Methotrexate and misoprostol teratogenicity: further expansion of the clinical manifestations.

We describe a boy who was exposed to misoprostol and methotrexate in the first trimester of gestation as a result of a failed medical abortion. He presented with severe growth retardation, skull defects, proptotic eyes, cleft palate, and severe micrognathia. There were bilateral defects of the upper and lower extremities, missing and hypoplastic ribs, and undescended testicles. He had clinical features of pulmonary hypoplasia with severe persistent pulmonary hypertension and remained ventilator-dependent until he expired. An autopsy revealed brain anomalies consistent with arrhinencephaly. Methotrexate is frequently used in conjunction with misoprostol to induce medical abortion, an off-label use as abortifacient. Both of these medications are well-established teratogens and have an X classification during pregnancy. Data from eight patients who were exposed to both medications in the first trimester indicate a significant teratogenic risk to the developing fetus. Reported anomalies include growth retardation, absence or hypoplasia of the frontal bones, craniosynostosis, large fontanelle, ocular hypertelorism, short palpebral fissures, wide nasal bridge, malformed and low-set ears, and micrognathia. Skeletal anomalies are frequent consisting of syndactyly, mesomelic shortening of the forearms, missing ribs, dislocated hips, and talipes equinovarus. The findings in our case are consistent with the pattern of abnormalities that have been reported in the literature. In addition, our patient had severe pulmonary hypoplasia and arrhinencephaly, anomalies that have not been described previously. This case adds to the documentation of the teratogenic effects of methotrexate and misoprostol on the developing fetus.

Urinary tract infection is common in VLBW infants.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the significance of urinary tract infection (UTI) as a cause of late onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine culture results in VLBW infants >72-h old, admitted to the Georgetown University Hospital NICU between 2005 and 2015. RESULT: Of 527 VLBW infants, 297 (56.4%) underwent 911 evaluations for LOS; only one-third included urine cultures. UTI was diagnosed in 8.5% of VLBW infants (range 2-15.9%) and in 13.8% of infants weighing < 1000 g at birth. Gram-negative infections predominated. Concomitant blood cultures were negative in 96% of infants. UTI was more common than bloodstream infection by 2015. CONCLUSION: UTI is a significant cause of infection in VLBW infants. Urine culture should be included in all LOS evaluations in order to facilitate accurate diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Facility readiness in low and middle-income countries to address care of high risk/ small and sick newborns.

BACKGROUND: The successful promotion of facility births in low and middle-income countries has not always resulted in improved neonatal outcome. We evaluated key signal functions pertinent to Level II neonatal care to determine facility readiness to care for high risk/ small and sick newborns. METHOD: Facility readiness for care of high risk/ small and sick babies was determined through self-evaluation using a pre-designed checklist to determine key signal functions pertinent to Level II neonatal care in selected referral hospitals in Uganda (10), Indonesia (4) and India (2) with focus on the Sub-Saharan country with greater challenges. RESULTS: Most facilities reported having continuous water supply, resources for hand hygiene and waste disposal. Delivery rooms had newborn corners for basic neonatal resuscitation, but few practiced proper reprocessing of resuscitation equipment. Birth weight records were not consistently maintained in the Ugandan hospitals. In facilities with records of birth weights, more than half (51.7%) of newborns admitted to the neonatal units weighed 2500 g or more. Neonatal mortality rates ranged from 1.5 to 22.5%. Evaluation of stillbirths and numbers of babies discharged against medical advice gave a more comprehensive idea of outcome. Kangaroo Mother Care was practiced to varying extents. Incubators were more common in Africa while radiant warmers were preferred in Indian hospitals. Tube feeding was practiced in all and cup feeding in most, with use of human milk at all sites. There were proportionately more certified pediatricians and nurses in Indonesia and India. There was considerable shortage of nursing staff, (worst nurse -bed ratio ranging from 1 to 15 in the day shift, and 1 to 30 at night). There was significant variability in facility readiness, as in data maintenance, availability of commodities such as linen, air -oxygen blenders and infusion pumps and of infection prevention practices. CONCLUSIONS: Referral neonatal units in LMIC have challenges in meeting even the basic level II requirements, with significant variability in equipment, staffing and selected care practices. Facility readiness has to improve in concert with increased facility births of high risk newborns in order to have an impact on neonatal outcome, and on achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3.2.2.

