Risk Perception and Decision Making about Early-Onset Sepsis among Neonatologists: A National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Many newborns are investigated and empirically treated for suspected early-onset sepsis (EOS). This study aimed to describe neonatologists' self-identified risk thresholds for investigating and treating EOS and assess the consistency of these thresholds with clinical decisions. STUDY DESIGN: Voluntary online survey, available in two randomized versions, sent to neonatologists from 20 centers of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research. The surveys included questions about thresholds for investigating and treating EOS and presented four clinical scenarios with varying calculated risks. In survey version A, only the scenarios were presented, and participants were asked if they would order a blood test or start antibiotics. Survey version B presented the same scenarios and the risk of sepsis. Clinical decisions were compared between survey versions using chi-square tests and agreement between thresholds and clinical decisions were investigated using Kappa coefficients. RESULTS: In total, 293 surveys were completed (145 survey version A and 148 survey version B). The median risk thresholds for blood test and antibiotic treatment were 1:100 and 1:25, respectively. In the high-risk scenario, there was no difference in the proportion choosing antibiotic therapy between the groups. In the moderate-risk scenarios, both tests and antibiotics were chosen more frequently when the calculated risks were included (survey version B). In the low-risk scenario, there was no difference between survey versions. There was poor agreement between the self-described thresholds and clinical decisions. CONCLUSION: Neonatologists overestimate the risk of EOS and underestimate their risk thresholds. Knowledge of calculated risk may increase laboratory investigation and antibiotic use in infants at moderate risk for EOS. KEY POINTS: · Neonatologists overestimate the risk of EOS.. · There is wide variation in diagnostic/treatment thresholds for EOS.. · Clinical decision on EOS is not consistent with risk thresholds.. · Knowledge of risk may increase investigation and treatment of EOS..

Perinatal risk factors and Apgar score ≤ 3 in first minute of life in a referral tertiary obstetric and neonatal hospital.

This study aimed to identify the maternal, labour and newborn risk factors associated with an Apgar score of ≤3 in the first minute of life. This was a cross-sectional evaluation from an internal database information system in a tertiary referral obstetric and neonatal centre. Newborns with gestational age ≥24 weeks and birth weight ≥500 g with a registered Apgar score in the first minute of life were included. A total of 4475 newborns had an Apgar score >3 and 154 newborns had an Apgar score ≤3 in the first minute of life. A multivariate analysis revealed that eclampsia (OR = 31.53), twin pregnancy (OR = 7.06), analgesia (OR = 1.97), prematurity (OR = 2.00) and caesarean section (OR = 2.06) were risk factors for an Apgar score ≤3 in the first minute of life. Identification of these risk factors indicates prompt assistance during prenatal and labour care to prevent neonatal hypoxia and low Apgar scores, identifying newborns that may need resuscitation procedures.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Adequate prenatal care and proper labour management are the main factors that reduce the risk of complications at birth. The Apgar score at the first minute of life reflects conditions during labour but it is not a parameter that indicates resuscitation procedures. Previous studies have reported the association Apgar score at five minutes of life with the neonatal outcome.What the results of this study add? This study identifies risk factors associated with an Apgar score ≤3 in the first minute of life in a tertiary referral hospital. Eclampsia was the greatest independent risk factor, increasing by 31 times the risk of having an Apgar score ≤3 in the first minute of life.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Identification of these risk factors, especially prompt treatment antenataly and during labour for hypertensive pregnant women, can prevent neonatal hypoxia and reduce the number of newborns that may need resuscitation procedures.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: temporal trend from 2010 to 2019 in the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the temporal trend of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants who survived to at least 36 weeks' post-menstrual age (PMA) and BPD or death at 36 weeks' PMA, and to analyse variables associated with both outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort with data retrieved from an ongoing national registry. SETTING: 19 Brazilian university public hospitals. PATIENTS: Infants born between 2010 and 2019 with 23-31 weeks and birth weight 400-1499 g. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Temporal trend was evaluated by Prais-Winsten model and variables associated with BPD in survivors or BPD or death were analysed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 11 128 included infants, BPD in survivors occurred in 22%, being constant over time (annual per cent change (APC): -0.80%; 95% CI: -2.59%; 1.03%) and BPD or death in 45%, decreasing over time (APC: -1.05%; 95% CI: -1.67%; -0.43%). Being male, small for gestational age, presenting with respiratory distress syndrome, air leaks, needing longer duration of mechanical ventilation, presenting with treated patent ductus arteriosus and late-onset sepsis were associated with an increase in the chance of BPD. For the outcome BPD or death, maternal bleeding, multiple gestation, 5-minute Apgar <7, late-onset sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis and intraventricular haemorrhage were added to the variables reported above as increasing the chance of the outcome. CONCLUSION: The frequency of BPD in survivors was constant and BPD or death decreased by 1.05% at each study year. These results show some improvement in perinatal care in Brazilian units which resulted in a reduction of BPD or death, but further improvements are still needed to reduce BPD in survivors.

