Mucosal Site Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus in Neonates.

From 2001 to 2023, 17 (14%) of 120 neonates with confirmed herpes simplex virus infection tested positive for herpes simplex virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from only mucosal sites without a clinical mucosal lesion. Whether mucosal PCR positivity reflects early infection that may lead to recognizable disease, transient colonization, or a false-positive PCR result remains a clinical conundrum and warrants further study.

Oral Valganciclovir Initiated Beyond 1 Month of Age as Treatment of Sensorineural Hearing Loss Caused by Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if valganciclovir initiated after 1 month of age improves congenital cytomegalovirus-associated sensorineural hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of 6 weeks of oral valganciclovir at US (n = 12) and UK (n = 9) sites. Patients of ages 1 month through 3 years with baseline sensorineural hearing loss were enrolled. The primary outcome was change in total ear hearing between baseline and study month 6. Secondary outcome measures included change in best ear hearing and reduction in cytomegalovirus viral load in blood, saliva, and urine. RESULTS: Of 54 participants enrolled, 35 were documented to have congenital cytomegalovirus infection and were randomized (active group: 17; placebo group: 18). Mean age at enrollment was 17.8 ± 15.8 months (valganciclovir) vs 19.5 ± 13.1 months (placebo). Twenty (76.9%) of the 26 ears from subjects in the active treatment group did not have worsening of hearing, compared with 27 (96.4%) of 28 ears from subjects in the placebo group (P = .09). All other comparisons of total ear or best ear hearing outcomes were also not statistically significant. Saliva and urine viral loads decreased significantly in the valganciclovir group but did not correlate with change in hearing outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized controlled trial, initiation of antiviral therapy beyond the first month of age did not improve hearing outcomes in children with congenital cytomegalovirus-associated sensorineural hearing loss. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01649869.

The Mortality of Congenital Syphilis.

OBJECTIVES: To document the case-fatality rate (CFR) of congenital syphilis diagnosed by molecular tools and rabbit infectivity testing (RIT) of clinical specimens in addition to standard evaluation and to compare that with the CFR using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance case definition. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, single site, cohort study of all cases of syphilis among mothers and their infants from 1984 to 2002. The diagnosis of congenital syphilis was determined using IgM immunoblotting, polymerase chain reaction, and RIT of fetal or infant specimens in addition to clinical, laboratory, and radiographic criteria. Data were retrospectively reviewed to ascertain fetal and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: During the 18-year study, there were 191 cases of congenital syphilis confirmed by abnormalities on clinical, laboratory, or radiographic evaluation and/or positive serum IgM immunoblot, blood polymerase chain reaction, or blood/cerebrospinal fluid RIT. Of the 191 cases, 59 died for a CFR of 31%. Of the 59 deaths, 53 (90%) were stillborn and 6 (10%) died in the neonatal period. The majority (74%, 39/53) of stillbirths occurred in the third trimester. The CDC surveillance case definition correctly identified all infants with congenital syphilis, but the CDC CFR was 10% which underestimated the CFR by more than 300%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings corroborate the high sensitivity of the CDC surveillance definition for congenital syphilis but highlight its poor estimation of its associated mortality. The CFR among infected progeny of pregnant women with syphilis was 31%, due mostly to demise in the third trimester and as such highlights the need for detection and appropriate treatment of syphilis during pregnancy.

