Neonatal Sepsis: A Comprehensive Review.

Neonatal sepsis remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. At present, no clear consensus definition for sepsis in neonates exists, even though a positive blood culture is considered as the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. The accurate and timely diagnosis of sepsis in neonates presents significant difficulties, since "culture negative" or "suspected" sepsis varies widely worldwide.

A Survey on the Organization and Operation of Level II/III Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Greece: A Comparison Between 2004 and 2022.

Background/objectives: Limited data exist on the organization and operation of Level II/III Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in Greece; this retrospective cross-sectional survey explored their structure and functioning in 2004 and 2022.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was utilized, along with demographic and perinatal data obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.

Results: Between 2004 and 2022, live births decreased by 28%, while the prematurity rate rose from 6.

The development of preterm infants from low socio-economic status families: The combined effects of melatonin, autonomic nervous system maturation and psychosocial factors (ProMote): A study protocol.

Preterm births constitute a major public health issue and a chronic, cross-generational condition globally. Psychological and biological factors interact in a way that women from low socio-economic status (SES) are disproportionally affected by preterm delivery and at increased risk for the development of perinatal mental health problems. Low SES constitutes one of the most evident contributors to poor neurodevelopment of preterm infants.

Postpartum Interventions to Increase Maternal Vaccination Uptake: Is It Worth It?

Background/objectives: Vaccination of pregnant and postpartum women for pertussis, influenza and COVID-19 not only protects themselves but also offspring. Despite the benefits of this approach, vaccination uptake remains suboptimal in pregnancy. Where the opportunity to be vaccinated in pregnancy is missed, the offer of vaccination in the post-partum period may be an alternative strategy.

Antifungal Drug Usage in European Neonatal Units: A Multicenter Weekly Point Prevalence Study.

Background: Data on antifungal prescribing in neonatal patients are limited to either single-center or single-country studies or to 1-day recording. Therefore, we assessed antifungal longitudinal usage in neonatal units (NUs) within Europe.

Methods: CALYPSO, a prospective weekly point prevalence study on antifungal drug usage in NUs in 18 hospitals (8 European countries), was conducted in 2020 during a 12-week period.