Evolution in the hypervariable region of hepatitis C virus in infants after vertical transmission

To elucidate the clonal evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) during mother-to-infant transmission, we prospectively analyzed HCV clones of the hypervariable region in four HCV RNA-positive infants and compared them with those of the mother. Cord blood samples from three of the four infants were positive for the HCV RNA (< or =10(3) copies/mL), and all of the four infants had the HCV RNA titer of >10(6) copies/mL within 2 mo after birth. The hypervariable region clones detected in the infants were closely related to those in the respective mothers. The results suggest the perinatal transmission of HCV. The hypervariable region clones transmitted to infants were not a single selected clone or minor clones in the mother. None of the clones specific to the low-density fraction in the mother was transmitted to the infants. Moreover, the proportion of HCV in the low-density fraction was minimal in the first few months of life, but increased several months after birth in association with the elevation of alanine aminotransferase. These results suggest that the increase of HCV in the low-density fraction reflect the evolution of immune response in infants. We also demonstrated that the emergence of quasispecies in infants precedes the infantile antibody response.     

Breastfeeding and hepatitis C virus (HCV): the need for a careful appraisal]

We review the available data on the possible role of breast-feeding in hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission to infants of HCV-RNA-positive mothers. Current knowledge about HCV excretion through breast milk, HCV infection of breast-fed infants by mothers contaminated after delivery, and vertical transmission risk to infants breast-fed by chronic HCV viremic mothers are presented. Vertical transmission risk by breast-feeding HCV-RNA-positive mothers is unclear: no study has been performed with the aim and the required methodology to evaluate HCV transmission risk related to breast-feeding duration. Recommendations to HCV-RNA-positive mothers who wish to breast-feed their infant are discussed in light of present knowledge about HCV secretion in breast milk, mother-to-infant HCV transmission, and historical records on vertical transmission of other viruses to infants breast-fed by their viremic mothers.     

Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in a cohort of 2,447 HIV-seronegative pregnant women: a 24-month prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Mother to infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been extensively studied in mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, whereas fewer data are available on the vertical HCV transmission in HIV-negative women. METHODS: Between January 1995 and June 1997, 78 consecutive HCV-positive/HIV-negative women with their offspring entered this prospective study aimed to define the prevalence of and risk factors for HCV vertical transmission. Risk factors for HCV were carefully sought, and HCV viral load and genotype were determined in all positive mothers. The infants were tested for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV-RNA at birth and at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. RESULTS: Eight of 60 (13.3%) infants born to HCV-RNA positive mothers acquired HCV infection, but only 2 (3,3%) were still infected by the end of follow-up. Infants' genotypes matched that of the mothers. ALT levels were in the normal range in all study subjects throughout the follow-up. High maternal viral load (P < 0.05), possession of HCV risk factors (P < 0.004), and history of blood transfusion (P < 0.05) were associated with increased risk of HCV vertical transmission. CONCLUSIONS: This long-term prospective study shows that, although vertical transmission from HIV-negative mothers occurs in 13% of cases, there is a high rate of spontaneous viral clearance (75%). High maternal viral load and mothers belonging to HCV risk categories were the only variables predictive of the vertical transmission.     

Prospective study of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus

BACKGROUND: Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) could become the main route of HCV infection in the future because there are no methods available to prevent vertical infection. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of mother-to-infant transmission in infants born to mothers who tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies and to elucidate associated risk factors for transmission. METHODS: Screening was conducted for 16,800 pregnant women with an anti-HCV antibodies test, and 154 mothers were positive. From the positive group 141 mothers were enrolled in the study and their 147 infants were followed from birth for serum alanine aminotransferase activity, anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. HIV infection was tested in 73 of 141 mothers, all of whom were negative. RESULTS: Thirty-three infants were dropped from the study because they were followed for <6 months or were not tested adequately. Of the 114 infants finally evaluated 9 (7.8%) had detectable HCV RNA. The transmission rate was not influenced by the mode of delivery [vaginal delivery, 8 of 90 vs. cesarean section, 1 of 24 (P = 0.396)] or by the type of feeding [9 of 98 for breast-fed infants vs. 0 of 16 for formula-fed infants (P = 0.243)]. All infected infants were born to mothers who had HCV viremia at the delivery (P = 0.040) and to those with a high viral load (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective study showed that the transmission rate of mother-to-infant HCV infection was 7.8% in anti-HCV antibody-positive mothers. Risk was related to the presence of maternal HCV viremia at delivery and a high viral load in the mothers.     

