or joint infection. This study used a Delphi process to determine the consensual definitions for arthritis, osteomyelitis and bone or joint infections in general in children. METHODS: A group of European French-speaking experts participated in an email Delphi process. Definitions were identified during a systematic search of the PubMed database. Five definitions of arthritis, eight for osteomyelitis and five for bone or joint infections in general were included in a three-round process. We sought two sorts of definitions: definitions for 'definitive' diagnoses for epidemiological studies and definitions for 'probable' diagnoses for clinical or therapeutic studies, considering enlarged criteria. RESULTS: Ten experts were involved in the Delphi process. A consensus was reached for a definitive diagnosis of arthritis, osteomyelitis and bone or joint infections in general. A consensus was also reached for a probable diagnosis of bone or joint infections in general. CONCLUSION: This Delphi process made consensus definitions and criteria available for bone or joint infections that could improve the comparability of both epidemiological and clinical studies. This is a first step to standardise diagnostic criteria and distinguish definitive and probable bone or joint infections in children.