Surgery-Associated Infections among Infants Born Extremely Preterm.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the burden of invasive infection following surgery (surgery-associated infections [SAI]) among infants born extremely premature. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational, prospective study of infants born at gestational age 22-28 weeks hospitalized for >3 days, between April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2015, in academic centers of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. SAI was defined by culture-confirmed bacteremia, fungemia, or meningitis ≤14 days following a surgical procedure. RESULTS: Of 6573 infants, 1154 (18%) who underwent surgery were of lower gestational age (mean [SD]: 25.5 [1.6] vs 26.2 [1.6], P < .001), lower birth weight (803 [220] vs 886 [244], P < .001), and more likely to have a major birth defect (10% vs 3%, P < .001); 64% had 1 surgery (range 1-10 per infant). Most underwent gastrointestinal procedures (873, 76%) followed by central nervous system procedures (150, 13%). Eighty-five (7%) infants had 90 SAIs (78 bacteremia, 5 fungemia, 1 bacteremia and meningitis, 6 meningitis alone). Coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated in 36 (40%) SAI and were isolated with another organism in 5 episodes. Risk of SAI or death ≤14 days after surgery was greater after gastrointestinal compared with central nervous system procedures (16% vs 7%, adjusted relative risk [95% CI]: 1.95 [1.15-3.29], P = .01). Death ≤14 days after surgery occurred in 141 of the 1154 infants; 128 deaths occurred after gastrointestinal surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical procedures were associated with bacteremia, fungemia, or meningitis in 7% of infants. The epidemiology of invasive postoperative infections as described in this report may inform the selection of empiric antimicrobial therapy and postoperative preventive care.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles Among Neonatal Early-onset Sepsis Pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Empiric administration of ampicillin and gentamicin is recommended for newborns at risk of early-onset sepsis (EOS). There are limited data on antimicrobial susceptibility of all EOS pathogens. METHODS: Retrospective review of antimicrobial susceptibility data from a prospective EOS surveillance study of infants born ≥22 weeks' gestation and cared for in Neonatal Research Network centers April 2015-March 2017. Nonsusceptible was defined as intermediate or resistant on final result. RESULTS: We identified 239 pathogens (235 bacteria, 4 fungi) in 235 EOS cases among 217,480 live-born infants. Antimicrobial susceptibility data were available for 189/239 (79.1%) isolates. Among 81 Gram-positive isolates with ampicillin and gentamicin susceptibility data, all were susceptible in vitro to either ampicillin or gentamicin. Among Gram-negative isolates with ampicillin and gentamicin susceptibility data, 72/94 (76.6%) isolates were nonsusceptible to ampicillin, 8/94 (8.5%) were nonsusceptible to gentamicin, and 7/96 (7.3%) isolates were nonsusceptible to both. Five percent or less of tested Gram-negative isolates were nonsusceptible to each of third or fourth generation cephalosporins, piperacillin-tazobactam, and carbapenems. Overall, we estimated that 8% of EOS cases were caused by isolates nonsusceptible to both ampicillin and gentamicin; these were most likely to occur among preterm, very-low birth weight infants. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of contemporary EOS pathogens are susceptible to the combination of ampicillin and gentamicin. Clinicians may consider the addition of broader-spectrum therapy among newborns at highest risk of EOS, but we caution that neither the substitution nor the addition of 1 single antimicrobial agent is likely to provide adequate empiric therapy in all cases.

Outcomes Following Post-Hemorrhagic Ventricular Dilatation among Infants of Extremely Low Gestational Age.

OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes following post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) among infants born at ≤26 weeks of gestation. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study of infants born April 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015, in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network and categorized into 3 groups: PHVD, intracranial hemorrhage without ventricular dilatation, or normal head ultrasound. PHVD was treated per center practice. Neurodevelopmental impairment at 18-26 months was defined by cerebral palsy, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition, cognitive or motor score <70, blindness, or deafness. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association of death or impairment, adjusting for neonatal course, center, maternal education, and parenchymal hemorrhage. RESULTS: Of 4216 infants, 815 had PHVD, 769 had hemorrhage without ventricular dilatation, and 2632 had normal head ultrasounds. Progressive dilatation occurred among 119 of 815 infants; the initial intervention in 66 infants was reservoir placement and 53 had ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Death or impairment occurred among 68%, 39%, and 28% of infants with PHVD, hemorrhage without dilatation, and normal head ultrasound, respectively; aOR (95% CI) were 4.6 (3.8-5.7) PHVD vs normal head ultrasound scan and 2.98 (2.3-3.8) for PHVD vs hemorrhage without dilatation. Death or impairment was more frequent with intervention for progressive dilatation vs no intervention (80% vs 65%; aOR 2.2 [1.38-3.8]). Death or impairment increased with parenchymal hemorrhage, intervention for PHVD, male sex, and surgery for retinopathy; odds decreased with each additional gestational week. CONCLUSIONS: PHVD was associated with high rates of death or impairment among infants with gestational ages ≤26 weeks; risk was further increased among those with progressive ventricular dilation requiring intervention.