Variability of the initial phase of the ventilatory response to hypoxia in sleeping infants

Most of the available data on the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) in infants has been obtained in quiet sleep (QS), and only one study has made repeated tests in the same infant. We aimed to gain a more complete knowledge of the maturation and consistency of the initial phase of the HVR by performing multiple tests in both QS and active sleep (AS) over the first 6 mo of life in term infants. Fifteen healthy term infants were studied with daytime polysomnography longitudinally at 2-5 wk, 2-3 mo, and 5-6 mo after birth. Each infant received multiple hypoxic (15% O2, balance N2) challenges (three or more) in both AS and QS. In AS, infants consistently aroused to hypoxia; however, in QS, infants both aroused and failed to arouse. The initial phase of the HVR varied considerably between infants with the changes in ventilation/kg [SD of inspired minute ventilation per kilogram of body weight (V(I)/kg)] being more variable during AS than QS at all three ages and overall decreasing with postnatal age in both sleep states. The variability between replicate V(I)/kg measurements was also significantly greater in AS compared with QS at 2-5 wk postnatal age. There was no evidence of habituation to repeated hypoxic tests in either sleep state. Our study has demonstrated that the initial phase of the HVR is variable both between and within term infants in both AS and QS, with responses being markedly more variable during AS, and becoming more consistent with increasing postnatal age. By performing only one test or by failing to account for arousal responses, previous studies may not have detected the natural variation of the infant HVR.     

Shift in the buoyant density of hepatitis C virus particles in infants infected by mother-to-infant transmission

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles in sera can be divided into two classes: low-density free particles and high-density immune complex particles. Previous studies have revealed that the clinical progression of HCV infection is closely associated with the occurrence of the former class, rather than the latter, in an experimental chimpanzee model and in HCV-infected adult cases. METHODS: To verify this concept in infantile cases, we prospectively analysed HCV particle populations, fractionated according to buoyant density, in serum samples from five infants infected by mother-to-infant transmission. RESULTS: In all five cases, HCV particles were predominantly high density at the age of one month. In four of five cases, low-density HCV particles became predominant in association with a decrease in maternally transmitted antibody levels. In one case, in which high serum levels of alanine aminotransferase persisted, low-density particles were predominant between the ages of 3 and 9 months, in three consecutive samples. In other cases, in which infants were asymptomatic or had transient hepatitis, low-density HCV particles were predominant at only one sampling point or not at all throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal antibody transmitted via the placenta reacts with the HCV particles in infants infected through vertical transmission. A decrease in maternal antibody levels results in an increase in low-density free virions. It is suggested that low-density particles play an important role in liver inflammation.     

