Preterm infants at low risk for early-onset sepsis differ in early fecal microbiome assembly.

Antibiotics are administered near-universally to very low birth weight (VLBW) infants after birth for suspected early-onset sepsis (EOS). We previously identified a phenotypic group of VLBW infants, referred to as low-risk for EOS (LRE), whose risk of EOS is low enough to avoid routine antibiotic initiation. In this cohort study, we compared 18 such infants with 30 infants categorized as non-LRE to determine if the lower risk of pathogen transmission at birth is accompanied by differences in microbiome acquisition and development.

Breast Milk and Saliva for Postnatal Cyto†megalovirus Screening among Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Background: The optimal approach to managing postnatal cytomegalovirus disease (pCMV) among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants remains unknown. Methods to facilitate screening are needed.

Objective: Determine whether mother's milk and infant saliva can be used to reliably identify maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus and detect infant pCMV acquisition.

Neighborhood Characteristics and Racial Disparities in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Seropositivity in Pregnancy.

Objective: To quantify the extent to which neighborhood characteristics contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity in pregnancy.

Methods: This cohort study included pregnant patients who presented for childbirth at two hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from April 13 to December 31, 2020. Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was determined by measuring immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in discarded maternal serum samples obtained for clinical purposes.

Time to positivity of blood cultures in neonatal late-onset bacteraemia.

Objective: To determine the time to positivity (TTP) of blood cultures among infants with late-onset bacteraemia and predictors of TTP >36 hours.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: 16 birth centres in two healthcare systems.

Neonatal blood culture inoculant volume: feasibility and challenges.

Background: Clinicians often express concerns about poor sensitivity of blood cultures in neonates resulting from inadequate inoculant volumes. Our objective was to determine the inoculant volume sent for neonatal sepsis evaluations and identify areas of improvement.

Methods: Single-center prospective observational study of infants undergoing sepsis evaluation.

Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Cord Blood SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Placental Transfer Ratios.

Importance: Maternally derived antibodies are a key element of neonatal immunity. Understanding the dynamics of maternal antibody responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy and subsequent transplacental antibody transfer can inform neonatal management as well as maternal vaccination strategies.

Objective: To assess the association between maternal and neonatal SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody concentrations.

Early Serratus Plane Block for Rib Fracture Management could Avoid Intensive Care Unit Admission.

Gorecha M, Menon A, Woodford E, Yahia S, Marimuthu K. Early Serratus Plane Block for Rib Fracture Management could Avoid Intensive Care Unit Admission. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(10):995.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among parturient women in Philadelphia.

Limited data are available for pregnant women affected by SARS-CoV-2. Serological tests are critically important for determining SARS-CoV-2 exposures within both individuals and populations. We validated a SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain serological test using 834 pre-pandemic samples and 31 samples from COVID-19 recovered donors.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Among Parturient Women.

Limited data are available for pregnant women affected by SARS-CoV-2. Serological tests are critically important to determine exposure and immunity to SARS-CoV-2 within both individuals and populations. We completed SARS-CoV-2 serological testing of 1,293 parturient women at two centers in Philadelphia from April 4 to June 3, 2020.