Impact of Early-Onset Sepsis and Antibiotic Use on Death or Survival with Neurodevelopmental Impairment at 2 Years of Age among Extremely Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hypothesis that early-onset sepsis increases risk of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) among preterm infants; and that among infants without early-onset sepsis, prolonged early antibiotics alters risk of death/NDI. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of infants born at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network centers (2006-2014) at 22-26 weeks of gestation and birth weight 401-1000 g. Early-onset sepsis defined as growth of a pathogen from blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture ≤72 hours after birth. Prolonged early antibiotics was defined as antibiotics initiated ≤72 hours and continued ≥5 days without culture-confirmed infection, necrotizing enterocolitis, or spontaneous perforation. Primary outcome was death before follow-up or NDI assessed at 18-26 months corrected age. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted relative risk (aRR) and CI for early-onset sepsis outcomes. A propensity score for receiving prolonged antibiotics was derived from early clinical factors and used to match infants (1:1) with and without prolonged antibiotic exposure. Log binomial models were used to estimate aRR for outcomes in matched infants. RESULTS: Among 6565 infants, those with early-onset sepsis had higher aRR (95% CI) for death/NDI compared with infants managed with prolonged antibiotics (1.18 [1.06-1.32]) and to infants without prolonged antibiotics (1.23 [1.10-1.37]). Propensity score matching was achieved for 4362 infants. No significant difference in death/NDI (1.04 [0.98-1.11]) was observed with or without prolonged antibiotics among the matched cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset sepsis was associated with increased risk of death/NDI among extremely preterm infants. Among matched infants without culture-confirmed infection, prolonged early antibiotic administration was not associated with death/NDI.

Reverse Sequence Syphilis Screening and Discordant Results in Pregnancy.

A "reverse sequence syphilis screening" algorithm is widely used for syphilis testing. This retrospective study showed that most (65%) pregnant women with discordant screening results (treponemal multiplex flow immunoassay IgG+/rapid plasma reagin-) had a nonreactive confirmatory Treponema pallidum-particle agglutination assay, likely indicative of a false-positive reaction.

Detection of Cytomegalovirus in Intestinal Tissue of Infants with Necrotizing Enterocolitis or Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in surgical or autopsy intestinal tissue from infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) of the small bowel. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, with NEC (Bell stage ≥2B) or SIP from 2000 to 2016. Paraffin-embedded surgical or autopsy intestinal tissues were examined for CMV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and clinical characteristics of CMV-positive vs CMV-negative cases were compared. RESULTS: CMV was detected by PCR or IHC in 7 (4%) of 178 infants with surgical or autopsy- confirmed NEC (n = 6) or SIP (n = 1). Among 143 NEC cases (123 surgical, 20 autopsy), CMV was detected in 6 (4%): 4 (2 surgical, 2 autopsy) by both PCR and IHC, and 2 (surgical) by PCR only. Among 35 SIP cases (32 surgical, 3 autopsy), 1 (3%) surgical case was positive, by PCR only. CMV-associated NEC cases had lower median gestational age (24 vs 28 weeks; P = .02), birth weight (649 vs 1121 g; P = .04), and platelet count (16 000/mm3 vs 50 000/mm3; P = .018) compared with CMV-negative cases, respectively. No association was found with receipt of maternal milk, age at NEC diagnosis, male sex, cholestasis, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: CMV was detected in intestinal tissue from 4% of NEC or SIP cases (NEC, 4%; SIP, 3%). Lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and thrombocytopenia were significantly associated with detection of CMV in NEC or SIP cases.