The Effects of Prenatal Diagnosis on the Interaction of the Mother-Infant Dyad: A Longitudinal Study of Prenatal Care in the First Year of Life.

Introduction: Mother-child interactions during the first years of life have a significant impact on the emotional and cognitive development of the child. In this work, we study how a prenatal diagnosis of malformation may affect maternal representations and the quality of these early interactions. To this end, we conducted a longitudinal observational study of mother-child interactions from the gestational stage until the baby completed 12 months of age. Participants and Methods: We recruited 250 pregnant women from a local university hospital. Among them, 50 mother-infant dyads participated in all stages of the study. The study group consisted of 25 pregnant women with fetuses with some structural alteration and the control group consisted of 25 pregnant women with fetuses without structural anomalies. We collected obstetric and socio demographic data and pregnancy outcomes. Anxiety and depressive state data were collected using the COVI and Raskin Scales. We video-recorded the mother-infant interactions during several stages, including when the child was a newborn and when the child was 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. The quality of the mother infant interactions were measured using the Coding Interactive Behavior (CIB). The interactive moments recorded on video was composed of three different activities, each one lasting appoximately 3 min, which included (1) Free Interaction, where the mother was instructed to interact "as usual" without any toy, (2) Toy Interaction, where the mother and baby played with a puppv, and (3) Song Interaction, where the mother and baby interacted while the mother sang the "Happy Birthday" song. Results: In the gestational phase, there was a significant difference between the groups with respect to anxiety and depression scores, which were significantly higher for the study group. In the postnatal phase, we found significant differences between the groups with respect to CIB scales after the child completed 6 months of age: the study group presented significantly higher values of Maternal Sensitivity at 6 months of age, of Baby Involvement at 9 and 12 months of age, and of Dyadic Reciprocity at 6, 9, and 12 months of age, while the control group presented significantly higher values of Withdrawal of the Baby at 6 months of age, and of Dyadic Negative States at 6 and 9 months of age. Conclusion: The support offered by the study favored the mother-infant bond and had a positive effect on the quality of interaction during the first year of life, despite the presence of prenatal diagnosis.

Effects of two modalities of noninvasive ventilation on breathing pattern of very low birth weight preterm infants immediately after extubation: a quasi-experimental study.

AIM: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two modalities of noninvasive ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure-CPAP and non-synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation-nsNIPPV, on breathing pattern of very low birth weight preterm infants immediately after extubation. METHODS: It was conducted a quasi-experimental study at a public university hospital. Infants with gestacional age ≤32 weeks and birth weight ≤1,500 g were randomized into the sequences, prior extubation: CPAP - nsNIPPV (1) or nsNIPPV - CPAP (2). Each preterm infant was studied for a period of 60 min in each ventilatory mode. Respiratory inductive plethysmography was used to assess breathing pattern. Inferential analysis was performed by repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman test. RESULTS: Eleven preterm infants were studied and a total of 7,564 respiratory cycles were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in any of the comparisons made for any of the breathing pattern variables (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference on breathing pattern between CPAP and nsNIPPV of preterm infants after extubation.

Antimicrobial use for treatment of healthcare-associated infections and bacterial resistance in a reference neonatal unit.

