Early versus late administration of amino acids in preterm infants receiving parenteral nutrition.

Background: Observational studies in preterm newborns suggest that delay in administering amino acids (AA) could result in a protein catabolic state and impact on growth and development.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to compare the efficacy and safety of early versus late administration of intravenous AA in neonates born at < 37 weeks of gestation.

Search Methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and trial registries in March 2023.

Influenza vaccination among pregnant women in two hospitals in Sydney, NSW: what we can learn from women who decline vaccination.

Objective: Pregnant women are recognised as being at risk of serious illness from influenza. Despite this, and longstanding national recommendations for vaccination in pregnancy, vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. This study aims to determine factors associated with women declining influenza vaccination in pregnancy.

The effect of lactoferrin supplementation on death or major morbidity in very low birthweight infants (LIFT): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Very low birthweight or preterm infants are at increased risk of adverse outcomes including sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis, and death. We assessed whether supplementing the enteral diet of very low-birthweight infants with lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein, reduces all-cause mortality or major morbidity.

Methods: We did a multicentre, double-blind, pragmatic, randomised superiority trial in 14 Australian and two New Zealand neonatal intensive care units.

Standardised neonatal parenteral nutrition formulations - Australasian neonatal parenteral nutrition consensus update 2017.

Background: The first consensus standardised neonatal parenteral nutrition formulations were implemented in many neonatal units in Australia in 2012. The current update involving 49 units from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and India was conducted between September 2015 and December 2017 with the aim to review and update the 2012 formulations and guidelines.

Methods: A systematic review of available evidence for each parenteral nutrient was undertaken and new standardised formulations and guidelines were developed.

Infant formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergic disease.

Background: Infant formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been widely advocated for preventing allergic disease in infants, in place of standard cow's milk formula (CMF). However, it is unclear whether the clinical trial evidence supports this.

Objectives: To compare effects on allergic disease when infants are fed a hydrolysed formula versus CMF or human breast milk.

Higher versus lower amino acid intake in parenteral nutrition for newborn infants.

Background: Sick newborn and preterm infants frequently are not able to be fed enterally, necessitating parenteral fluid and nutrition. Potential benefits of higher parenteral amino acid (AA) intake for improved nitrogen balance, growth, and infant health may be outweighed by the infant's ability to utilise high intake of parenteral AA, especially in the days after birth.

Objectives: The primary objective is to determine whether higher versus lower intake of parenteral AA is associated with improved growth and disability-free survival in newborn infants receiving parenteral nutrition.

Trial of Music, Sucrose, and Combination Therapy for Pain Relief during Heel Prick Procedures in Neonates.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of music, oral sucrose, and combination therapy for pain relief in neonates undergoing a heel prick procedure.

Study Design: This randomized, controlled, blinded crossover clinical trial included stable neonates >32 weeks of postmenstrual age. Each neonate crossed over to all 3 interventions in random order during consecutive heel pricks.

WITHDRAWN: Infant formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergic disease and food allergy.

Background: Allergy is common and may be associated with foods, including cow's milk formula (CMF). Formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been used to treat infants with allergy. However, it is unclear whether hydrolysed formulas can be advocated for prevention of allergy in infants.

Infant formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergic disease and food allergy.

Background: Allergy is common and may be associated with foods, including cow's milk formula (CMF). Formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been used to treat infants with allergy. However, it is unclear whether hydrolysed formulas can be advocated for prevention of allergy in infants.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infancy for the prevention of allergy.

Background: Early dietary intakes may influence the development of allergic disease. It is important to determine if dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) given as supplements or added to infant formula prevent the development of allergy.

Objectives: To determine the effect of higher PUFA intake during infancy to prevent allergic disease.

Quality of harness fit for normal and low birthweight infants observed among newborns in infant car seats.

Introduction: Child restraint fit is important for crash protection. For newborns, standards universally require a rear-facing restraint and some upper limit on size, but historically there has been no specification of a lower design limit and there is concern over whether low birthweight infants (LBW) are adequately restrained. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of harness fit for newborns of low and normal weight in a range of modern child restraints.