预防乙型肝炎病毒母婴传播的随机对照研究

目的探讨乙肝免疫球蛋白（HBIG）预防乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）母婴垂直传播的效果。方法以2001年1月至2005年5月在台州医院产科初次进行妊娠健康检查,HBsAg测定阳性或HBsAg、HBeAg均阳性孕妇作为研究对象,共279例。将单纯HBsAg阳性孕妇与HBsAg、HBeAg双阳性孕妇分别应用随机数表方法随机分组,分别为单阳注射组（n=80）、单阳对照组（n=60）、双阳注射组（n=79）、双阳对照组（n=60）。单阳注射组、双阳注射组于妊娠加周开始肌肉注射HBIG 200U,每4周注射1次,直至临产。两对照组不注射HBIG。4组孕妇所产婴儿,除常规接种乙肝疫苗外,均于出生后16h内和2周肌肉注射HBIG。然后随访并测定婴儿HBsAg。结果单阳注射组、单阳对照组、双阳注射组、双阳对照组所生婴儿HBsAg感染率分别为3％、13％、10％、32％。单阳注射组与单阳对照组之间（x^2=6．07,P〈0．05）,以及双阳注射组与双阳对照组之间婴儿HBsAg感染率（x^2=10．11,P〈0．01）均有统计学意义,注射HBIG组,对单纯HBsAg阳性孕妇及HBsAg、HBeAg双阳性孕妇,出生婴儿HBsAg感染率均显著低于对照组;单阳注射组与双阳注射组之间婴儿HBsAg感染率差异亦有统计学意义,说明HBIG对单纯HBsAg阳性孕妇预防效果优于HBsAg、HBeAg双阳性孕妇。结论HBIG能有效预防母婴传播,降低HBV感染率。因此,妊娠妇女应及时进行健康检查,发现HBV感染阳性,及时采取注射HBIG等有效措施,以促进优生优育。     

Risk factors for bronchiolitis-associated deaths among infants in the United States

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for bronchiolitis deaths have not been described on a national level. We examined the epidemiology of and identified risk factors for bronchiolitis-associated deaths among infants in the United States. METHODS: Multiple cause-of-death and linked birth/infant death data for 1996 through 1998 were used to examine bronchiolitis-associated infant deaths. Risk factors were assessed by comparing infants who died with bronchiolitis and surviving infants. RESULTS: During 1996 through 1998 there were 229 bronchiolitis infant deaths, resulting in an average annual infant mortality rate of 2.0 per 100 000 live births. The majority (55%) of infant deaths occurred among infants ages 1 through 3 months. The bronchiolitis mortality rate was highest among infants weighing <1500 g at birth (VLBW) as compared with infants weighing 1500 to 2499 g (LBW) and > or =2500 g at birth (29.8, 6.4 and 1.3 per 100 000 live births, respectively). Sixty-three percent of bronchiolitis deaths were among infants weighing > or =2500 g. VLBW and LBW infants remained at an increased risk of dying with bronchiolitis after controlling for other risk factors. Other risk factors included increasing birth order, low 5-min Apgar score, young maternal age, unmarried mother and tobacco use during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: VLBW and LBW infants are at increased risk of dying with bronchiolitis, even when taking into account other risk factors. Although infants weighing <2500 g at birth are at increased risk for dying with bronchiolitis, the majority of bronchiolitis deaths occur among infants of normal birth weight.     

Cost effective use of satellite packs in neonates: importance of birth weight

BACKGROUND: Blood banks split an adult packed red cell bag (usually 250 ml) into 30 ml bags, making a total of eight neonatal "satellite" packs per donor. These packs are then "allocated"/"committed" to be used to serially transfuse a newborn. Aim: To study transfusion requirements of premature infants in relation to their birth weight and thereby attempt to rationalise the method of dispensing satellite blood packs. METHOD: Data on the distribution of neonatal transfusions with respect to weight were obtained retrospectively from unit A (51 infants, 168 transfusions) and unit B (46 infants, 151 transfusions). These data were used to model the effect of different policies on donor exposure and number of unused packs. RESULTS: Infants weighing less than 1000 g at birth have significantly higher transfusion requirements than those weighing 1000 g or more (p = 0.001 (unit A), p = 0.004 (unit B)). Our model predicted a significant reduction in donor exposure if eight packs/infant were allocated to those weighing < 1000 g, and a significant cut in the number of unused packs if four satellite packs/infant were allocated to those weighing > or = 1000 g. CONCLUSIONS: It would be safer and cost effective to allocate eight packs/infant to those with birth weights < 1000 g and four packs/infant to those with birth weights > or = 1000 g.     

