[Retinopathy of prematurity. Prevention, screening and treatment guidelines]. / Retinopatía de la prematuridad. Recomendaciones para la prevención, el cribado y el tratamiento.

ROP screening is carried out at all the Spanish hospitals, but there is little agreement on the criteria used for its screening and other aspects related to its practice. Our aim is to report on recommendations for prevention, screening, treatment and follow-up of the retinopathy of prematurity in Spain. Prevention strategies and recommendations for screening, exploration and treatment of ROP, as well as of the organisation of the services to carry out it are reviewed. The most recent bibliography on the basis of the scientific evidence is considered, taking as reference, the guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2006 and the recommendations updated in 2007 in the United Kingdom. The recommended prevention strategies are based on the best neonatal practice. The standards, as far as the screening is concerned, are established by birth weight (< or =1,500 g), gestational age (< or =32 weeks) and unstable neonatal clinical course. Indirect ophthalmoscopy is the standard technique for exploration and laser therapy the treatment of choice.

[Recommendations for the care of the healthy normal newborn at delivery and during the first postnatal hours]. / Recomendaciones para el cuidado y atención del recién nacido sano en el parto y en las primeras horas después del nacimiento.

Standardised normal newborn care at delivery and during the first hours of life is one of the objectives of the Spanish National Society of Neonatology. The object of this review is to apply the best evidence possible to the procedures of the care of the newborn from delivery and during the first moments after delivery; as well as standards and routines in care to improve quality and the safety of the newborn. A PubMed (MeSH) review using the key words: term newborn; prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum; haemorrhagic disease of the newborn; neonatal jaundice; neonatal screening and hospital discharge. Concepts of regular care of the healthy newborn at delivery; normal practices in the delivery room; prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum; prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding; care of the umbilical cord; newborn screening and hospital discharge are reviewed. The standard of care of the newborn at delivery and during the first hours of life have been updated; recommendations based on evidence and on experts of the standard committee of the spanish society of neonatology are done.

[Usefulness of different risk factor associations in predicting admissions due to respiratory syncytial virus in premature newborns of 32 to 35 weeks gestation in Spain]. / Utilidad predictiva de ingreso por infección por virus respiratorio sincitial de diferentes asociaciones de factores de riesgo en prematuros de 32 a 35 semanas de gestación en España.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk factor associations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization in preterm infants from 32 to 35 weeks gestation, treated during two consecutive RSV seasons in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A database (FLIP-2) was used after excluding the infants who received prophylactic palivizumab. A total of 193 RSV+ admissions and 4568 non-hospitalized children were studied. The risk factors analyzed were: chronological age <=10 weeks at start of RSV season or to be born during the first 10 weeks of the season; school-age siblings or daycare attendance; mother smoking during pregnancy; male gender; breastfeeding <=2 months; >=4 adults at home; history of wheezing; small for gestational age; >=2 smokers at home. RESULTS: Logistic regression model included the first four previously mentioned risk factors as independently significant variables, with R(2) of 0.062 and area under curve of 0.687 (P<0.001). Predictive values for a child with the four risk factors were: sensitivity 6.2%, specificity 98.6%, predictive positive value 16.2%, negative predictive value 96.1%, accuracy 94.9%, positive likelihood ratio 4.581, and negative likelihood ratio 0.951. Positive likelihood ratio for a child with the two major risk factors is 2.657. CONCLUSIONS: Usefulness of different risk factor associations to predict hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection in preterm infants 32 to 35 weeks gestation in Spain is low, although similar to other models.

