Neonatal encephalopathy due to suspected hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: pathophysiology, current, and emerging treatments.

Background: Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) due to suspected hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), referred to as NESHIE, is a clinical diagnosis in late preterm and term newborns. It occurs as a result of impaired cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery during the peripartum period and is used until other causes of NE have been discounted and HIE is confirmed. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the only evidence-based and clinically approved treatment modality for HIE.

Healthcare-associated Infections Drive Antimicrobial Prescribing in Pediatric Departments at Three Academic Hospitals in South Africa.

Background: The prevalence of antimicrobial prescriptions for healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in South Africa is largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the point prevalence of pediatric antibiotic and antifungal usage in 3 South African academic hospitals.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included hospitalized neonates and children (0-15 years).

Single surgeon case series of myelomeningocele repairs in a developing world setting: Challenges and lessons.

Purpose: Neural Tube Defects are the second most common group of birth malformations following congenital heart anomalies, with myelomeningoceles being the most severe manifestation (MMC). They require expedited surgical repair, preferably within 72 ​h of birth. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where resources are limited, timing to MMC repair is not optimal and leads to undesirable outcomes.

Challenges in the Implementation of the NeoOBS Study, a Global Pragmatic Observational Cohort Study, to Investigate the Aetiology and Management of Neonatal Sepsis in the Hospital Setting.

Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. To deliver high-quality data studies and inform future trials, it is crucial to understand the challenges encountered when managing global multi-centre research studies and to identify solutions that can feasibly be implemented in these settings. This paper provides an overview of the complexities faced by diverse research teams in different countries and regions, together with actions implemented to achieve pragmatic study management of a large multi-centre observational study of neonatal sepsis.

Characteristics and outcomes of neonates with intrapartum asphyxia managed with therapeutic hypothermia in a public tertiary hospital in South Africa.

Background: In randomized clinical trials, therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been shown to reduce death and/or moderate-to-severe disability in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in high-income countries, while this has not consistently been the case in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many studies reporting on outcomes of neonates with HIE managed with TH are those conducted under controlled study conditions, and few reporting in settings where this intervention is offered as part of standard of care, especially from LMICs. In this study we report on short-term outcomes of neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE where TH was offered as part of standard of care.

Hypothermia in neonates born by caesarean section at a tertiary hospital in South Africa.

Introduction: neonatal hypothermia has previously been noted in a large proportion of neonates born through Caesarean section at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBAH), yet no study in South Africa specifically explores the extent and severity of the threat of hypothermia to this population of neonates.

Objectives: to describe the proportion and severity of neonatal hypothermia in infants born Caesarean section at CHBAH as well as to document and describe possible contributing factors to neonatal hypothermia in this population.

Methods: A neonatal unit's database records were reviewed for demographic information of patients and their mothers, clinical characteristics, body temperature and outcomes.

A comparison of weight gain between HIV exposed uninfected and HIV unexposed uninfected infants who received KMC at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

Introduction: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has been associated with improved growth in low birthweight infants and reduction in hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, apnoeas, sepsis, hospital stay, and mortality. The growth of HIV-infected children is poorer than those who are HIV-uninfected. There is paucity of data on weight gain in the HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants receiving KMC.

An outbreak of infection due to severe acute respiratory corona virus-2 in a neonatal unit from a low and middle income setting.

Introduction: The provision of kangaroo mother care (KMC) involving continuous skin-to-skin care (SSC) is an important intervention in neonatal care, which is recommended even when women are infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). We report on a nosocomial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a KMC ward.

Methods: Contact tracing was conducted following the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in a mother lodging in the KMC ward.

Prediction of Retinopathy of Prematurity Using the WINROP (Weight, IGF-1, Neonatal Retinopathy of Prematurity) Algorithm in a South African Population.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the WINROP (Weight, IGF-1, Neonatal Retinopathy of Prematurity) screening algorithm in a South African population.

Methods: A retrospective record review included infants born between 1 January 2013 and 1 December 2014 who underwent ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) screening. Outcomes of ophthalmology examinations were compared to alarms triggered on WINROP after gestational age, date of birth, and weekly weights were entered.

A randomized, double-blind trial investigating the efficacy of caspofungin versus amphotericin B deoxycholate in the treatment of invasive candidiasis in neonates and infants younger than 3 months of age.

Objectives: Investigate the efficacy of caspofungin in participants <3 months of age with invasive Candida infection (ICI).

Methods: This multicentre, randomized, double-blind, comparator-controlled, Phase 2 study (protocol MK0991-064; NCT01945281) enrolled participants <3 months of age with culture-confirmed ICI within 96 h of study entry. Participants were randomly assigned 2:1 to once-daily intravenous 2 mg/kg caspofungin or intravenous 1 mg/kg amphotericin B deoxycholate (dAMB).