[Evaluation of strategies aimed at reducing the level of noise in different areas of neonatal care in a tertiary hospital]. / Evaluación de las estrategias enfocadas a disminuir el nivel de ruido en las diferentes áreas de atención neonatal en un hospital de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the noise levels of different areas responsible for newborn care, develop intervention strategies to decrease the noise, and evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: Prospective, observational and longitudinal study carried out using a sonometer, measuring sound levels for three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), neonatal intermediate care unit (UCIREN), delivery (TOCO QX) and nursery (CUNERO) units. We implemented an intervention program and subsequent measurements were performed under the same initial conditions. RESULTS: When comparing the decibel levels in different areas during the three weeks, pre- and post-intervention, we found at the neonatal intensive care unit 59.9±4.8 vs. 56.4±4.7 dB (p<0.001), neonatal intermediate care unit 55.3±3.9 vs. 51.3±4.4 dB (p<0.001), delivery unit 57.3±4.6 vs. 57.3±5.5 dB (NS), and nursery unit 57.6±5.8 vs. 53.9±5.8 dB (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant reduction in noise levels of 3.5 dB at the NICU, 4 dB at UCIREN and 3.7 dB at TOCO QX, so the intervention program was effective in these areas; however, the decibel levels registered continue above those recommended by international standards.

FLIP-2 Study: risk factors linked to respiratory syncytial virus infection requiring hospitalization in premature infants born in Spain at a gestational age of 32 to 35 weeks.

BACKGROUND: Ex-premature infants are more predisposed to complicated primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The aim of the present study was to validate the risk factors found in a previous epidemiologic case-control study regarding hospitalization as a result of RSV infection in premature infants born at 32-35 weeks of gestational age (WGA) in Spain. METHODS: A prospective 2-cohort study was conducted during the 2005-2006 (October 2005 to April 2006) and 2006-2007 (October 2006 to April 2007) RSV seasons, respectively. Cases were premature infants hospitalized for RSV infection whereas controls were premature infants of the same age who did not require any hospitalization for respiratory causes. RESULTS: During the study period 5441 children from 37 Spanish hospitals were included in the risk factor analysis. Two hundred two (3.7%) were cases and the rest controls. Of the cases, 17.8% were admitted to the intensive care unit and 7.4% required mechanical ventilation. None of the patients died. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of RSV-related respiratory infection requiring hospital admission in preterm infants (32-35 WGA) was associated with the following factors: absolute chronologic age of < or = 10 weeks at the onset of RSV season [odds ratio (OR): 2.99; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.23-4.01]; presence of school-age siblings or day care attendance (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.53-2.74); and smoking during pregnancy (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.16-2.25). CONCLUSIONS: In premature infants (32-35 WGA), only 3 independent risk factors were found to significantly increase the risk of RSV-related respiratory infection and hospitalization.

Low mortality in necrotizing enterocolitis associated with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infection.

The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical course of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) with infection by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus at the onset of the illness. Records of all newborn infants developing NEC between January 1998 and December 2001 were reviewed. NEC was classified according to the criteria of Bell et al. Numeric variables were described by standard statistical methods. Comparisons between subgroups were performed by parametric statistical tests. Forty-four patients developed NEC stage II (n = 25) or III (n = 19). The incidence was 0.024% of live births in the hospital, and the mortality rate was 9%. The main risk factor was prematurity (84%). Only one-fourth of the patients had gastric residuals. A platelet count of <100,000 cells/mm3 occurred only in grade III NEC. Blood cultures were positive in 34% of the patients. The predominant organism (73%) was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS). Neither Clostridium nor Bacteroides species were isolated. Stage II patients were maintained nothing per os (NPO) for 9 +/- 3 days and received antibiotics for 10 +/- 3 days. All of the stage III patients required an operation. In one-third of them, primary peritoneal drainage was initially performed but all required further operative procedures. We report a low incidence and mortality rate of necrotizing enterocolitis. Thrombocytopenia is confirmed as a marker of severity. Positive blood cultures for CoNS may explain, at least in part, the low mortality reported.

Seudohipoaldosteronismo tipo I múltiple: presentación y seguimiento / Multiple type I pseudohypoaldosteronism: neonatal management and outcome

El seudohipoaldosteronismo (PHA) tipo I múltiple es un síndrome de resistencia mineralocorticoide, de herencia autosómica recesiva, que afecta a túbulo renal, glándulas salivales y sudoríparas y mucosa del colon. Caso 1. Recién nacida con hermana que falleció a los 10 días de vida con hiperpotasemia. A los 7 días de vida presenta deshidratación, hiponatremia, hiperpotasemia, acidosis metabólica e hipernatriuria. El diagnóstico se basó en la presencia de aldosterona en plasma, actividad de renina plasmática (ARP) y eliminación de sal en sudor muy elevadas. Precisó rehidratación y tratamiento con sal, bicarbonato, resinas de intercambio iónico y dieta pobre en potasio. Durante el primer año de vida requirió hospitalización por descompensaciones repetidas. Tras 7 años de evolución, aún precisa suplementos de sal y bicarbonato y resinas de intercambio iónico. El desarrollo psicomotor y el crecimiento son adecuados. Caso 2. Recién nacida de 8 días con antecedente de consanguinidad en la familia materna. Al ingreso presenta deshidratación severa con hiponatremia, hiperpotasemia, acidosis metabólica e hipernatriuria, con aldosterona, ARP y sal en sudor muy elevados. Precisa rehidratación, suplementos de sal y bicarbonato y resinas de intercambio iónico. Permanece ingresada durante 6 meses por descompensaciones múltiples, siendo posible posteriormente control ambulatorio. Al año de edad, la curva de peso y el desarrollo psicomotor son adecuados. Conclusiones. Se debe sospechar PHA I múltiple en recién nacidos con síndrome pierde-sal e hiperpotasemia, sin virilización, hiperpigmentación ni déficit glucocorticoide, que no responde al tratamiento con mineralocorticoides. La labilidad en el primer año de vida obliga al ingreso hospitalario prolongado. A edades posteriores es susceptible de control ambulatorio (AU)