[The efficiency (cost-effectiveness) of palivizumab as prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus infection in premature infants with a gestational age of 32-35 weeks in Spain]. / La eficiencia (coste-efectividad) de palivizumab como profilaxis para la infección por virus respiratorio sincitial en prematuros de 32-35 semanas en España.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficiency (cost-effectiveness) of palivizumab in preventing severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in premature infants with a gestational age of 32-35 weeks (GA 32-35) and two or more risk factors (RF) in Spain. DESIGN: decision tree model using data from the scientific literature and the FLIP I and FLIP II studies (cohort of 326 infants with GA 32-35 and two or more RF who received palivizumab) sponsored by the Spanish Society of Neonatology. Main effectiveness measure: quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained. PERSPECTIVES: the national health service (NHS), which includes direct costs (administration of palivizumab and hospital admissions), and the societal perspective, which also includes indirect costs (the child's future lost productivity). Discount: 3 % annually for effectiveness and indirect costs. Sensitivity analysis: construction of 37 scenarios modifying variables related to effectiveness and costs. RESULTS: Prophylaxis with palivizumab in premature infants with GA 32-35 and two or more RF produced an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 13,849 euro/QALY from the NHS perspective, and an ICER of 4,605 euro/QALY from the societal perspective. In the sensitivity analysis, from the NHS perspective the ICER ranged from 5,351 euro/QALY (most favorable scenario) to 23,276 euro/QALY (least favorable scenario). CONCLUSIONS: Palivizumab is a cost-effective therapy as prophylaxis against RSV in infants with GA 32-35 and two or more RF. Its use is efficient from the NHS perspective, since the cost of a QALY, even in the least favorable scenarios, is lower than the threshold of 30,000 Euro/QALY considered socially acceptable in Spain.

[Hepatitis C virus antibodies in hospital personnel]. / Anticuerpos frente al virus de la hepatitis C en el personal hospitalario.

BACKGROUND: The discovery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) largely responsible for the non A non B hepatitis, and the antiHCV antibody allows epidemiologic data and risk factors of infection related to the same to be known. The aim of the authors was to know the prevalence of the antiHCV in health care staff in relation with a group of extrahospitalary workers. METHODS: A transversal seroepidemiologic study was carried out in physicians, nurses and auxiliaries with seniority of more than one year in the medical, surgical, emergency, and ICU departments and laboratories of the general hospital of reference (1200 beds). RESULTS: Of the 874 participants (93% of the candidates) 19 (2%) had HCV antibodies detected by ELISA; with positive RIBA II and positive LIA test in 14 (1.6%) of them. In 11 sera ARN of HVC was detected by PCR. Of 547 extrahospitalary workers of the control group, 2 (0.4%) had positive markers against HCV (p < 0.05). The GPT of the seropositive individuals was normal in four and equal to or less than 70 U/l in six. Seven cases (50%) also had serologic data of contagion with HCV. In 10 (1.1%) of the health care staff no risk factor other than hospitalary work was found. CONCLUSIONS: Working in departments attending HCV carriers represents an increase in risk which must be taken into account with regard to accidental exposure to fluids of patients admitted to these areas.

[Universal cytomegalovirus infection screening in premature newborns less than 1500 g]. / Cribado universal de infección por citomegalovirus en prematuros de menos de 1.500 g.

INTRODUCTION: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is endemic, and children who attend day care are the most important source of infection. OBJECTIVE: To establish recommendations based on the medical evidence on the vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus in preterm infants weighing less than 1500g at birth. BACKGROUND: Infection in pregnant women may be primary or secondary. Although there is fetal infection, 85% of newborn infants are asymptomatic. Symptoms of infection include low birth weight, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, microcephaly and neurological disorders. The prognosis of symptomatic children is very poor, with high mortality and neurological disorders. The virus can be reactivated during breast feeding, and early infection is possible through breast milk, probably with little impact in term infants, although the long-term neurological outcome worsens in preterm infants. The diagnostic method of choice is the identification of CMV in urine; the determination in the first two weeks of life suggests congenital infection; later it can be acquired at birth or through breast milk or contaminated blood transfusion. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Determine viral DNA at 4-6 weeks of life by protease chain reaction. If it is positive, monitoring of samples from the first days of life and breast milk are mandatory. This should allow the newborn to be classified into three states: "Without CMV infection", "Congenital CMV infection", "Acquired CMV infection".

[Recommendations for neonatal transport]. / Recomendaciones sobre transporte neonatal.