OBJECTIVE: The use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, such as third and fourth-generation, are responsible for emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms in neonatal units. Furthermore, antimicrobial daily doses are not standardized in neonatology. This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of antimicrobial broad spectrum to bacterial sensitivity profile in a referral unit of neonatal progressive care. METHODS: This is a cohort study conducted in a referral neonatal progressive care unit from January 2008 to December 2016. The data of all hospitalized neonates was collected daily. The infection criteria used were the standardized national criteria, based on definitions of Center for Diseases Control and Prevention. In this study, the use of antimicrobials was evaluated as antimicrobial-day (ATM-day) and the ratio of multidrug-resistant microorganisms per 1000 ATM-day of broad spectrum was also calculated. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (ETIC 312/08 e CAAE 58973616.2.0000.5149). RESULTS: From 2008 to 2016, 2751 neonates were hospitalized, corresponding to 60,656 patient-days. The ratio of multidrug-resistant microorganisms per 1000 ATM-day of broad spectrum was 1,3 in the first period and 4,3 in the second period (p=0,005). CONCLUSION: It was observed that use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, especially those with coverage for Gram-negative bacteria, was associated with an increase of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The impact of coronavirus outbreak on breastfeeding guidelines among Brazilian hospitals and maternity services: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recognizes exclusive breastfeeding a safe source of nutrition available for children in most humanitarian emergencies, as in the current pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the Brazilian national guideline protecting breastfeeding practices, there are many concerns about protecting infants from their infected mothers. This study aimed to analyze how the Brazilian hospitals and maternity services promote and support mothers suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional and multicenter study which collected data from 24 Brazilian hospitals and maternity services between March and July 2020. Representatives of the institutions completed a questionnaire based on acts to promote and support breastfeeding, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Brazil's federal law recommendations. RESULTS: The results showed that in delivery rooms, 98.5% of the services prohibited immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their infants and did not support mothers to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour. On the postnatal ward, 98.5% of the services allowed breastfeeding while implementing respiratory hygiene practices to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Companions for mothers were forbidden in 83.3% of the hospitals. Hospital discharge was mostly between 24 and 28 h (79.1%); discharge guidelines were not individualized. Additionally, a lack of support was noticed from the home environment's health community network (83.3%). Hospital and home breast pumping were allowed (87.5%), but breast milk donation was not accepted (95.8%). There was a lack of guidance regarding the use of infant comforting strategies. Guidelines specific for vulnerable populations were not covered in the material evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, hospitals have not followed recommendations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak. The disagreement between international guidelines has been a major issue. The absence of recommendations on breastfeeding support during the pandemic led to difficulties in developing standards among hospitals in different regions of Brazil and other countries worldwide. The scientific community needs to discuss how to improve maternal and infant care services to protect breastfeeding in the current pandemic.

Clinical usefulness of catheter-drawn blood samples and catheter-tip cultures for the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infections in neonates.

Catheter-drawn blood sampling is an efficient method of diagnosing catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) in neonates; it has greater sensitivity and accuracy than methods using catheter-tip cultures. No association was detected between catheter-drawn blood sampling and the occurrence of adverse events with central venous catheters.

Material and human resources for neonatal resuscitation in public maternity hospitals in Brazilian state capitals.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: In 2002, the early neonatal mortality rate in Brazil was 12.42 per thousand live births. Perinatal asphyxia was the greatest cause of neonatal death (about 23%). This study aimed to evaluate the availability of the resources required for neonatal resuscitation in delivery rooms of public hospitals in Brazilian state capitals. DESIGN AND SETTING: Multicenter cross-sectional study involving 36 hospitals in 20 Brazilian state capitals in June 2003. METHODS: Each Brazilian region was represented by 1-4% of its live births. A local coordinator collected data regarding physical infrastructure, supplies and professionals available for neonatal resuscitation in the delivery room. The information was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 10. RESULTS: Among the 36 hospitals, 89% were referral centers for high-risk pregnancies. Each institution had a monthly mean of 365 live births (3% < 1,500 g and 15% < 2,500 g). The 36 hospitals had 125 resuscitation tables (3-4 per hospital), all with overhead radiant heat, oxygen and vacuum sources. Appropriate equipment for pulmonary ventilation was available for more than 90% of the 125 resuscitation tables. On average, one pediatrician, three nurses and five nursing assistants per shift worked in the delivery rooms of each institution. Out of the 874 pediatricians and 1,037 nursing personnel that worked in the delivery rooms of the 36 hospitals, 94% and 22%, respectively, were trained in neonatal resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: The main public maternity hospitals in Brazilian state capitals have the resources to resuscitate neonates at birth.