Outcomes of Congenital Zika Virus Infection During an Outbreak in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing information in the literature regarding congenital Zika infection, gaps remain in our knowledge of its clinical manifestations. METHODS: We did a prospective observational study of exposed fetuses and infants whose mothers developed symptomatic and confirmed Zika infection during pregnancy in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. We performed neurological, ophthalmologic and audiologic evaluations, and classified outcomes as possibly or uncertainly related to Zika. Frequencies of outcomes were compared according to the trimester of pregnancy when infection occurred. RESULTS: We evaluated 171 products of gestation including 17 pregnancy losses and 154 patients evaluated postnatally. Ninety (52.6%) pregnancies presented an adverse outcome, 36% possibly related with Zika and the remaining 64% of uncertain relation. Infection in the first trimester had the highest frequencies of adverse outcomes possibly related with Zika compared with the second and third trimesters (39% vs. 12.5% vs. 12%) with risk ratios of adverse outcomes possibly related to Zika in pregnancies infected in the first versus second or third trimester of 3.1 (95% CI: 2.4-4.1) and 3.3 (95% CI: 2.5-4.2), respectively. The frequencies of pregnancy loss and microcephaly were 9.4% and 4.5%, respectively. Auditory and ophthalmic abnormalities possibly related with Zika were present in 3% and 6% of the patients evaluated, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high frequency of gestational and neonatal complications in pregnant women who acquired Zika infection, especially in early pregnancy, resulting in a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Preventive measures are urgently needed to reduce the clinical burden during future Zika outbreaks.

Weaning of Moderately Preterm Infants from the Incubator to the Crib: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether length of hospital stay is decreased among moderately preterm infants weaned from incubator to crib at a lower vs higher weight. STUDY DESIGN: This trial was conducted in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Infants with gestational ages 29-33 weeks, birthweight <1600 g, and in an incubator were randomly assigned to a weaning weight of 1600 or 1800 g. Within 60 to 100 g of weaning weight, the incubator temperature was decreased by 1.0°C to 1.5°C every 24 hours until 28.0°C. The infants were weaned to the crib following stable temperature at 36.5°C to 37.4°C for 8 to 12 hours. Clothing and bedcoverings were standardized. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay from birth to discharge; secondary outcomes included length of stay and growth velocity from weaning to discharge. Adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Of 1565 infants screened, 885 were eligible, and 366 enrolled-187 to the 1600-g and 179 to the 1800-g group. Maternal and neonatal characteristics did not differ among weight groups. Length of hospital stay was a median of 43 days in the lower and 41 days in the higher weight group (P = .12). Growth velocity from completion of weaning to discharge was higher in the lower weight group, 13.7 g/kg/day vs 12.8 g/kg/day (P = .005). Groups did not differ in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among moderately preterm neonates, weaning from incubator to crib at a lower weight did not decrease length of stay, but was safe and was accompanied by higher weight gain after weaning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02160002.

