Early-onset neonatal sepsis is associated with a high heart rate during automatically selected stationary periods.

AIM: This study examined the heart rate variability characteristics associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis in a prospective, observational controlled study. METHODS: Eligible patients were full-term neonates hospitalised with clinical signs that suggested early-onset sepsis and a C-reactive protein of >10 mg/L. Sepsis was considered proven in cases of symptomatic septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia or enterocolitis. Heart rate variability parameters (n = 16) were assessed from five-, 15- and 30-minute stationary sequences automatically selected from electrocardiographic recordings performed at admission and compared with a control group using the U-test with post hoc Benjamini-Yekutieli correction. Stationary sequences corresponded to the periods with the lowest changes of heart rate variability over time. RESULTS: A total of 40 full-term infants were enrolled, including 14 with proven sepsis. The mean duration of the cardiac cycle length was lower in the proven sepsis group than in the control group (n = 11), without other significant changes in heart rate variability parameters. These durations, measured in five-minute stationary periods, were 406 (367-433) ms in proven sepsis group versus 507 (463-522) ms in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early-onset neonatal sepsis was associated with a high mean heart rate measured during automatically selected stationary periods.

Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis using self-collected vaginal swabs at a public pregnancy termination clinic in France: results of a screen-and-treat policy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection and the risk factors for CT infection among women presenting for abortion at a clinic in France. METHODS: Women seeking surgically induced abortions were systematically screened by PCR on self-collected vaginal swabs between January 1, 2010, and September 30, 2010. CT-positive women were treated with oral azithromycin (1 g) before the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Of the 978 women included in the study, 66 were CT positive. The prevalence was 6.7% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 5.1%-8.3%). The risk factors for CT infection were the following: age <30 years (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.0 [95% CI: 1.2-3.5]), a relationship status of single (OR: 2.2 [95% CI: 1.2-4.0]), having 0 or 1 child (OR: 5.2 [95% CI: 2.0-13.0]), not using contraception (OR: 2.4 [95% CI: 1.4-4.1]), and completing 11 weeks or more of gestation (OR: 2.1 [95% CI: 1.3-3.6]). Multiple logistic regression indicated that 4 factors--having 0 or 1 child, a single relationship status, no contraceptive use, and a gestation of 11 weeks or more--were independently associated with CT infection. The rate of postabortion infection among all patients was 0.4% (4/978). CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal a high prevalence (6.7%) of CT-positive patients among French women seeking induced abortions. Because it is not common practice to screen the general population for CT, screening before induced abortions seems relevant. A cost-effectiveness study is required to evaluate this screen-and-treat policy.

Chorioamnionitis following preterm premature rupture of membranes and fetal heart rate variability.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to identify prenatal markers of histological chorioamnionitis (HC) during pPROM using fetal computerized cardiotocography (cCTG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records from pregnant women referred for pPROM between 26 and 34 weeks, in whom placental histology was available, in a tertiary level obstetric service over a 5-year period. Fetal heart rate variability was assessed using cCTG. Patients were included if they were monitored at least six times in the 72 hours preceding delivery. Clinical and biological cCTG parameters during the pPROM latency period were compared between cases with or without HC. RESULTS: In total, 222 pPROM cases were observed, but cCTG data was available in only 23 of these cases (10 with and 13 without HC) after exclusion of co-morbidities which may potentially perturb fetal heart rate variability measures. Groups were comparable for maternal age, parity, gestational age at pPROM, pPROM duration and neonatal characteristics (p>0.1). Baseline fetal heart rate was higher in the HC group [median 147.3 bpm IQR (144.2-149.2) vs. 141.3 bpm (137.1-145.4) in no HC group; p = 0.02]. The number of low variation episodes [6.4, (3.5-15.3) vs. 2.3 (1-5.2); p = 0.04] was also higher in the HC group, whereas short term variations were lower in the HC group [7.1 ms (6-7.4) vs. 8.1 ms (7.4-9); p = 0.01] within 72 hours before delivery. Differences were especially discriminant within 24 hours before delivery, with less short-term variation [5 ms (3.7-5.9) vs. 7.8 ms (5.4-8.7); p = 0.007] and high variation episodes [3.9 (4.9-3.2) vs. 0.8 (1.5-0.2); p < 0.001] in the HC group. CONCLUSION: These results show differences in fetal heart rate variability, suggesting that cCTG could be used clinically to diagnoses chorioamnionitis during the pPROM latency period.

Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity After Attempted Operative Vaginal Delivery According to Fetal Head Station.

OBJECTIVE: To compare severe short-term maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with midpelvic and low pelvic attempted operative vaginal delivery. METHODS: Prospective study of 2,138 women with live singleton term fetuses in vertex presentation who underwent an attempted operative vaginal delivery in a tertiary care university hospital. We used multivariate logistic regression and propensity score methods to compare outcomes associated with midpelvic and low pelvic delivery. Severe maternal morbidity was defined as third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration, perineal hematoma, cervical laceration, extended uterine incision for cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage greater than 1,500 mL, surgical hemostatic procedures, uterine artery embolization, blood transfusion, infection, thromboembolic events, admission to the intensive care unit, and maternal death; severe neonatal morbidity was defined as 5-minute Apgar score less than 7, umbilical artery pH less than 7.00, need for resuscitation or intubation, neonatal trauma, intraventricular hemorrhage greater than grade 2, neonatal intensive care unit admission for more than 24 hours, convulsions, sepsis, and neonatal death. RESULTS: From December 2008 through October 2013 there were 2,138 attempted operative vaginal deliveries; 18.3% (n=391) were midpelvic, 72.5% (n=1,550) low, and 9.2% (n=197) outlet. Severe maternal morbidity occurred in 10.2% (n=40) of midpelvic, 7.8% (n=121) of low, and 6.6% (n=13) of outlet attempts (P=.21); and severe neonatal morbidity in 15.1% (n=59), 10.2% (n=158), and 10.7% (n=21) (P=.02), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found no significant difference between midpelvic and low attempted operative vaginal delivery for either composite severe maternal (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-1.55) or neonatal morbidity (adjusted OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.84-1.86). Similarly, propensity score matching found no significant difference between midpelvic and low operative vaginal delivery for either severe maternal (adjusted OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.39-1.22) or neonatal morbidity (adjusted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.53-1.45). CONCLUSION: In singleton term pregnancies, midpelvic attempted operative vaginal delivery compared with low pelvic attempted operative vaginal delivery was not associated with an increase in severe short-term maternal or neonatal morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.