The role of nursing team continuity in the treatment of very-low-birth-weight infants: findings from a pilot study.

AIM: To assess the association between nursing team continuity and quality of care. BACKGROUND: Research on nurse staffing and its effect on quality of care is investigated to different degrees. However, very few studies have observed whether the continuous deployment of nursing staff is associated with quality of care. METHODS: This study was conducted in two university neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We matched nurse schedule data for the NICUs with nursing-sensitive patient outcomes and quality of care, as perceived by parents. We used analysis of variance to analyse differences in nursing team continuity between NICUs and regression analyses to identify associations with the outcome measures. RESULTS: There were considerable differences between units in terms of team continuity of nursing staff. Positive associations were found between team continuity and a higher rate of non-invasive respiratory support as well as parents' perceptions of how well they knew their nurse. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show remarkable differences in staff assignment in the different NICUs. In addition to appropriate staffing levels, scheduling nursing teams continuously would appear to play a role in influencing treatment quality. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: This paper emphasises the importance of carefully considered staff scheduling decisions.

Purpura fulminans after therapeutic hypothermia in an asphyxiated neonate with streptococcemia.

OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic hypothermia is an established therapeutic regimen in severely asphyxiated term neonates. The amount of cerebral injury is reduced resulting in an improved neurologic outcome. Therapeutic hypothermia-induced side effects mostly affect the circulatory system, kidney, and liver. However, asphyxia and hypothermia in itself reduce the hemostatic capacity of each individual organism. STUDY DESIGN: A case of a neonate with severe asphyxia and purpura fulminans after hypothermia is described. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Although purpura fulminans cannot be attributed to hypothermia solely, the influence of hypothermia on hemostasis may have promoted severe coagulopathy with a fatal outcome. Further studies are necessary to reveal therapeutic hypothermia as a trigger for severe coagulopathies in asphyxiated neonates, especially in those with sepsis and overt coagulopathy prior to therapeutic hypothermia.

Necrotizing enterocolitis as a prognostic factor for the neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants - match control study after 2years.

PURPOSE: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight infants is a risk factor for developmental delay. To our knowledge, there are no studies published investigating the neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with NEC comparing surgically treated and conservatively treated patients versus match paired controls. The aim of this retrospective case control study was to measure the neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with NEC who were treated surgically or conservatively METHODS: All patients were identified, who have been diagnosed with NEC (ICD-10 code, P77) born between 2006 and 2013. Patients with NEC received antibiotic therapy, nasogastric decompression and fasting. Surgical treatment was indicated for patients with Bell stages IIIb. We excluded patients suffering from other relevant diseases with a possible impact on their neurodevelopmental outcome (e.g., intraventricular hemorrhage, associated malformations, asphyxia, focal intestinal perforation, short bowel syndrome). Patients were tested at the corrected gestational age of 24months according to the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II. Each participant was compared to a child of the same sex, gestational age at birth (+/-two days), birth weight (+/-10%), and age at neurodevelopmental testing (IRB approval, No. 14/2014). The outcome measures were the psychomotor index (PDI) and the mental developmental index (MDI). RESULTS: We included 13 conservatively and 24 surgically treated patients. The patients in group A (without surgery) achieved a mean PDI of 106, and those in group B (with surgery) a mean PDI of 90. These values were significantly higher in the conservative group A. The mean MDIs were 99 in the patient group A and 85 in patient group B. This difference was also significant. CONCLUSION: We found significantly lower MDIs and PDIs in children with surgical treatment of NEC. Further systematic prospective research on the prevention of NEC and systematic follow-ups at later stages in the patients' development are necessary in order to implement early intervention. TYPE OF STUDY: case control study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Follow-Up of Children with Gastrointestinal Malformations and Postnatal Surgery and Anesthesia: Evaluation at Two Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: The impact of general anesthesia is considered a risk factor for developmental delay. Very few studies have been performed to measure the neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with selected malformations. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this ambidirectional cohort study was to measure the neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with congenital gastrointestinal-tract malformations (GIM). METHODS: Forty patients with relevant congenital GIM born in the period from June 2008 to April 2011 were identified. The inclusion criteria were a gestational age >32 completed weeks and surgery that required a general anesthetic within the first 28 days of life. The neonatal characteristics and anesthesia data were retrospectively collected. Based on information about the neonatal characteristics and socioeconomic background, a matched pair was found. All participants were tested at the corrected age of 24 months with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II assessment. RESULTS: The outcome was split into the psychomotor index (PDI) and mental developmental index (MDI). The patient group achieved a mean PDI of 103 and the control group achieved 106, i.e. these values were not significantly different. The mean MDI was 102 in the patient group and 110 in the control group. This difference was significant (p = 0.022). Detailed analysis of the items showed no significance for nonverbal items but a significant difference for verbal items (p = 0.029). Further analysis showed no correlation between relevant anesthesia data and the neurodevelopmental outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We found lower MDI scores due to worse verbal abilities in the patient group. Children born with GIM should be considered a risk group with respect to language development.

Group B streptococcus infections in neonates admitted to a German NICU: Emphasis on screening and adherence to pre-analytical recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Infections by group B streptococci (GBS), e.g. Streptococcus agalactiae, presenting as early-onset disease (EOD) or late-onset disease (LOD), are leading causes of severe infections in newborn and premature patients. Although screening and intra partum antibiotic prophylaxis are frequently performed, vertically transmitted GBS remain a challenge for pediatrics. AIMS: In order to prevent or reduce potential life-threatening events, this study retrospectively investigated epidemiological, microbiological and clinical aspects of infants admitted to the Division of Neonatology at the Department of Pediatrics at the University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany (UHF). STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Between January 2010 and January 2016, perinatal GBS screening status, clinical presentation of EOD or LOD and therapeutic management of neonates admitted to UHF were retrospective analysed. Infants tested positive for GBS within their first three months of life were included; patient data were obtained from the chart report. Severity of neonatal disease was analysed by using the NEOMOD and CRIB score. RESULTS: 108 GBS infected infants born to 105 mothers were observed. N=101 of them (93.5%) presented with EOD, whereof n=9 (10%) primarily presented with pneumonia or pneumothorax. In 82 (78%) mothers of infected infants GBS status was unknown prior to hospitalization of the neonate. 3/108 (2.8%) infants died from GBS septicemia. CONCLUSION: Avoidance of GBS transmission sub partu is the key issue in preventing neonatal GBS infection and should be the focus of preventive strategies. Our results highlight the impact of perinatal screening.

Life-threatening hemorrhage in neonates: management with recombinant activated factor VII.

OBJECTIVE: Massive hemorrhage with shock is a common problem for the intensivist. The use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa), known as efficient treatment for hemophilia, has been reported to control severe bleeding episodes in critically care patients, but never in preterm neonates. DESIGN: Case report (two cases) and review of the literature. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care unit, university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Two preterm neonates with life-threatening hemorrhages, from the liver and spleen in one patient and from the lung in the other. INTERVENTION: Intravenous administration of 150/200 microg/kg of rFVIIa (Novoseven, NovoNordisk, Copenhagen, Denmark). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Complete hemostasis 10 min after the second bolus in the two patients. CONCLUSION: For the intensivist, the successful use of rFVIIa in these patients and others lacking pre-existing coagulopathies points to rFVIIa as a novel therapeutic approach for patients presenting with massive life-threatening hemorrhage.