Point of Care Ultrasound: A WFUMB Position Paper

Over the last decade, the use of portable ultrasound scanners has enhanced the concept of point of care ultrasound (PoC-US), namely, “ultrasound performed at the bedside and interpreted directly by the treating clinician.” PoC-US is not a replacement for comprehensive ultrasound, but rather allows physicians immediate access to clinical imaging for rapid and direct solutions. PoC-US has already revolutionized everyday clinical practice, and it is believed that it will dramatically change how ultrasound is applied in daily practice. However, its use and teaching are different from continent to continent and from country to country. This World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology position paper discusses the current status and future perspectives of PoC-US. Particular attention is given to the different uses of PoC-US and its clinical significance, including within emergency and critical care medicine, cardiology, anesthesiology, rheumatology, obstetrics, neonatology, gynecology, gastroenterology and many other applications. In the future, PoC-US will be more diverse than ever and be included in medical student training.     

Paracetamol treatment for patent ductus arteriosus: practice and attitudes in Australia and New Zealand

Aim: To describe the current clinical practices and attitudes of neonatologists towards paracetamol treatment of PDA in Australia (AU) and New Zealand (NZ).

Method: A web-based survey of all neonatologists registered under the 2017 Australia New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN) was conducted.

Results: The response rate for the survey was 67%, (141/210). Of those respondents, 37% stated their unit had a written policy outlining how to treat patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Of the written policies, 53% mentioned paracetamol treatment. The majority of the respondents (70%) have prescribed paracetamol for PDA closure. When comparing between countries, 79% of AU respondents had compared with 44% of NZ respondents. Successful ductal closure in the infants who received paracetamol was anecdotally reported by 61% of respondents. The main reasons for clinicians not prescribing paracetamol were due to preferential NSAID use (61%) and lack of evidence to indicate efficacy (49%).

Conclusion: Many neonatologists in AU and NZ have prescribed paracetamol for PDA closure. However, considerable practice variations exist. The results from this study suggest there may be a role for paracetamol in the treatment of PDA, however, further research is required to clarify the optimal use and provide evidence of efficacy.     

Supporting families in their child's journey with neonatal encephalopathy and therapeutic hypothermia

Neonates and families face challenges in hypothermic therapy, including trauma to parents, extreme emotions, and unfamiliarity with the medical system. Communication is an essential element to supporting parents while their children are in the NICU, and beyond, building the foundation for the ongoing relationship the family has with the medical system. Significant consideration needs to be given to the critical element of integrating the family into the care of a baby being treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Clinicians can promote healing of accumulated traumas of parents through ensuring parent's emotional safety, facilitating a trusting relationship, and promoting parent empowerment. Connecting parents with resources, especially peer support, is an essential part of a hospital stay. In this chapter, we explore best practices to support families during and after hypothermic therapy.     

Evaluation of national health‐care related infection criteria for epidemiological surveillance in neonatology

Objectiveto assess the use of the Brazilian criteria for reporting of hospital‐acquired infections (HAIs) in the neonatal unit and compare them with the criteria proposed by the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).Methodsthis was a cross‐sectional study conducted from 2009 to 2011. It included neonates with HAI reporting by at least one of the criteria. Statistical analysis included calculation of incidence density of HAIs, distribution by weight, and by reporting criterion. Analysis of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for the national criteria was performed considering the NHSN as the gold standard, with agreement assessed by kappa.Resultsa total of 882 newborns were followed, and 330 had at least one infection notified by at least one of the criteria. A total of 522 HAIs were reported, regardless of the criteria. An incidence density of 27.28 infections per 1,000 patient‐days was observed, and the main topographies were sepsis (58.3%), candidiasis (15.1%), and conjunctivitis (6.5%). A total of 489 (93.7%) were notified by both criteria, eight infections were notified only by the national criteria (six cases of necrotizing enterocolitis and two cases of conjunctivitis), and 25 cases of clinical sepsis were reported by NHSN criteria only. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 95.1%, 98.6%, 98.4%, and 95.7%, respectively, for all topographies, and were 91.8%, 100%, 100%, and 96.3% for the analysis of sepsis. Kappa analysis showed an agreement of 96.9%.Conclusionthere was a high rate of agreement between the criteria. The use of the national criteria facilitates the reporting of sepsis in newborns, and can help to improve the specificity and PPV.     

426例新生儿颅脑超声检查结果分析

目的 探讨颅脑超声评价新生儿脑部疾病的价值。方法 回顾性分析接受颅脑检查的426例新生儿的超声图像,其中正常出生体质量儿144例,低出生体质量儿272例,巨大儿10例;根据是否足月,将患儿分为早产儿组（n=255）和足月儿组（n=171）。比较2组及不同体质量新生儿颅脑疾病检出率的差异。结果 426例中,386例头颅超声检查结果正常;40例异常,包括7例脑室内出血（IVH）,31例室管膜下囊肿（SEC）,2例脑积水。早产儿组中,6例（6/255,2.35%）IVH,16例（16/255,6.27%）SEC;足月儿组中,1例（1/171,0.58%）IVH,15例（15/171,8.77%）SEC,2例（2/171,1.17%）脑积水;2组IVH、SEC及脑积水检出率比较差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。272例低出生体质量患儿中,6例（6/272,2.21%）IVH,15例（15/272,5.51%）SEC;144例正常出生体质量患儿中,1例（1/144,0.69%）IVH,15例（15/144,10.42%）SEC,2例（2/144,1.39%）脑积水;10例巨大儿中,1例（1/10,10.00%）SEC,无IVH及脑积水。不同出生体质量患儿IVH、SEC及脑积水的检出率差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。40例头颅超声检查结果异常的患儿中,13例伴中枢神经系统症状者,27例无中枢神经系统症状。结论 头颅超声有助于检出新生儿颅内病变,尤其是无症状的严重病变。     

