Comparison of the Canadian vs. the international risk scoring tool for respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis in moderate-to-late preterm infants.

Aim: The study objective was to compare the Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada risk scoring tool (CRST) that determines need for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis in infants 33-35 weeks gestational age during the RSV season, with the newly developed international risk scoring tool (IRST).

Methods: Children 33-35 weeks gestational age born during the 2018-2021 RSV seasons were prospectively identified following birth and scored with the validated CRST and IRST, that comprises seven and three variables respectively, into low- moderate- and high-risk groups that predict RSV-related hospitalization. Correlations between total scores on the two tools, and cut-off scores for the low-, moderate- and high-risk categories were conducted using the Spearman rank correlation.

Standardizing umbilical catheter usage in preterm infants.

Background And Objective: Absence of guidelines on umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) and umbilical venous catheter (UVC) use and inability to predict the hospital course may sway the frontline staff to overuse umbilical catheters in preterm infants. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing guidelines standardizing the use of umbilical catheters and its impact on the incidence of sepsis and resource use.

Methods: All inborn infants delivered at <33 weeks' gestation and admitted to the NICU were included in this quality improvement study.

Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis in children with cardiac disease: a retrospective single-centre study.

Objectives: To examine the characteristics of congenital heart disease patients hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus infection after prophylaxis and determine the associated comorbidities and the incidence of breakthrough respiratory syncytial virus infections.

Study Design: This is a retrospective, single-centre study that was conducted over a period of 7 years. Respiratory syncytial virus infection was identified by classification codes and confirmed by virological tests.

The impact of prophylaxis on paediatric intensive care unit admissions for RSV infection: a retrospective, single-centre study.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations in children aged < 2 years. The aim of this retrospective, single-centre study was to examine the characteristics of patients admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with RSV infection following the implementation of a RSV prophylaxis programme. Electronic hospital medical records of all PICU admissions for RSV infection were searched from 2003 to 2009.

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: harvesting the evidence to develop a clinical approach to management.

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is the most common cause of severe thrombocytopenia in an otherwise healthy newborn. The most serious complication is intracranial hemorrhage, which can occur either in the fetus or the newborn. Despite the known serious sequelae, both antenatal management and neonatal treatment modalities are plagued by the lack of gold standard evidence to appropriately direct therapy.

Distilling the evidence on developmental care: a systematic review.

Purpose: To determine whether developmental care interventions reduce neurodevelopmental delay, poor weight gain, length of hospital stay, length of mechanical ventilation, physiologic stress, and other clinically relevant adverse outcomes in preterm infants.

Subjects: Infants born at less than 37 weeks postconceptional age. This review consisted of 31 studies in 4 categories of developmental care interventions, 19 subgroups, and multiple clinical outcomes.

Nonnutritive sucking in high-risk infants: benign intervention or legitimate therapy?

Objective: To review the available research evidence on the effects of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) in high-risk full-term and preterm infants in neonatal nurseries.

Data Sources: Electronic searches of MEDLINE (1976-2001) and CINAHL (1982-2001) databases, as well as the Cochrane Library. Reference lists of all relevant articles were also reviewed.

Case report and review of the perinatal implications of maternal lithium use.

The purpose of this study was to review the use of lithium in pregnancy and its effects on the neonate. This was a case study and review of the published literature. Lithium is commonly used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, specifically bipolar depression.