Inadequate use of antibiotics and increase in neonatal sepsis caused by resistant bacteria related to health care assistance: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Technologies and life support management have enhanced the survival of preterm infants. The immune system of newborns is immature, which contributes to the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections. The overlap of several conditions with neonatal sepsis and the difficulty of diagnosis and laboratory confirmation during this period result in a tendency to over-treat neonatal sepsis. The use of antimicrobial agents is a risk factor for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This work aimed to perform a systematic review of the relationship between inadequate use of antimicrobial agents and increase in neonatal sepsis related to healthcare assistance, due to bacterial resistance. METHODS: Our population, exposition, comparison, outcome and study type was as follows: P: hospitalized neonates with sepsis diagnosis, E: inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents, C: adequate use of antimicrobial agents or no indication of infection, O: resistant bacterial infection, and S: original studies. We performed searches in the PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library (Scielo, LILACS, and MEDLINE), and Embase without limits on time, language, and the references of the articles found. Fourteen studies were included and assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, Newcastle, and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observacional Studies in Epidemiology methodologies. RESULTS: All studies found were observational and started with a low-quality evidence level in the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their low-quality evidence, the studies demonstrated the association between inadequate use of antimicrobial agents and increase of neonatal resistant bacterial healthcare-associated infections in neonatal units. However, there is significant difficulty in conducting high-quality studies in this population due to ethical issues tied to randomized trials. Therefore, new studies should be encouraged to recommend adequate treatment of newborns without increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Early neonatal deaths associated with perinatal asphyxia in infants ≥2500g in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the annual burden of early neonatal deaths associated with perinatal asphyxia in infants weighing ≥2500g in Brazil from 2005 to 2010. METHODS: The population study enrolled all live births of infants with birth weight ≥2500g and without malformations who died up to six days after birth with perinatal asphyxia, defined as intrauterine hypoxia, asphyxia at birth, or meconium aspiration syndrome. The cause of death was written in any field of the death certificate, according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (P20.0, P21.0, and P24.0). An active search was performed in 27 Brazilian federative units. The chi-squared test for trend was applied to analyze early neonatal mortality ratios associated with perinatal asphyxia by study year. RESULTS: A total of 10,675 infants weighing ≥2500g without malformations died within six days after birth with perinatal asphyxia. Deaths occurred in the first 24h after birth in 71% of the infants. Meconium aspiration syndrome was reported in 4076 (38%) of these deaths. The asphyxia-specific early neonatal mortality ratio decreased from 0.81 in 2005 to 0.65 per 1000 live births in 2010 in Brazil (p<0.001); the meconium aspiration syndrome-specific early neonatal mortality ratio remained between 0.20 and 0.29 per 1000 live births during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decreasing rates in Brazil from 2005 to 2010, early neonatal mortality rates associated with perinatal asphyxia in infants in the better spectrum of birth weight and without congenital malformations are still high, and meconium aspiration syndrome plays a major role.

Assistance and educational factors associated to congenital syphilis in a referral maternity: a case-control study / Assistência e fatores educacionais associados a sífilis congênita em uma maternidade referência: um estudo caso-controle

Abstract Objectives: to investigate the information received by pregnant women considering assistance care and educational factors on syphilis and its association with the diagnostic of congenital syphilis in a referral maternity. Methods: a case-control study conducted in a referral maternity in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2017 to 2018. A case group included newborns' mothers with presumptive congenital syphilis and A control group was considered healthy newborns ' mothers. Clinical, obstetrics variables and information about maternal educational approach on syphilis during prenatal care were obtained through interviews and medical records. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test and odds ratio were calculated followed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: sixty mothers were included in the case group and 120 mothers in the control group. Mothers in the case group presented lower schooling level and they were 24 times more likely to have information about the risks of congenital syphilis and five times more likely to had received previous treatment for syphilis and mothers in the control group were 10 times more likely to receive information about Sexually Transmitted Infections during prenatal care. Conclusion: adequate health assistance identifying previous history of syphilis and health education improving its information about Sexually Transmitted Infections can help prevent congenital syphilis, which indicates the necessity of a better approach by the professionals during prenatal care.