Early Antibiotic Exposure and Adverse Outcomes in Preterm, Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether antibiotic use in the first 14 postnatal days in preterm, very low birth weight (birth weight of ≤1500 g) infants is associated with risk after 14 days of age for late-onset sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), or death after controlling for severity of illness using the Clinical Risk Index in Babies II score, and determine whether duration of antibiotic exposure was associated with risk of adverse outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study included very low birth weight infants born at ≤326/7 weeks of gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from September 2010 to June 2014. Infants were excluded if they had major congenital anomalies or culture-proven sepsis, NEC, or death during the first 14 days of life. Antibiotic exposure was recorded as days of therapy and length of therapy in days. RESULTS: Of 374 infants, 70 (19%) had late-onset sepsis, NEC, or death after 14 days of age. The median number of antibiotic days of therapy and length of therapy were 5.5 and 3.0, respectively. In multivariate analysis after controlling for severity of illness, each antibiotic day of therapy was associated with a 1.24 times increased risk of sepsis, NEC, or death (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.17-1.31). Risk was similar when length of therapy was used (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.32-1.64). CONCLUSIONS: After controlling for severity of illness, each day of antibiotic therapy provided to preterm, very low birth weight infants in the first 2 weeks of age is associated with an increased risk of late-onset sepsis, NEC, or death.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of race and ethnicity upon the prevalence and clinical spectrum of congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV). STUDY DESIGN: From 2007 to 2012, 100 332 infants from 7 medical centers were screened for cCMV while in the hospital. Ethnicity and race were collected and cCMV prevalence rates were calculated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of cCMV in the cohort was 4.5 per 1000 live births (95% CI, 4.1-4.9). Black infants had the highest cCMV prevalence (9.5 per 1000 live births; 95% CI, 8.3-11.0), followed by multiracial infants (7.8 per 1000 live births; 95% CI, 4.7-12.0). Significantly lower prevalence rates were observed in non-Hispanic white infants (2.7 per 1000 live births; 95% CI, 2.2-3.3), Hispanic white infants (3.0 per 1000 live births; 95% CI, 2.4-3.6), and Asian infants (1.0 per 1000 live births; 95% CI, 0.3-2.5). After adjusting for socioeconomic status and maternal age, black infants were significantly more likely to have cCMV compared with non-Hispanic white infants (adjusted prevalence OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.5). Hispanic white infants had a slightly lower risk of having cCMV compared with non-Hispanic white infants (adjusted prevalence OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0). However, no significant differences in symptomatic cCMV (9.6%) and sensorineural hearing loss (7.8%) were observed between the race/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significant racial and ethnic differences exist in the prevalence of cCMV, even after adjusting for socioeconomic status and maternal age. Although once infected, the newborn disease and rates of hearing loss in infants are similar with respect to race and ethnicity.

Outcome of Preterm Infants with Transient Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia on Serial Cranial Imaging Up to Term Equivalent Age.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of preterm infants whose cystic periventricular leukomalacia "disappeared" on serial screening cranial imaging studies. STUDY DESIGN: Infants ≤26 weeks of gestation born between 2002 and 2012 who had cranial imaging studies at least twice, the most abnormal study at <28 days of age and another closest to 36 weeks, were reviewed. The outcome of late death (after 36 weeks postmenstrual age) or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in surviving infants at 18-26 months corrected age was compared between the infants with no cystic periventricular leukomalacia on both studies and cystic periventricular leukomalacia that disappeared (cystic periventricular leukomalacia at <28 days but not at 36 weeks), persisted (cystic periventricular leukomalacia on both studies), or appeared late (cystic periventricular leukomalacia only at 36 weeks). Predictors of NDI were evaluated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 7063 eligible infants, 433 (6.1%) had cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Among the 433 infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia, cystic periventricular leukomalacia disappeared in 76 (18%), persisted in 87 (20%), and 270 (62%) had late cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Loss to follow-up ranged between 3% and 13%. Death or NDI was more common in infants with disappeared cystic periventricular leukomalacia compared with those with no cystic periventricular leukomalacia (38 of 72 [53%] vs 1776 of 6376 [28%]; OR [95% CI] 2.8 [1.8-4.6]). Disappeared, persistent, and late cystic periventricular leukomalacia were all also independently associated with NDI (OR 1.17, 1.21, and 1.16, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Infants with "disappeared" cystic periventricular leukomalacia are at increased risk of adverse outcome similar to infants with persistent or late cystic periventricular leukomalacia.

