Transcutaneous Bilirubin Monitoring in Preterm Infants of 23 to 34 Weeks' Gestation.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the validity of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements at three sites in premature infants born at 230/7 to 346/7 weeks' gestational age (GA) compared with total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurements. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted at Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, where informed consent was obtained from the infant's parent or legally authorized representative. Cohort A was comprised of infants 230/7 to 286/7 weeks' GA and Cohort B contained subjects 290/7 to 346/7 weeks' GA. Baseline TSB measurements were collected at approximately 24 hours of life, as the standard of care and the TcB measurements were obtained from the sternum, interscapular, and buttock areas at approximately ± 30 minutes from collection of the TSB. Statistical analysis of measurements including sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values, and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) were performed. RESULTS: A total of 166 infants were included in the study population. Cohort A consisted of 41 subjects and Cohort B contained 125 subjects. The results showed that baseline TcB measurements from the interscapular area were the most sensitive and specific with TSB levels >5.0 mg/dL in Cohort A. Baseline TcB measurements from the sternum demonstrated greatest sensitivity and specificity when the TSB level was >8.0 mg/dL in Cohort B. In general, each of the three sites in both cohorts demonstrated excellent AUROCs and negative predictive values. CONCLUSION: The use of a TcB meter in preterm infants can be a reliable noninvasive screening tool for hyperbilirubinemia, and it may be beneficial in decreasing painful stimuli and iatrogenic blood loss when used as an adjunct to TSB monitoring. KEY POINTS: · Interscapular TcB is sensitive/specific in 23 to 29 weeks' GA.. · Sternal TcB is sensitive/specific in 29 to 35 weeks' GA.. · TcB readings are reliable in preterm infants.. · TcB is reliable when serum bilirubin is >5.0 mg/dL..

A Term Infant Presenting with COVID-19 Disease at Birth and a Croup-Like Cough.

OBJECTIVE: Since the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there have been increasing reports of children developing a croup-like cough associated with concurrent COVID-19 infection. Currently, there is not much information available regarding newborn infants and COVID-19 infection and the incidence of vertical transmission is thought to be rare. This novel case report depicts a term newborn infected at the time of birth with COVID-19 and includes details about the course of their complicated hospitalization. STUDY DESIGN: A term infant, found to be infected at birth with COVID-19, developed respiratory distress resulting in transfer to our neonatal intensive care unit. Due to the increasing respiratory support requirements, endotracheal intubation was required on day of life (DOL) 7. Later, when the infant was extubated, on DOL 21, a croup-like cough developed. RESULTS: Despite respiratory treatment with albuterol, budesonide, racemic epinephrine, lidocaine, dornase alfa, and a 10-day course of dexamethasone, the cough persisted. A prolonged hospitalization was required and eventually the infant was discharged home on 0.4 L/minute of oxygen via nasal cannula on DOL 95. CONCLUSION: As the COVID-19 virus mutates over time, there are some seemingly different presentations in both the pediatric and adult populations. The hypervigilance and sharing of new findings among providers are paramount in the treatment of infants with COVID-19 disease. KEY POINTS: · Term infant with COVID-19 developed a croup-like cough.. · Usual respiratory treatment not effective with croup-like cough and COVID-19.. · COVID-19 present at birth later requiring intubation..

Maternal COVID-19 Infection and Possible Associated Adverse Neurological Fetal Outcomes, Two Case Reports.

INTRODUCTION: The long-term effects of prenatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on the fetal brain are mostly unknown at this time; however, there is increasing evidence being published. CASE REPORT: Two cases of severe ventriculomegaly, neurological dysfunction, and seizures were found in neonates with prenatal exposure to COVID-19 infection during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Inflammation during the prenatal and neonatal periods may be associated with neurological disorders or injury. Despite the presumed lack of vertical transmission, post-COVID-19 syndrome and its associated inflammation may have an impact on the unborn fetus. Hyper-vigilance and dissemination of adverse findings are of significant importance as we navigate through this evolving pandemic and its effects. KEY POINTS: · Prenatal exposure to COVID-19 may affect the fetal brain.. · There is a possibility of neonatal neurological sequelae from maternal COVID-19.. · Does maternal COVID-19 infection cause infantile seizures?.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Effects of an Exclusively Human Milk Protein Diet on Neonatal Feeding Tolerance.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of human milk protein fortifier (HMPF) versus bovine milk protein fortifier (BMPF) on feeding tolerance defined as the time to reach full feeds and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review using the BabySteps Database included 493 infants born ≤33 weeks of gestational age and ≤1,250 g (g) birth weight. A total of 218 infants fed a human milk diet (HMD) with BMPF were compared with 275 infants fed an HMD with HMPF. RESULTS: Full feeds were reached significantly sooner in the HMPF group (median: 14 vs. 16 days, p = 0.04). Weight at full feeds was significantly lower in the HMPF group (1,060 vs. 1110 g, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Using HMPF to provide an exclusively HMD allowed VLBW infants to achieve full feeds sooner, but did not affect rate of NEC compared with using a BMPF with an HMD. KEY POINTS: · Human milk fortifiers with human milk are better than bovine human milk protein fortifiers.. · Full feeds are reached sooner with a human milk protein fortifier.. · The incidence of NEC did not change with the use of Prolacta..