Resumo Objetivos: investigar as informações recebidas pela gestante considerando fatores assis-tenciais e educacionais sobre sífilis e a suas associações com o diagnóstico de sífilis congênita em uma maternidade de referência. Métodos: estudo caso-controle realizado em maternidade de referência em Minas Gerais, Brasil, de 2017 a 2018. Grupo caso incluiu mães de recém-nascidos com sífilis congênita presuntiva e o grupo Controle foi considerado mães de recém-nascidos saudáveis. Variáveis clínicas, obstétricas e informações sobre a abordagem educacional materna sobre a sífilis durante a assistência no pré-natal foram obtidas por meio de entrevista e prontuário. Análises descritivas e comparativas foram realizadas. Calculou-se o teste do qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher e a razão de chances, seguido de regressão logística multivariada. Resultados: sessenta mães foram incluídas no grupo caso e 120 mães foram incluídas no grupo controle. As mães do grupo caso apresentavam menor escolaridade e tiveram 24 vezes mais chances de ter informações sobre os riscos da sífilis congênita e cinco vezes mais chances de ter recebido tratamento anterior para sífilis e as mães do grupo controle tiveram 10 vezes mais chances de receber informações sobre as Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis durante a assistência no pré-natal. Conclusão: a assistência a saúde adequada identificando história previa de sífilis da gestante e educação em saúde com melhores informações sobre Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis podem ajudar na prevenção de sífilis congênita, o que indica necessidade de melhor abordagem pelos profissionais durante a assistência pré-natal.

Empirical antimicrobial therapy for late-onset sepsis in a neonatal unit with high prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare two different empiric treatments for late-onset neonatal sepsis, vancomycin and oxacillin, in a neonatal intensive care unit with a high prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an neonatal intensive care unit from 2011 to 2014. Data from the medical records of at-risk newborns were collected daily. Infections were defined according to the National Health Surveillance Agency criteria. Data analysis was performed using an internal program. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the number of Staphylococcus aureus infections (p=0.008), without endocarditis, meningitis, or lower respiratory tract infection, as well as a reduction in the frequency of deaths related to S. aureus infection. There were no significant changes in the incidence of Gram-negative bacterial or fungal infections. An increase in coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infections was observed (p=0.022). However, there was no measured increase in related morbidity and mortality. There was a reduction in the median number of days of treatment with oxacillin from 11.5 to 6 days (p<0.001) and an increase of one day in the median number of days of treatment with vancomycin (p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Modification of the empiric treatment regimen for neonatal late-onset sepsis with use of oxacillin showed a significant reduction in S. aureus infections, as well as a reduction in the frequency of infections with major organ system involvement and mortality due to infection with this microorganism. As a result, oxacillin can be considered as an effective treatment for late-onset sepsis, making it possible to avoid broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Serum levels of vancomycin: is there a prediction using doses in mg/kg/day or m(2)/day for neonates?

Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus has been identified as the main nosocomial agent of neonatal late-onset sepsis. However, based on the pharmacokinetics and erratic distribution of vancomycin, recommended empirical dose is not ideal, due to the inappropriate serum levels that have been measured in neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of vancomycin used in newborns and compare the prediction of adequate serum levels based on doses calculated according to mg/kg/day and m(2)/day. This is an observational reprospective cohort at a referral neonatal unit, from 2011 to 2013. Newborns treated with vancomycin for the first episode of late-onset sepsis were included. Total dose in mg/kg/day, dose/m(2)/day, age, weight, body surface and gestational age were identified as independent variables. For predictive analysis of adequate serum levels, multiple linear regressions were performed. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve for proper serum vancomycin levels was also obtained. A total of 98 patients received 169 serum dosages of the drug, 41 (24.3%) of the doses had serum levels that were defined as appropriate. Doses prescribed in mg/kg/day and dose/m(2)/day predicted serum levels in only 9% and 4% of cases, respectively. Statistical significance was observed with higher doses when the serum levels were considered as appropriate (p<0.001). A dose of 27mg/kg/day had a sensitivity of 82.9% to achieve correct serum levels of vancomycin. Although vancomycin has erratic serum levels and empirical doses cannot properly predict the target levels, highest doses in mg/kg/day were associated with adequate serum levels.