Delivery Room Resuscitation and Short-Term Outcomes in Moderately Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency and extent of delivery room resuscitation and evaluate the association of delivery room resuscitation with neonatal outcomes in moderately preterm (MPT) infants. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational cohort study of MPT infants delivered at 290/7 to 336/7 weeks' gestational age (GA) enrolled in the Neonatal Research Network MPT registry. Infants were categorized into 5 groups based on the highest level of delivery room intervention: routine care, oxygen and/or continuous positive airway pressure, bag and mask ventilation, endotracheal intubation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation including chest compressions and/or epinephrine use. The association of antepartum and intrapartum risk factors and discharge outcomes with the intensity of resuscitation was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 7014 included infants, 1684 (24.0%) received routine care and no additional resuscitation, 2279 (32.5%) received oxygen or continuous positive airway pressure, 1831 (26.1%) received bag and mask ventilation, 1034 (14.7%) underwent endotracheal intubation, and 186 (2.7%) received cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Among the antepartum and intrapartum factors, increasing GA, any exposure to antenatal steroids and prolonged rupture of membranes decreased the likelihood of receipt of all levels of resuscitation. Infants who were small for GA (SGA) had increased risk of delivery room resuscitation. Among the neonatal outcomes, respiratory support at 28 days, days to full oral feeds and length of stay were significantly associated with the intensity of delivery room resuscitation. Higher intensity of resuscitation was associated with increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of MPT infants receive some level of delivery room resuscitation. Increased intensity of delivery room interventions was associated with prolonged respiratory and nutritional support, increased mortality, and a longer length of stay.

Newborn Dried Blood Spot Polymerase Chain Reaction to Identify Infants with Congenital Cytomegalovirus-Associated Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of dried blood spot (DBS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in identifying infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection-associated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). STUDY DESIGN: Newborns at 7 US hospitals between March 2007 and March 2012 were screened for CMV by saliva rapid culture and/or PCR. Infected infants were monitored for SNHL during the first 4 years of life to determine sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of DBS PCR for identifying CMV-associated SNHL. RESULTS: DBS at birth was positive in 11 of 26 children (42%) with SNHL at age 4 years and in 72 of 270 children (27%) with normal hearing (P = .11). The sensitivity (42.3%; 95% CI, 23.4%-63.1%) and specificity (73.3%; 95% CI, 67.6%-78.5%) was low for DBS PCR in identifying children with SNHL at age 4 years. The positive and negative likelihood ratios of DBS PCR positivity to detect CMV-associated SNHL at age 4 years were 1.6 (95% CI, 0.97-2.6) and 0.8 (95% CI, 0.6-1.1), respectively. There was no difference in DBS viral loads between children with SNHL and those without SNHL. CONCLUSIONS: DBS PCR for CMV has low sensitivity and specificity for identifying infants with CMV-associated hearing loss. These findings, together with previous reports, demonstrate that DBS PCR does not identify either the majority of CMV-infected newborns or those with CMV-associated SNHL early in life.

Impact of the Updated Guidance for Palivizumab Prophylaxis against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Single Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the differences in number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations and outcomes in infants 290/7-346/7 weeks' gestational age (wGA) the season before (season 1 [S1]; 2013-2014) and after (season 2 [S2]; 2014-2015) implementation of the 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics revised guidance for palivizumab prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN: Children <12 months of age hospitalized with RSV infection were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes and virology reports. Clinical, outcome data, palivizumab eligibility, and hospital charges were compared among infants 29-34 wGA in S1 vs S2. RESULTS: Of 1063 RSV hospitalizations in infants <12 months old, 7.1% (34/482) in S1 and 9.8% (57/581) in S2 occurred in 290/7-346/7 wGA infants. On the other hand, 29-34 wGA infants who were <6 months old constituted 3.5% (17/482) of RSV hospitalizations in S1 vs 7.1% (41/581) in S2 (P = .01). Among 290/7-346/7 wGA healthy infants who were <3 months old, oxygen administration (40.0% vs 78.9%; P = .05), pediatric intensive care unit admission (30.0% vs 68.4%; P = .04), mechanical ventilation (10.0% vs 52.6%; P = .04), duration of hospitalization (1.8 vs 8.8 days; P = .04), and hospital charges ($19 686 vs $30 662; P = .03) significantly increased in S2 vs S1. No differences in morbidity were observed in premature infants who were 3 to <6 and 6 to <12 months between seasons. Palivizumab eligibility decreased from 32.3% in S1 to 1.8% in S2 (P < .001). One infant died in each season. CONCLUSIONS: In the year following implementation of the 2014 palivizumab prophylaxis guidance, there was an increase in RSV hospitalizations and associated morbidity among 29-34 wGA infants of younger chronological age.