During pregnancy, it is not always possible to identify maternal or foetal risk factors. Infants requiring specialised medical care are not always born in centres providing intensive care and will need to be transferred to a referral centre where intensive care can be provided. Therefore Neonatal Transport needs to be considered as part of the organisation of perinatal health care. The aim of Neonatal Transport is to transfer a newborn infant requiring intensive care to a centre where specialised resources and experience can be provided for the appropriate assessment and continuing treatment of a sick newborn infant. Intrauterine transfer is the ideal mode of transport when the birth of an infant with risk factors is diagnosed. Unfortunately, not all problems can be detected in advance with enough time to safely transfer a pregnant woman. Around 30- 50% of risk factors will be diagnosed during labour or soon after birth. Therefore, it is important to have the knowledge and resources to resuscitate and stabilise a newborn infant, as well as a specialised neonatal transport system. With this specialised transport it is possible to transfer newly born infants with the same level of care that they would receive if they had been born in a referral hospital, without increasing their risks or affecting the wellbeing of the newborn. The Standards Committee of the Spanish Society of Neonatology reviewed and updated recommendations for intrauterine transport and indications for neonatal transfer. They also reviewed organisational and logistic factors involved with performing neonatal transport. The Committee review included the type of personnel who should be involved; communication between referral and receiving hospitals; documentation; mode of transport; equipment to stabilise newly born infants; management during transfer, and admission at the referral hospital.

[Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: definitions and classifications]. / Displasia broncopulmonar: definiciones y clasificación.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is the most common sequelae related to very low birth weight infants, mostly with those of extremely low birth weight. Even with advances in prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome associated with prematurity, there is still no decrease in the incidence in this population, although a change in its clinical expression and severity has been observed. There are, however, differences in its frequency between health centres, probably due to a non-homogeneously used clinical definition. In this article, the Committee of Standards of the Spanish Society of Neonatology wishes to review the current diagnosis criteria of bronchopulmonary dysplasia to reduce, as much as possible, these inter-centre differences.

[Health care levels and minimum recommendations for neonatal care]. / Niveles asistenciales y recomendaciones de mínimos para la atención neonatal.

A policy statement on the levels of care and minimum recommendations for neonatal healthcare was first proposed by the Standards Committee and the Board of the Spanish Society of Neonatology in 2004. This allowed us to define the level of care of each center in our country, as well as the health and technical requirements by levels of care to be defined. This review takes into account changes in neonatal care in the last few years and to optimize the location of resources. Facilities that provide care for newborn infants should be organized within a regionalized system of perinatal care. The functional capabilities of each level of care should be defined clearly and uniformly, including requirements for equipment, facilities, personnel, ancillary services, training, and the organization of services (including transport) needed to cover each level of care.

[Recommendations for the computerisation of neonatology services]. / Recomendaciones para la informatización de los servicios de neonatología.

The aim is to provide a framework for data collection in the health area of newborn infants allowing harmonization of their care. This requires knowing the population served, and the greatest difficulty is the absence of a data collection system and standards of care for all conditions of the newborn infant. It is essential to have a single record with the main perinatal and neonatal data of all newborn infants. The Spanish Society of Neonatology (SEN) should be responsible for the database, which must meet all legal requirements of privacy and confidentiality. It is possible to determine the relative weight of the pathology treated using Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) and the results from a quality care perspective. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment may be established by comparative analysis (benchmarking studies…). Conclusion and Recommendation. It is necessary to know the newborn population served, and define criteria for diagnosis and treatment to improve quality of care. The SEN wishes to address those responsible for the care in hospitals, and to ask for their support and cooperation in the implementation of these recommendations.

[Muscular botryomycosis in the rectus abdominis muscle: imaging findings]. / Botriomicosis muscular en el recto anterior del abdomen: hallazgos radiológicos.

Botryomycosis is a rare chronic suppurative granulomatous bacterial infection of the skin and viscera. It is classified into 2 groups: the visceral type and the cutaneous type, which can lead to involvement of contiguous muscle and bone, as appears probable in this case. We present a rare case of muscular botryomycosis in the rectus abdominis muscle in a patient with a history of abdominal wall surgery. Botryomycosis was initially mistaken for a soft-tissue tumor; after surgical resection it was diagnosed as muscular botryomycosis. We describe the clinical presentation and the imaging characteristics of this rare entity.