Risk factors for laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection in neonates undergoing surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare Associated Infections constitute an important problem in Neonatal Units and invasive devices are frequently involved. However, studies on risk factors of newborns who undergo surgical procedures are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection in neonates undergoing surgical procedures. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted from January 2008 to May 2011, in a referral center. Cases were of 21 newborns who underwent surgery and presented the first episode of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection. Control was 42 newborns who underwent surgical procedures without notification of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection in the study period. Information was obtained from the database of the Hospital Infection Control Committee Notification of infections and related clinical data of patients that routinely collected by trained professionals and follow the recommendations of Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences. RESULTS: During the study period, 1141 patients were admitted to Neonatal Unit and 582 Healthcare Associated Infections were reported (incidence-density of 25.75 Healthcare Associated Infections/patient-days). In the comparative analysis, a higher proportion of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection was observed in preterm infants undergoing surgery (p=0.03) and use of non-invasive ventilation was a protective factor (p=0.048). Statistically significant difference was also observed for mechanical ventilation duration (p=0.004), duration of non-invasive ventilation (p=0.04), and parenteral nutrition duration (p=0.003). In multivariate analysis duration of parenteral nutrition remained significantly associated with laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Shortening time on parenteral nutrition whenever possible and preference for non-invasive ventilation in neonates undergoing surgery should be considered in the assistance of these patients, with the goal of reducing Healthcare Associated Infections, especially laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection.

Inadequate use of antibiotics and increase in neonatal sepsis caused by resistant bacteria related to health care assistance: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background Technologies and life support management have enhanced the survival of preterm infants. The immune system of newborns is immature, which contributes to the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections. The overlap of several conditions with neonatal sepsis and the difficulty of diagnosis and laboratory confirmation during this period result in a tendency to over-treat neonatal sepsis. The use of antimicrobial agents is a risk factor for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This work aimed to perform a systematic review of the relationship between inadequate use of antimicrobial agents and increase in neonatal sepsis related to healthcare assistance, due to bacterial resistance. Methods Our population, exposition, comparison, outcome and study type was as follows: P: hospitalized neonates with sepsis diagnosis, E: inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents, C: adequate use of antimicrobial agents or no indication of infection, O: resistant bacterial infection, and S: original studies. We performed searches in the PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library (Scielo, LILACS, and MEDLINE), and Embase without limits on time, language, and the references of the articles found. Fourteen studies were included and assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, Newcastle, and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observacional Studies in Epidemiology methodologies. Results All studies found were observational and started with a low-quality evidence level in the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Conclusions Despite their low-quality evidence, the studies demonstrated the association between inadequate use of antimicrobial agents and increase of neonatal resistant bacterial healthcare-associated infections in neonatal units. However, there is significant difficulty in conducting high-quality studies in this population due to ethical issues tied to randomized trials. Therefore, new studies should be encouraged to recommend adequate treatment of newborns without increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria.

[Notification of healthcare associated infections based on international criteria performed in a reference neonatal progressive care unity in Belo Horizonte, MG]. / Infecções relacionadas à assistência a saúde baseada em critérios internacionais, realizada em unidade neonatal de cuidados progressivos de referência de Belo Horizonte, MG.

OBJECTIVE: To describe occurrence of Healthcare Related Infections in a neonatal unit of public reference service in Belo Horizonte-MG, based on international criteria. METHODS: This is a descriptive study, performed by active searching, in the Progressive Care Unit Neonatal Hospital das Clinicas, Federal University of Minas Gerais (HC / UFMG), from 2008 to 2009. Notification of infections was based on National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. The database and analysis were performed in a internal program. RESULTS: A total of 325 episodes of infection in newborns were notified and overall incidence density of infections was 22.8/1,000 patient-days, with a rate of 36.7% of newborns. Sepsis was the main infection (62.5%) reported. The incidence density of infections was higher in neonates weighing lower than 750g (42.4/1,000 patient-days). There were 18.15 episodes of central venous catheter related sepsis/1,000 central venous catheter-day and 19.29 umbilical catheter related sepsis /1,000 umbilical catheter-days. Microorganisms were isolated in 122 (37.5%) cases of reported infections, mainly defined as Staphylococcus coagulase negative and Staphylococcus aureus (51 cases). Mortality and lethality rates were 4.3% and 17,12%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of standardized criteria for reporting infections is necessary for the construction of indicators in neonatology, which are scarce in the country and highlight the need for evaluation of national criteria proposed by National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA).