A study of immunoprophylaxis failure and risk factors of hepatitis B virus mother-to-infant transmission

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is of high prevalence in China. Mother-to-infant transmission is the major route for HBV transmission and subsequent chronicity. This study aimed to investigate current HBsAg-positive rate among pregnant women and immunoprophylaxis outcome in China. Multicenter prospective study was conducted in 10 centers. From 2008 to 2012, 67,720 pregnant women were screened and 1,150 HBsAg-carrier mothers and their infants aged 8–12 months were studied in four out of all centers, among whom HBV markers (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb) and HBV DNA (in three centers) were measured. The results showed that HBsAg-positive rate of pregnant women was 6.7 % (4,533/67,720) and infants’ immunoprophylaxis failure rate was 3.4 % (39/1,150). Immunoprophylaxis failure infants were all born to mothers of HBeAg-positive and HBV DNA ≥6 log₁₀?copies/ml. Among infants of HBeAg-positive mothers, multivariable analyses showed the following: mother’s age <28 years vs ≥28 years, RR?=?0.157, 95 % confidence interval (CI) [0.067, 0.369], p?=?0.000; Neonates receiving vaccine vs vaccine plus hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), RR?=?0.371, 95 % CI [0.167, 0.825], p?=?0.015. Pregnant women receiving HBIG in the third trimester, vaginal delivery and breastfeeding had no significant effects on HBV mother-to-infant transmission. Conclusions: Pregnant women are still of high HBsAg prevalence in China. HBV mother-to-infant transmission still occurs after passive-active immunization. Pregnant women of high HBV replication levels are the major risk population of HBV mother-to-infant transmission. Passive-active immunization is necessary for neonates of HBeAg-positive mothers. Mother’s age <28 years and neonate receiving vaccine only were the risk factors for HBV mother-to-infant transmission. Breastfeeding did not put children at risk of mother-to-infant transmission.     

Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus

Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and HCV-RNA were measured in the sera of 22 anti-HCV positive, HIV-1 negative mothers and their infants. ELISA and RIBA II were used for anti-HCV determination. HCV-RNA was measured by a nested polymerase chain reaction. HCV-RNA was found in 12 of 22 mothers. All 22 children were followed for 12 months. All were anti-HCV positive by the fourth month; 18 became anti-HCV negative between the 8th and 12th month. HCV-RNA was detected in 5 of 22 infants in the fourth month. They remained HCV-RNA positive. All children born to HCV-RNA negative mothers were HCV-RNA negative while 5 of 12 babies born to HCV-RNA positive mothers were infected. All five infected babies were born to mothers infected through transfusions or drug use. ALT levels in mothers seemed to have no effect on mother-to-infant transmission. Hence evidence for perinatal transmission of HCV from HCV-RNA positive mothers was demonstrated in the present study.     

Risk of hepatitis C virus infection in multiply transfused premature neonates

BACKGROUND: Reports from around the world indicate that multiply transfused patients are at increased risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with reported rates of between 4% and 44%. Such reports are mostly of haematological and renal patients. As recipients of blood products in the newborn period, premature infants share this risk, but there is little information regarding their risk. AIM: To assess the risk of HCV infection in children who, as premature neonates, received multiple blood products prior to the introduction of screening of donated blood for HCV. METHODS: Premature infants born between January 1985 and January 1990 who had attended our high-risk follow-up clinic were selected on the basis of the number of transfusions of blood, platelets or fresh frozen plasma they received in the newborn period. Ethical approval to offer HCV testing to parents was obtained from the Central Sydney Area Health Service Ethics Review Committee. Parents of infants who received three or more transfusions were then contacted by mail with the approved letter explaining the study, and offered HCV testing. Detection of anti-HCV antibodies was undertaken using second, and later third generation enzyme immunoassay kits. Samples which were found to be 'indeterminate' were tested using a Wellcozyme HCV western blot assay (Murex Diagnostics Ltd, Datford, UK). Hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected using an 'in-house' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Alanine transaminase (ALT) was also measured, with values above 55 U/L considered abnormal. RESULTS: Consent was obtained for 45 children (25 males, 20 females). The mean (+/- SEM) gestational age and weight of the children at birth was 26.7 +/- 0.2 weeks and 938 +/- 27 g, respectively. The children received 198 transfusions of blood products, an average of 4.4 U per child. All of the infants except for one were negative for anti-HCV antibodies. One infant was 'indeterminate' (low positive on third generation test but negative on second generation test), but proved negative subsequently on both western blot and PCR testing. HCV-RNA was not detected in any of the infants on PCR testing. All of the samples had normal ALT values, the mean being 16 U/L (range 8-52). CONCLUSION: None of the children consenting to this study had evidence of current HCV infection. Because of the sample size, we were not able to estimate the true risk of infection from this study, except that the upper limit for the risk is about 1/200 per transfused blood sample.     