Cribado universal de infección por citomegalovirus en prematuros de menos de 1.500 g / Universal cytomegalovirus infection screening in premature newborns less than 1500 g

INTRODUCCIÓN: La infección por citomegalovirus es una infección endémica y los niños que acuden a guardería constituyen el foco de infección más importante para las gestantes. OBJETIVO: Establecer una recomendación para el diagnóstico basada en la evidencia médica sobre la infección de trasmisión vertical por citomegalovirus en prematuros menores de 1.500g al nacer. ANTECEDENTES: La infección en la gestante puede ser primaria o secundaria. Aunque exista infección fetal, el 85% de los recién nacidos serán asintomáticos. Los síntomas de infección son: bajo peso al nacer, hepatoesplenomegalia, trombocitopenia, microcefalia y trastornos neurológicos. El pronóstico de los niños sintomáticos suele ser grave, con elevada mortalidad y secuelas neurológicas. El virus se puede reactivar durante la lactancia y es posible la infección precoz a través de la leche materna, probablemente con poca repercusión en niños a término, aunque en prematuros puede afectar al neurodesarrollo a largo plazo. El método diagnóstico de elección es la identificación del citomegalovirus en orina; la determinación en las 2 primeras semanas de vida indica infección congénita. Un diagnóstico posterior sugiere que puede haber sido adquirida en el parto o a través de la leche materna o transfusión de sangre contaminada. Conclusión y recomendación: Determinar el ADN viral por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa a las 4-6 semanas de vida. En caso positivo, investigar en muestras obtenidas los primeros días de vida y en leche materna. Ello debe permitir clasificar al recién nacido en 3 estados: «no infectado», «infección congénita» e «infección adquirida»

INTRODUCTION: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is endemic, and children who attend day care are the most important source of infection. OBJECTIVE: To establish recommendations based on the medical evidence on the vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus in preterm infants weighing less than 1500g at birth. BACKGROUND: Infection in pregnant women may be primary or secondary. Although there is fetal infection, 85% of newborn infants are asymptomatic. Symptoms of infection include low birth weight, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, microcephaly and neurological disorders. The prognosis of symptomatic children is very poor, with high mortality and neurological disorders. The virus can be reactivated during breast feeding, and early infection is possible through breast milk, probably with little impact in term infants, although the long-term neurological outcome worsens in preterm infants. The diagnostic method of choice is the identification of CMV in urine; the determination in the first two weeks of life suggests congenital infection; later it can be acquired at birth or through breast milk or contaminated blood transfusion. Conclusion and recommendation: Determine viral DNA at 4-6 weeks of life by protease chain reaction. If it is positive, monitoring of samples from the first days of life and breast milk are mandatory. This should allow the newborn to be classified into three states: «Without CMV infection», «Congenital CMV infection», «Acquired CMV infection»

[Randomized double-blind study of treatment of croup with adrenaline and/or dexamethasone in children]. / Estudio randomizado doble ciego del tratamiento del crup en la infancia con adrenalina y/o dexametasona.

We present the results of a study designed to verify the efficacy of nebulized L-Adrenaline and/or dexamethasone given intramuscularly (IM) in the treatment of croup during childhood. Sixty-six children, hospitalized for croup during the period between october 1989 and september 1990, entered the study. They received the ordinary treatment with oxygen-therapy and fluid-therapy and were randomly assigned, in a double-blind fashion, into one of four treatment groups: Group 1: Nebulized L-Adrenaline and placebo (IM). Group 2: Nebulized saline and placebo (IM). Group 3: Nebulized saline and dexamethasone (IM). Group 4: Nebulized L-Adrenaline and dexamethasone (IM). The clinical evaluation was based on a scoring system assessing the inspiratory stridor, croupy cough, retractions and cyanosis. An analysis of variance was performed on the evolution of the score for two factors (Adrenaline and dexamethasone) to verify that there was no interaction between them. Subsequently, a one-factor analysis of variance was performed on the four treatment groups. We conclude that nebulized Adrenalin is more beneficial than saline in the clinical evolution of croup (p < 0.05). However, we did not find a statistically significant improvement in the group treated with dexamethasone when compared with the group treated with the placebo IM injection.

[The clinical and epidemiological aspects of the neonatal abstinence syndrome]. / Aspectos clínicos y epidemiológicos del síndrome de abstinencia neonatal.