Early neonatal deaths associated with perinatal asphyxia in infants ≥2500g in Brazil / Óbitos neonatais precoces associados à asfixia perinatal em neonatos ≥2500g no Brasil

Abstract Objective: To assess the annual burden of early neonatal deaths associated with perinatal asphyxia in infants weighing ≥2500 g in Brazil from 2005 to 2010. Methods: The population study enrolled all live births of infants with birth weight ≥2500 g and without malformations who died up to six days after birth with perinatal asphyxia, defined as intrauterine hypoxia, asphyxia at birth, or meconium aspiration syndrome. The cause of death was written in any field of the death certificate, according to International Classification of Diseases,10th Revision (P20.0, P21.0, and P24.0). An active search was performed in 27 Brazilian federative units. The chi-squared test for trend was applied to analyze early neonatal mortality ratios associated with perinatal asphyxia by study year. Results: A total of 10,675 infants weighing ≥2500 g without malformations died within six days after birth with perinatal asphyxia. Deaths occurred in the first 24 h after birth in 71% of the infants. Meconium aspiration syndrome was reported in 4076 (38%) of these deaths. The asphyxia-specific early neonatal mortality ratio decreased from 0.81 in 2005 to 0.65 per 1000 live births in 2010 in Brazil (p < 0.001); the meconium aspiration syndrome-specific early neonatal mortality ratio remained between 0.20 and 0.29 per 1000 live births during the study period. Conclusions: Despite the decreasing rates in Brazil from 2005 to 2010, early neonatal mortality rates associated with perinatal asphyxia in infants in the better spectrum of birth weight and without congenital malformations are still high, and meconium aspiration syndrome plays a major role.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a taxa anual de óbitos neonatais precoces associados à asfixia perinatal em neonatos de peso ≥ 2.500 g no Brasil de 2005 a 2010. Métodos: A população do estudo envolveu todos os nascidos vivos de neonatos com peso ao nascer ≥ 2.500 g e sem malformações que morreram até seis dias após o nascimento por asfixia perinatal, definida como hipóxia intrauterina, asfixia no nascimento ou síndrome de aspiração de mecônio. A causa do óbito foi escrita em qualquer linha do atestado de óbito, de acordo com a Classificação Internacional de Doenças, 10a Revisão (P20.0, P21.0 e P24.0). Foi feita uma pesquisa ativa em 27 unidades federativas brasileiras. O teste qui-quadrado de tendência foi aplicado para analisar os índices de mortalidade neonatal associados a asfixia perinatal até o ano do estudo. Resultados: Morreram 10.675 neonatos com peso ≥ 2.500 g sem malformações até 0-6 dias após o nascimento por asfixia perinatal. Os óbitos ocorreram nas primeiras 24 horas após o nascimento em 71% dos neonatos. A síndrome de aspiração de mecônio foi relatada em 4.076 (38%) dos óbitos. O índice de mortalidade neonatal precoce relacionada à asfixia caiu de 0,81 em 2005 para 0,65 por 1.000 nascidos vivos em 2010 no Brasil (p < 0,001); o índice de mortalidade neonatal precoce relacionada a síndrome de aspiração de mecônio permaneceu entre 0,20-0,29 por 1.000 nascidos vivos durante o período do estudo. Conclusões: Apesar da redução nas taxas no Brasil de 2005 a 2010, as taxas de mortalidade neonatal precoce associadas à asfixia perinatal em neonatos no melhor espectro de peso ao nascer e sem malformações congênitas ainda são altas e a síndrome de aspiração de mecônio desempenha um importante papel.

Concomitant prescribing and dispensing errors at a Brazilian hospital: a descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence and types of prescribing and dispensing errors occurring with high-alert medications and to propose preventive measures to avoid errors with these medications. INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of adverse events in health care has increased, and medication errors are probably the most common cause of these events. Pediatric patients are known to be a high-risk group and are an important target in medication error prevention. METHODS: Observers collected data on prescribing and dispensing errors occurring with high-alert medications for pediatric inpatients in a university hospital. In addition to classifying the types of error that occurred, we identified cases of concomitant prescribing and dispensing errors. RESULTS: One or more prescribing errors, totaling 1,632 errors, were found in 632 (89.6%) of the 705 high-alert medications that were prescribed and dispensed. We also identified at least one dispensing error in each high-alert medication dispensed, totaling 1,707 errors. Among these dispensing errors, 723 (42.4%) content errors occurred concomitantly with the prescribing errors. A subset of dispensing errors may have occurred because of poor prescription quality. The observed concomitancy should be examined carefully because improvements in the prescribing process could potentially prevent these problems. CONCLUSION: The system of drug prescribing and dispensing at the hospital investigated in this study should be improved by incorporating the best practices of medication safety and preventing medication errors. High-alert medications may be used as triggers for improving the safety of the drug-utilization system.