Pertussis vaccination coverage among Australian women prior to childbirth in the cocooning era: a two-hospital, cross-sectional survey, 2010 to 2013.

Background: Recent pertussis epidemics have triggered implementation of cocooning, involving caregiver vaccination to indirectly protecting susceptible infants.

Aim: To determine patient, provider and setting factors associated with maternal pertussis booster vaccination (dTpa) within 5-10 years before childbirth.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional survey using Health Belief Model constructs among postpartum women in a tertiary referral centre and a private hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Improved nutrient intake following implementation of the consensus standardised parenteral nutrition formulations in preterm neonates--a before-after intervention study.

Background: New standardised parenteral nutrition (SPN) formulations were implemented in July 2011 in many neonatal intensive care units in New South Wales following consensus group recommendations. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of new consensus formulations in preterm infants born less than 32 weeks.

Methods: A before-after intervention study conducted at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

What predicts postpartum pertussis booster vaccination? A controlled intervention trial.

Background: 'Cocooning' aims to protect susceptible infants from pertussis via caregiver vaccination. Control trials evaluating educational interventions to promote cocooning are lacking. We evaluated the role of message-framing vs.

Standardised neonatal parenteral nutrition formulations - an Australasian group consensus 2012.

Standardised parenteral nutrition formulations are routinely used in the neonatal intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand. In 2010, a multidisciplinary group was formed to achieve a consensus on the formulations acceptable to majority of the neonatal intensive care units. Literature review was undertaken for each nutrient and recommendations were developed in a series of meetings held between November 2010 and April 2011.

A global survey of changing patterns of food allergy burden in children.

While food allergies and eczema are among the most common chronic non-communicable diseases in children in many countries worldwide, quality data on the burden of these diseases is lacking, particularly in developing countries. This 2012 survey was performed to collect information on existing data on the global patterns and prevalence of food allergy by surveying all the national member societies of the World Allergy Organization, and some of their neighbouring countries. Data were collected from 89 countries, including published data, and changes in the health care burden of food allergy.

Early versus late administration of amino acids in preterm infants receiving parenteral nutrition.

Background: Observational studies in preterm newborns suggest that delay in administering amino acids could result in a protein catabolic state and could impact on growth and development.

Objectives: To determine the effect of early administration of amino acids in premature newborns on growth, neurodevelopmental outcome, mortality and clinically important side effects.

Search Methods: The standard search strategy of the Neonatal Review Group as outlined in The Cochrane Library was used.

Prebiotics in infants for prevention of allergy.

Background: Prebiotics (commonly oligosaccharides) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens.

Objectives: To determine the effect of prebiotic given to infants for the prevention of allergy.

Search Methods: We performed an updated search in August 2012 of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 8), MEDLINE, EMBASE, conference proceedings, citations, expert informants and clinical trials registries.

Australasian neonatal intensive care enteral nutrition survey: implications for practice.

Aim: This survey investigated standardised feeding guidelines and nutrition policy in Australasian neonatal intensive care units and compared these with previously published surveys and international consensus nutrition recommendations.

Methods: An electronic survey on enteral nutrition comprising a wide range of questions about clinical practice was e-mailed to all 25 Australasian neonatal intensive care unit directors of tertiary perinatal centres.

Results: Twenty-five surveys were distributed; 24 (96%) were completed.

Antibiotic regimens for the empirical treatment of newborn infants with necrotising enterocolitis.

Background: Although the exact aetiology of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) remains unknown, research suggests that it is multifactorial; suspected pathophysiological mechanisms include immaturity, intestinal ischaemia, disruption of intestinal mucosal integrity, formula feeding, hyperosmolar load to the intestine, infection and bacterial translocation. Various antibiotic regimens have been widely used in the treatment of NEC.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of different antibiotic regimens on mortality and the need for surgery in neonates with NEC.