Complications of vascular catheters in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Insertion of an intravascular catheter is the most common invasive procedure in the neonatal ICU. With every passing decade, technological innovations in catheter materials and sizes have allowed vascular access in infants who are smaller and sicker for purposes of blood pressure monitoring, blood sampling, and infusion of intravenous fluids and medications. There is, however, growing recognition of potential risks to life and limb associated with the use of intravascular catheters. This article reviews complications of venous and arterial catheters in the neonatal ICU and discusses treatment approaches and methods to prevent such complications, based on current evidence.

Prevention and treatment of neonatal nosocomial infections.

Nosocomial or hospital acquired infections threaten the survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, and increase cost of care. Premature infants are particularly vulnerable since they often undergo invasive procedures and are dependent on central catheters to deliver nutrition and on ventilators for respiratory support. Prevention of nosocomial infection is a critical patient safety imperative, and invariably requires a multidisciplinary approach. There are no short cuts. Hand hygiene before and after patient contact is the most important measure, and yet, compliance with this simple measure can be unsatisfactory. Alcohol based hand sanitizer is effective against many microorganisms and is efficient, compared to plain or antiseptic containing soaps. The use of maternal breast milk is another inexpensive and simple measure to reduce infection rates. Efforts to replicate the anti-infectious properties of maternal breast milk by the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have met with variable success, and there are ongoing trials of lactoferrin, an iron binding whey protein present in large quantities in colostrum. Attempts to boost the immunoglobulin levels of preterm infants with exogenous immunoglobulins have not been shown to reduce nosocomial infections significantly. Over the last decade, improvements in the incidence of catheter-related infections have been achieved, with meticulous attention to every detail from insertion to maintenance, with some centers reporting zero rates for such infections. Other nosocomial infections like ventilator acquired pneumonia and staphylococcus aureus infection remain problematic, and outbreaks with multidrug resistant organisms continue to have disastrous consequences. Management of infections is based on the profile of microorganisms in the neonatal unit and community and targeted therapy is required to control the disease without leading to the development of more resistant strains.

Antibiotic stewardship in perinatal and neonatal care.

The spread of antibiotic resistance due to the use and misuse of antibiotics around the world is now a major health crisis. Neonates are exposed to antibiotics both before and after birth, often empirically because of risk factors for infection, or for non-specific signs which may or may not indicate sepsis. There is increasing evidence that, apart from antibiotic resistance, the use of antibiotics in pregnancy and in the neonatal period alters the microbiome in the fetus and neonate with an increased risk of immediate and long-term adverse effects. Antibiotic stewardship is a co-ordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antibiotics, improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. This review addresses some of the controversies in antibiotic use in the perinatal period, examines opportunities for reduction of unnecessary antibiotic exposure in neonates, and provides a framework for antibiotic stewardship in neonatal care.

An innovative nonanimal simulation trainer for chest tube insertion in neonates.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Competence in the chest tube insertion procedure is vital for practitioners who take care of critically ill infants. The use of animals for training is discouraged, and there are no realistic simulation models available for the neonatal chest tube insertion procedure. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of teaching the chest tube insertion procedure by using an easily constructed, nonanimal simulation model. METHODS: An inexpensive infant chest tube insertion model was developed by using simple hardware. A prospective cohort study with pre-posttest intervention design was conducted with pediatric and combined internal medicine-pediatrics residents. Residents completed a questionnaire about their previous experience of chest tube insertion, knowledge, self-evaluation of knowledge, comfort, and skills; pre, post, and a month after an individualized education session and demonstration of the procedure on the model. Clinical skills were assessed by using a 32-point scoring system when residents performed the procedure on the model immediately after training and a month later. RESULTS: All residents had significant improvement in knowledge and self-evaluation of knowledge, comfort, and skills scores after the education session and training on the model and this improvement was retained after 1 month (P < .001). Clinical skills scores decreased slightly 1 month after training (P = .08). Scores were not significantly different between the levels of trainees. CONCLUSIONS: An educational intervention using an easily constructed and inexpensive chest tube insertion model is effective in improving knowledge, comfort, and skills in trainees. The model can be used repeatedly to maintain proficiency.

Thrombocytopenia in the newborn.

Thrombocytopenia is the most common hemostatic abnormality in sick newborn infants. Although many conditions may be associated with neonatal thrombocytopenia, low platelet counts in the first few days of life are often caused by fetomaternal problems, whereas thrombocytopenia developing after the third day is usually secondary to sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis. Despite the frequency of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates, the underlying kinetic mechanisms are not always clear. The commonly accepted theories of decreased platelet production or increased consumption are being scrutinized in the light of new evidence. Thrombopoietin and interleukin-11 are being investigated to unravel the complex pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in neonates and they are also being explored as potential therapeutic agents. Guidelines for platelet transfusions continue to be variable and controversial.