Neonatal and Maternal Ichthyosiform Dermopathy in Association with Kava Use during Pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Kava, a substance derived from the Piper methysticum plant, is enjoying a surge in popularity in the United States due to its purported anxiolytic and analgesic effects. Though ichthyosiform dermopathy is a known adverse effect associated with chronic kava exposure in adults, dermopathy in a newborn due to maternal kava use has not yet been described. CASE REPORT: This is a case of a 41-year-old woman who was taking a combination kava/kratom product throughout her pregnancy. She developed an ichthyosiform dermopathy that resolved after she stopped using the product postpartum. Her male infant had a neonatal course complicated by both neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, attributed to maternal kratom and buprenorphine use, as well as a diffuse ichthyosiform rash similar to descriptions of kava ichthyosiform dermopathy in adults. His neonatal course was complicated by Group B streptococcus and Serratia marscecens bacteremia (treated with antibiotics) and seizures (treated with lorazepam and phenobarbital). His rash resolved completely by day of life 22. At 9-month outpatient follow-up, he had no dermatologic abnormalities or rash recurrence. DISCUSSION: Maternal kava use during pregnancy may cause fetal dermopathy presenting as an acquired ichthyosis. More public education is needed about the potential consequences of kava use, particularly during pregnancy.

The Effect of a Single Dose of Prophylactic Vancomycin Prior to Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Removal on Sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a single dose of prophylactic vancomycin prior to the removal of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in decreasing sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and antibiotic usage in neonates. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted from December 1, 2015, through November 30, 2019, to evaluate outcomes of sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and antibiotic usage in neonates not receiving prophylactic vancomycin prior to the discontinuation of a PICC as compared with those receiving prophylaxis vancomycin in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). RESULTS: Of the 138 neonates enrolled in the study, 82 did not receive vancomycin prophylaxis (Cohort 1), and 56 did (Cohort 2). Both cohorts were similar in sex distribution, gestational age, and PICC days. The frequency of sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and the need for antibiotics was not found to be significant (p = 0.404, 0.703, 0.808) (Table 2).CONCLUSIONS The results did not show a statistically significant improvement in the incidence of sepsis in neonates who received prophylactic vancomycin prior to PICC discontinuation. However, there were lower percentages of sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and antibiotics administered in the Cohort 2 patients. Although the advantage of implementing this antibiotic policy is uncertain based on this study, further research across multiple centers including a larger number of subjects may provide more conclusive results.

Defining Normal Healthy Term Newborn Automated Hematologic Reference Intervals at 24 Hours of Life.

CONTEXT.­: Automated analyzers have advanced the field of clinical hematology, mandating updated complete blood count (CBC) reference intervals (RIs) to be clinically useful. Contemporary newborn CBC RI publications are mostly retrospective, which some authors have cited as one of their cardinal limitations and recommended future prospective studies. OBJECTIVE.­: To prospectively establish accurate hematologic RIs for normal healthy term newborns at 24 hours of life given the limitations of the current medical literature. DESIGN.­: This prospective study was conducted at an academic tertiary care center, and hematology samples were collected from 120 participants deemed to be normal healthy term newborns. Distributions were assessed for normality and tested for outliers. Reference intervals were values between the 2.5th percentile and 97.5th percentile. RESULTS.­: The novel RIs obtained for this study population are as follows: absolute immature granulocyte count, 80/µL to 1700/µL; immature granulocyte percentage, 0.6% to 6.1%; reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent, 31.7 to 38.4 pg; immature reticulocyte fraction, 35.9% to 52.8%; immature platelet count, 4.73 × 103/µL to 19.72 × 103/µL; and immature platelet fraction, 1.7% to 9.8%. CONCLUSIONS.­: This prospective study has defined hematologic RIs for this newborn population, including new advanced clinical parameters from the Sysmex XN-1000 Automated Hematology Analyzer. These RIs are proposed as the new standard and can serve as a strong foundation for continued research to further explore their value in diagnosing and managing morbidities such as sepsis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.