Impact of infant feeding practices on the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV-1 in Zimbabwe

OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of the contribution of infant feeding practices on the risk of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of the HIV-1 infection. METHODOLOGY: Prospective data from birth until 24 months of age on 236 infants born to HIV-positive mothers in Harare, Zimbabwe was analysed for this study. However, because only a small proportion of infants (2.1%) were HIV-1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tested shortly after birth, the PCR results for infants at birth were not incorporated into our analyses. The contribution of infant feeding practices on the risk of MTCT of HIV-1 was assessed using Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Models. RESULTS: The incidence of HIV-1 through MTCT was greatest among breastfed (8.33 per 100 child-months) and mixed fed (8.64 per 100 child-months) infants by 3 months. After adjustment for maternal age, marital status, education and infant antibody HIV-1 status, the cumulative relative risk of MTCT of HIV-1 was 4.19 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.44, 5.09) among breastfed and 1.10 (95% CI 0.97, 1. 25) among mixed fed infants. The overall MTCT rate of HIV-1 in this study was 40.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfed infants had the greatest cumulative relative risk of MTCT of HIV-1, followed by mixed fed infants, with the highest incidences occurring within the first 3 months.     

HCV and HGV infection, iron overload and liver disease in multitransfused patients with thalassaemia and persistently normal or abnormal transaminase levels

Prevalence and influence on liver disease of HCV and HGV infections, and HCV genotypes were studied in 28 HCV-Ab positive multitransfused thalassaemia patients with persistently normal ALT levels (group A) matched by sex and age with 28 patients with increased ALT levels (group B). Laboratory and virologic tests (all patients), liver biopsy (28 patients) and LIC by SQUID (30 patients) were performed. In group A, HCV-RNA was positive in 39%, genotype 2a was detected in 91%. In Group B, HCV-RNA was positive in 89%, prevalence of genotype 1b and 2a was 52% and 48% respectively; compared with group A, they had significantly increased values of gammaGT, AF, BA, TP, IgG, IgA, LIC (group B: 2,142 -/+ 1,524 microg/g liver; group A: 1,084 -/+ 610 microg/g liver). Overall prevalence of HGV-RNA was low (12.5%) and not significantly different between groups. Liver biopsies revealed no cirrhosis and severe fibrosis was found in 3 HCV viremic patients in group B. In 14 viremic patients examined both for LIC and liver histology, mild fibrosis was observed in 71%, in which iron overload was below 5 times the normal value. In conclusion, in patients with normal ALT levels, active HCV infection must be excluded by evaluation of HCV-RNA. Liver biopsy is indicated in HCV viremic patients, independent of ALT levels; in non-viremic patients, increased ALT levels may be due to iron overload and LIC measurement is indicated. Our data emphasise the crucial role of chelation therapy to maintain low LIC levels in order to prevent progression of fibrosis to cirrhosis in patients with HCV chronic hepatitis.     