Retrospectively, were tested maternal-neonatal factors of 47 newborn with neonatal abstinence syndrome comparing them with a control group of 100 newborn, during the period from 1985 to 1991. An average incidence of 6/1000 living newborn were affected by abstinence syndrome. The mothers were young (75%), smokers (74%), unemployed (80%), with a high rate of previous abortions (21%) and with a bad pregnancy control. Within our environment, abstinence syndrome increase has been detected among children of young gypsy mothers. Heroin (88%) was the most popular drug. Nevertheless a change has been noted in the last few years in the drug administration going from intravenous to the inhalational route. The duration of syndrome was less in the newborn whose mothers had inhaled heroin and in the premature newborn. It was proved that there was a high rate of HIV (40%), hepatitis B (23%), and syphilis markers (25%).

Recomendaciones para la informatización de los servicios de neonatología / Recommendations for the computerisation of neonatology services

El objetivo es proporcionar el marco para la recopilación de datos en el área de la salud de los recién nacidos que permitan la armonización de la asistencia sea cual sea su lugar de nacimiento. Para ello es necesario conocer la población atendida y la mayor dificultad es la ausencia de un sistema de recopilación de datos y de unos estándares asistenciales para todas las condiciones del recién nacido. Es imprescindible disponer de un registro único en el que se recojan los principales datos perinatales y neonatales de todos los recién nacidos. La Sociedad Española de Neonatología (SEN) debe ser el depositario y responsable de la base de datos, que debe cumplir todas las exigencias legales de privacidad y confidencialidad. A nivel de cada centro es posible conocer el peso relativo de la afección atendida por grupos de diagnósticos relacionados (DRG) y los resultados desde el aspecto de calidad asistencial. Mediante análisis comparativos (estudios de benchmarking,...) es posible establecer las pautas de diagnóstico y tratamiento.Es necesario conocer la población de recién nacidos atendida y definir criterios de diagnóstico y tratamiento para mejorar la calidad asistencial. La SEN desea dirigirse a los responsables asistenciales de los centros hospitalarios para pedirles su apoyo y colaboración en la puesta en marcha de estas recomendaciones (AU)

The aim is to provide a framework for data collection in the health area of newborn infants allowing harmonization of their care. This requires knowing the population served, and the greatest difficulty is the absence of a data collection system and standards of care for all conditions of the newborn infant. It is essential to have a single record with the main perinatal and neonatal data of all newborn infants. The Spanish Society of Neonatology (SEN) should be responsible for the database, which must meet all legal requirements of privacy and confidentiality. It is possible to determine the relative weight of the pathology treated using Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) and the results from a quality care perspective. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment may be established by comparative analysis (benchmarking studies…).Conclusion and Recommendation. It is necessary to know the newborn population served, and define criteria for diagnosis and treatment to improve quality of care. The SEN wishes to address those responsible for the care in hospitals, and to ask for their support and cooperation in the implementation of these recommendations(AU)

Displasia broncopulmonar: definiciones y clasificación / Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: definitions and classifications

La displasia broncopulmonar sigue siendo la secuela más frecuente relacionada con los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso al nacer y especialmente con aquellos con pesos extremadamente bajos. Pese a los avances en la prevención y los cuidados de la insuficiencia respiratoria asociada a la prematuridad, no ha ocurrido un descenso en su incidencia en esta población, aunque sí hemos asistido en los últimos años a un cambio en su expresión clínica y en su gravedad. Existen, sin embargo, diferencias aún importantes entre los distintos centros en cuanto a la frecuencia de su presentación, probablemente debido a la aplicación de un diagnóstico clínico no homogéneo. En este artículo, la Comisión de Estándares de la Sociedad Española de Neonatología quiere revisar los criterios diagnósticos de la displasia broncopulmonar para reducir, en la medida de lo posible, la variabilidad intercentro de la misma (AU)

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is the most common sequelae related to very low birth weight infants, mostly with those of extremely low birth weight. Even with advances in prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome associated with prematurity, there is still no decrease in the incidence in this population, although a change in its clinical expression and severity has been observed. There are, however, differences in its frequency between health centres, probably due to a non-homogeneously used clinical definition. In this article, the Committee of Standards of the Spanish Society of Neonatology wishes to review the current diagnosis criteria of bronchopulmonary dysplasia to reduce, as much as possible, these intercentre differences (AU)

