Lumbar Puncture and Meningitis in Infants with Proven Early- or Late-Onset Sepsis: An Italian Prospective Multicenter Observational Study.

: To evaluate the rates of lumbar puncture (LP) in infants with culture-proven sepsis. : We prospectively enrolled 400 infants with early- or late-onset sepsis due to Group B (GBS) or , diagnosed within 90 days of life. Rates of LP and potential variables associated with LP performance were evaluated.

Safe Perinatal Management of Neonates Born to SARS-CoV-2 Positive Mothers at the Epicenter of the Italian Epidemic.

2019-novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has recently struck Northern Italy. Limited data are available about COVID-19 during pregnancy and infancy, mostly from China. Herein, our experience on a safe perinatal management of neonates born to COVID-19 mothers is reported.

Neuroprem: the Neuro-developmental outcome of very low birth weight infants in an Italian region.

Introduction: The survival of preterm babies has increased worldwide, but the risk of neuro-developmental disabilities remains high, which is of concern to both the public and professionals. The early identification of children at risk of neuro-developmental disabilities may increase access to intervention, potentially influencing the outcome.

Aims: Neuroprem is an area-based prospective cohort study on the neuro-developmental outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants that aims to define severe functional disability at 2 years of age.

Cesarean delivery may affect the early biodiversity of intestinal bacteria.

The gastrointestinal tract of neonates becomes colonized immediately after birth with environmental microorganisms, mainly from the mother; strong evidence suggests that the early composition of the microbiota of neonates plays an important role for the postnatal development of the immune system. The present study was designed to evaluate by means of a molecular biology approach the relation between the intestinal ecosystem of the newborn and the mode of delivery. The intestinal bacterial composition on d 3 of life was investigated in 23 infants born by vaginal delivery and in 23 infants delivered by cesarean section.