Mothers' reports of infant crying and soothing in a multicultural population

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of infant crying and maternal soothing techniques in relation to ethnic origin and other sociodemographic variables. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey among mothers of 2-3 month old infants registered at six child health clinics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: A questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and crying behaviour was completed for 1826 of 2180 (84%) infants invited with their parents to visit the child health clinics. A questionnaire on soothing techniques was also filled out at home for 1142 (63%) of these infants. RESULTS: Overall prevalences of "crying for three or more hours/24 hour day" "crying a lot", and "difficult to comfort" were 7.6%, 14.0%, and 10.3%, respectively. Problematic infant crying was reported by 20.3% of the mothers. Of these infants, only 14% met all three inclusion criteria. Problematic crying occurred less frequently among girls, second and later born children, Surinamese infants, and breast fed infants. Many mothers used soothing techniques that could affect their infant's health negatively. Shaking, slapping, and putting the baby to sleep in a prone position were more common among non-Dutch (especially Turkish) mothers than among Dutch mothers. Poorly educated mothers slapped their baby more often than highly educated mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers' reports of infant crying and soothing varied sociodemographically. Much harm may be prevented by counselling parents (especially immigrants) on how and how not to respond to infant crying. Health education should start before the child's birth, because certain soothing techniques could be fatal, even when practised for the first time.     

Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization and sudden infant death: results of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Cooperative Epidemiological Study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome risk factors

The possible association between diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DTP) immunization and the subsequent occurrence of sudden infant death has been examined using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Cooperative Epidemiological Study, a large multicenter, population-based, case-control study. In a preliminary report based on the first 400 eligible singleton SIDS victims and 800 matched living control infants, no temporal association between SIDS and DTP immunization was found. From the final sample of 800 eligible singleton SIDS victims, 95% (n = 757) were defined as definitely or probably having died of SIDS on the basis of pathology data. Data from these 757 case infants and their corresponding control infants (n = 1,514) are presented in this report. Two control infants, both living, were randomly selected for each case infant: an age-matched control A and an age-, race-, and low birth weight-matched control B. Overall, case infants were less likely to have received any DTP immunization. Only 39.8% of case infants had received at least one DTP immunization compared to 55.0% of control A infants and 53.2% of control B infants. Based on maternal interviews and postnatal medical records, 1.8% of case infants (five infants) immunized with DTP died within the first 24 hours following immunization. Similarly, 5.0% of control A infants (n = 21) and 2.2% of control B infants (n = 9) had been immunized within 24 hours of the maternal interview, which represents the comparable time frame for the age-matched control infants. These results confirm the earlier preliminary findings from the NICHD SIDS Cooperative Epidemiological Study and suggest that DTP immunization is not a significant factor in the occurrence of SIDS.     

Amplitude integrated EEG 3 and 6 hours after birth in full term neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

AIM: To assess the prognostic value of amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) 3 and 6 hours after birth. METHODS: Seventy three term, asphyxiated infants were studied (from two different centres), using the Cerebral Function Monitor (CFM Lectromed). The different aEEG tracings were compared using pattern recognition (flat tracing mainly isoelectric (FT); continuous extremely low voltage (CLV); burst-suppression (BS); discontinuous normal voltage (DNV); continuous normal voltage (CNV)) with subsequent outcome. RESULTS: Sixty eight infants were followed up for more than 12 months (range 12 months to 6 years).Twenty one out of 68 infants (31%) showed a change in pattern from 3 to 6 hours, but this was only significant in five cases (24%). In three this changed from BS to CNV with a normal outcome. One infant showed a change in pattern from CNV to FT and had a major handicap at follow up. Another infant showed a change in pattern from DNV to BS, and developed a major handicap at follow up. The other 16 infants did not have any significant changes in pattern: 11 infants had CLV, BS, or FT at 3 and 6 hours and died (n = 9) in the neonatal period or developed a major handicap (n = 2). Five infants had a CNV or DNV pattern at 3 and 6 hours, with a normal outcome. The sensitivity and specificity of BS, together with FT and CLV, for poor outcome at 3 hours was 0.85 and 0.77, respectively; at 6 hours 0.91 and 0.86, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 78% and the negative predictive value (NPV) 84% 3 hours after birth. At 6 hours the PPV was 86% and the NPV was 91%. CONCLUSION: aEEG could be very useful for selecting those infants who might benefit from intervention after birth asphyxia.     