Recomendaciones sobre transporte neonatal / Recommendations for neonatal transport

Las gestaciones que conllevan algún riesgo materno y/o fetal no siempre son diagnosticadas en un centro especializado en la atención neonatal, por lo que el transporte posnatal es una parte esencial dentro de la estructura de los servicios sanitarios perinatales. El objetivo del transporte neonatal es trasladar al recién nacido a un centro especializado que disponga de la infraestructura y la experiencia necesarias para su asesoramiento y tratamiento. El transporte ideal del recién nacido es el que se realiza in utero. Desafortunadamente, no todos los problemas pueden detectarse a tiempo para el traslado materno y hasta un 30-50% de ellos pueden presentarse durante el parto o en el periodo neonatal inmediato. Por ello es necesario disponer de conocimientos y medios para la reanimación y la estabilización del recién nacido en el momento del parto y de un sistema de transporte neonatal especializado que permita trasladar a los pacientes con el mismo nivel de cuidados que recibiría en el hospital receptor sin que suponga en ningún caso un deterioro de su salud o un riesgo elevado para ella. La Sociedad Española de Neonatología, a través de su Comisión de Estándares, ha querido revisar y actualizar en este documento las recomendaciones para el transporte intraútero, las indicaciones para el traslado neonatal, la organización y la logística necesarias para realizarlo (personal, comunicación, documentación, medio de transporte y equipamiento), la estabilización previa al mismo, el manejo durante el traslado y el ingreso en el hospital receptor (AU)

During pregnancy, it is not always possible to identify maternal or foetal risk factors. Infants requiring specialised medical care are not always born in centres providing intensive care and will need to be transferred to a referral centre where intensive care can be provided. Therefore Neonatal Transport needs to be considered as part of the organisation of perinatal health care. The aim of Neonatal Transport is to transfer a newborn infant requiring intensive care to a centre where specialised resources and experience can be provided for the appropriate assessment and continuing treatment of a sick newborn infant. Intrauterine transfer is the ideal mode of transport when the birth of an infant with risk factors is diagnosed. Unfortunately, not all problems can be detected in advance with enough time to safely transfer a pregnant woman. Around 30- 50% of risk factors will be diagnosed during labour or soon after birth. Therefore, it is important to have the knowledge and resources to resuscitate and stabilise a newborn infant, as well as a specialised neonatal transport system. With this specialised transport it is possible to transfer newly born infants with the same level of care that they would receive if they had been born in a referral hospital, without increasing their risks or affecting the wellbeing of the newborn. The Standards Committee of the Spanish Society of Neonatology reviewed and updated recommendations for intrauterine transport and indications for neonatal transfer. They also reviewed organisational and logistic factors involved with performing neonatal transport. The Committee review included the type of personnel who should be involved; communication between referral and receiving hospitals; documentation; mode of transport; equipment to stabilise newly born infants; management during transfer, and admission at the referral hospital (AU)

Niveles asistenciales y recomendaciones de mínimos para la atención neonatal / Health care levels and minimum recommendations for neonatal care

En el año 2004 fue elaborado por el Comité de Estándares y la Junta Directiva de la Sociedad Española de Neonatología (SEN) un primer documento sobre niveles asistenciales y recomendaciones de mínimos para la atención neonatal, a partir del cual se pudo definir el nivel asistencial de cada centro en nuestro país, así como los requerimientos técnico-sanitarios según niveles. La presente revisión pretende tener en cuenta los cambios experimentados en la asistencia neonatal en los últimos años y optimizar la localización de recursos. Las unidades que proporcionan asistencia a los recién nacidos deben estar organizadas dentro de un sistema de regionalización de los cuidados perinatales. Las características funcionales de cada nivel asistencial deben ser definidas de forma uniforme y clara, y esto incluye requerimientos de equipamiento, instalaciones, personal, servicios de apoyo, formación y organización de servicios (incluyendo el transporte) necesarios para cubrir las prestaciones de cada nivel de cuidados (AU)