Antimicrobial defined daily dose in neonatal population

BackgroundAntimicrobial defined daily dose (DDD), a standardized metric to assess antimicrobial consumption in adult population, has limitations hampering its use in neonatal patients. This study proposes an alternative DDD design applicable for neonates.MethodsNeonates (<1 month-old) from 6 Spanish hospitals during a 12-months period were included. Weight and weeks gestational age of each neonate were the variables collected. DDD (g) for each antimicrobial was calculated by multiplying the obtained weight times the recommended dose (mg/kg) of the antimicrobial for the most common infectious indication selected by the Delphi method.ResultsA total of 4820 neonates were included. Mean age was 36.72 weeks of gestational age and Mean weight was 2.687 kg. Standardized DDD (intravenous; oral route) for representative antimicrobials were: Amoxicillin (0.08; 0.08), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (0.27; 0.08), ampicillin (0.27; x), cloxacillin (0.13; 0.13), penicillin G sodium (0.12), cefazolin (0.13), cefuroxime (0.27; x), cefotaxime (0.27), ceftazidime (0.27), ceftriaxone (0.13), cefepime (0.27) piperacillin-tazobactam (0.54), aztreonam (0.24), azithromycin (0.03; 0.03), clindamycin (0.04; 0.04), amikacin (0.04), gentamicin (0.01), metronidazole (0.04; 0.08), ciprofloxacin (0.04; 0.05), levofloxacin (x;x), fluconazole (0.02; 0.02), itraconazole (0.01; 0.01), fosfomycin (0.27). Restricted antimicrobials: meropenem (0.11), teicoplanin (0.02), vancomycin (0.08; 0.11), linezolid (0.08; 0.08), daptomycin (x), amphotericin B liposomal (0.01).ConclusionsA useful method for antimicrobial DDD measurement in neonatology has been designed to monitor antimicrobial consumption in hospital settings. It should be validated in further studies and thereby included in the design for neonatal antimicrobial stewardship programs in the future.     

Precisión de las características definitorias del diagnóstico de enfermería termorregulación ineficaz en recién nacidos

ObjectiveTo identify the measures of accuracy for defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis: Ineffective thermoregulation in newborns.MethodDiagnostic accuracy study with cross-sectional design performed in medium and high-risk maternity units, located in Fortaleza city/Brazil. A total of 216 newborns were evaluated to identify the defining characteristics of the diagnosis under study. The measures of accuracy for defining characteristics were obtained from a latent class model with random effects for the calculation of sensitivity and specificity values.ResultsThe characteristics of increased respiratory rate and warm skin to the touch had higher sensitivity values (99.9%) and lower specificity (79 and 75%) and the characteristics of body temperature fluctuations above and below the normal parameters and hypertension had the highest specificity (80.4 and 100%, respectively).ConclusionThe characteristic fluctuation of the body temperature above and below the normal parameters may be better to confirm the diagnosis, having presented a higher specificity value.     

Absorption, dosage, and effect on mineral homeostasis of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in premature infants: comparison with 400 and 800 IU vitamin D2 supplementation

Because the efficiency of vitamin D absorption or hepatic uptake and 25-hydroxylation appears decreased in very premature infants, the routine use of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3) supplementation has been suggested. Absorption studies of a 3 micrograms/kg orally administered dose of 25-OHD3 showed peak serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and -vitamin D3 (25-OHD) concentrations at 4 to 8 hours similar in timing but of lesser magnitude to those seen in adults. Administration of 1 microgram/kg birth weight/day of 25-OHD3 corrected moderately low, but not very low serum (25-OHD) concentrations, and 2 micrograms/kg BW/day resulted in rapid and sustained increase in serum 25-OHD. Administration of 800 IU ergocalciferol (D2) also produced significantly higher serum 25-OHD concentrations than those in infants given 400 IU vitamin D2, but increases in serum 25-OHD were more gradual than in infants given 25-OHD3. In treatment trials with infants weighing less than 1500 gm, those given 800 IU D2, compared with those given 400 IU D2, had higher serum calcium concentrations and less frequent moderate or severe hypomineralization. Infants given 2 micrograms/kg BW 25-OHD3 had a significant increase in serum phosphorus values, but a decrease in serum calcium and magnesium concentrations, and parathyroid hormone also was suppressed to low normal values. The frequency of moderate to severe hypomineralization remained the same as in infants given 400 IU D2. In a subgroup of infants, serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was elevated over adult values, both in infants given 25-OHD3 (68.5 +/- 8.4 pg/ml) and in infants given vitamin D2 (60 +/- 6.7 pg/ml). Serum vitamin D concentrations were undetectable in four of six infants receiving 25-OHD3, but were elevated (5 to 31 ng/ml) in four infants receiving vitamin D2. Although 800 to 1000 IU D2 can be recommended as routine vitamin D supplementation in very premature infants fed standard formula, the use of 25-OHD3 requires further study.