Hepatitis B maternal screening, infant vaccination, and infant prophylaxis practices in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices hepatitis B screening, vaccination, and prophylaxis recommendations were being followed in North Carolina, and to establish a baseline hepatitis B seroprevalence rate. DESIGN: A survey of mother and infant birthing facility medical records. SETTING: Four birthing facilities selected from each of the 7 districts in North Carolina (a total of 28 facilities). PARTICIPANTS: A probability proportional to size survey design was used to select 4763 mother-infant record pairs. All records came from the 1996 birth cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal hepatitis B screening status, infant vaccination status, infants prophylaxis status, hepatitis B seroprevalence rate, demographic and clinical predictors for maternal infection, failure to receive prenatal care or for whom status was unknown, failure to screen, and failure to vaccinate. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen. Eighty-six percent of infants received dose 1 of the hepatitis B vaccine. Four of the 9 infants with mothers who were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive did not receive both vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin. The hepatitis B seroprevalence rate was 0.2%. Mothers who were not screened for infection were 3.4 times more likely to have infants who were not vaccinated. White mothers were twice as likely not to have their child vaccinated as mothers of other races. CONCLUSIONS: Not all infants with hepatitis B-infected mothers were receiving vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin as recommended. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection may be lower in North Carolina than in other states. Hepatitis B laboratory test results should be included in every mother's medical record.     

Profile of infants born to drug‐using mothers: A state‐wide audit

Aims: To ascertain the characteristics and short‐term outcomes of infants born to illicit drug‐using mothers in public hospitals in the state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory during 2004. Methods: Patients were identified retrospectively by hospital records searches using ICD‐10 morbidity codes and records of local Drug and Alcohol Services. Records were reviewed on site. All public hospitals (n= 101) with obstetric services were included. Results: A total of 879 (1.4%, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–1.5%) drug‐using mothers were identified from 62 682 confinements. Opiates (46.8%), amphetamines (23.0%) and polydrug (16.4%) exposure were most common. There were eight stillbirths. Among these 871 infants, prematurity (23.6%) and low birthweight (27.1%) were common and 51.1% were admitted to nurseries for further care. Two infants died. Major congenital anomalies were detected in 15 infants. Pharmacological treatment for withdrawal was required for 202 (23.2%), and 143 (70.8%) infants were discharged home on medication. Infants who completed inpatient pharmacological treatment were hospitalised longer (median 26.0 vs. 12.0 days) and were more likely to be premature (37.3 vs. 14.0%). Child‐at‐risk notifications affected 40.6% of the infants, and 7.6% were fostered prior to discharge. A total of 333 (38.2%) infants were breastfed at discharge. Conclusions: Our regional study highlights a substantial prevalence of drug use in pregnancy with considerable adverse perinatal and hospital outcomes in infants born to these mothers. Coordinated health care and resources are needed to support these mother–infant pairs because of their social, medical and mental‐health issues.     

National Project on the Prevention of Mother-to-Infant Infection by Hepatitis B Virus in Japan

In Japan, a nationwide prevention program against mother-to-infant infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) started in 1985. This program consists of double screenings of pregnant women and prophylactic treatment to the infants born to both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive mothers. These infants are treated with two injections of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and at least three injections of plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine. We sent questionnaires about the numbers of each procedure or examination during nine months of investigation period to each local government in 1986 and 1987. 93.4% pregnant women had the chance to be examined for HBsAg, and the positive rate was 1.4 to 1.5%. The HBeAg positive rate in HBsAg positive was 23 to 26%. The HBsAg positive rate in neonates and in infants before two months were 3% and 2% respectively. Some problems may arise, because 27 to 30% of infants need the fourth vaccination in some restricted areas.