A policy statement on the levels of care and minimum recommendations for neonatal healthcare was first proposed by the Standards Committee and the Board of the Spanish Society of Neonatology in 2004. This allowed us to define the level of care of each center in our country, as well as the health and technical requirements by levels of care to be defined. This review takes into account changes in neonatal care in the last few years and to optimize the location of resources. Facilities that provide care for newborn infants should be organized within a regionalized system of perinatal care. The functional capabilities of each level of care should be defined clearly and uniformly, including requirements for equipment, facilities, personnel, ancillary services, training, and the organization of services (including transport) needed to cover each level of care (AU)

Efectividad de palivizumab en la prevención de la infección por el virus respiratorio sincitial en prematuros de 32' a 35º semanas de gestación en España / Effectiveness of palivizumab to prevent hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection in preterm infants 32' to 35º weeks’ gestation in Spain

Objetivo: Se pretende evaluar la efectividad de palivizumab para prevenir ingresos por el virus respiratorio sincitial (VRS) cuando es administrado a ex prematuros de 321 a 350 semanas de gestación, con menos de 6 meses de edad al inicio de la estación VRS y que presenten alguna de las combinaciones de factores de riesgo de ingreso por VRS. Pacientes y métodos: Se ha utilizado la base de datos del estudio FLIP-2, excluyendo los niños sin ningún factor de riesgo. Se estudió a 627 niños tratados con palivizumab y 4.092 que no lo recibieron. Las agrupaciones de factores de riesgo combinaron dos «factores mayores» (edad cronológica inferior a 10 semanas al inicio de la estación o haber nacido en las 10primeras semanas de la estación; hermano mayor que fuera a la escuela o asistencia a la guardería) y dos «factores menores» (gestante fumadora; sexo varón). Se han calculado los diferentes riesgos absoluto y relativo y el número de pacientes que es necesario tratar (NNT) para cada combinación de factores de riesgo. Resultados: En cada combinación se encuentra un menor peso y una menor edad gestacional altamente significativos (p <0,001) en los niños tratados con palivizumab. En la combinación«2 factores mayores» se encuentra el menor NNT (13,5), y si se añade la combinación «1 factor mayor + 2 factores menores», el NNT alcanza un valor de 15,1. La combinación que sólo exige la presencia de un factor mayor o menor corresponde al estudio global. Ingresaron 186 (4,55%) no tratados con palivizumab y 9 (1,44%) de los tratados (p <0,001; NNT= 32,2). Conclusiones: En los ex prematuros de 321 a 350 semanas, con una edad cronológica inferior a 10 semanas al inicio de la estación VRS o que hayan nacido en las 10 primeras semanas de la estación, y con un hermano mayor que vaya a la escuela o asista a la guardería, para prevenir un ingreso VRS habría que administrar palivizumab a 14 de ellos (AU)

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of palivizumab to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection when administered to former preterm infants321 to 350 weeks’ gestation aged less than 6 months at the beginning of RSV season using any of the possible combinations of known risk factors for RSV hospitalization. Patients and methods: Data were retrieved from the FLIP-2study database. Infants without risk factors were excluded. The database included 627 infants who received palivizumab and 4,092 who did not. Seven accumulative subgroups were established according to the combinations of risk factors combining two “major factors” (chronological age less than10 weeks at the beginning of RSV season or being born during the first10 weeks of the season; school-age siblings or daycare attendance)and two “minor factors” (mother smoking during pregnancy; male gender). Absolute risk, relative risk, and number needed to treat (NNT) were obtained for each subgroup. Results: In each subgroup, birth weight and gestational age were significantly lower in palivizumab treated infants. The combination “2 major factors” showed a NNT of [13.5], and when merged with “1 major factor or 2 minor factors” the NNT reached 15.1. Combination requesting only one risk factor either major or minor corresponded by design to the global study.186 patients of the treated group (4.55%) and 9 patients of the non-treated group (1.44%) were admitted to the hospital, of the treated (p <0.001; NNT of 32.2).Conclusion: In former preterm infants 321 to 350 weeks’ gestation with chronological age less than10 weeks at the beginning of RSV season (or being born during the first 10 weeks of the season) and with school-age siblings or daycare attendance,14 should be treated with palivizumab to prevent one RSV hospitalization (AU)