Publications by authors named "Katleen Plaskie"

Article Synopsis
  • An opportunistic pathogen caused an 18-month outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Antwerp, Belgium, affecting 61 neonates, with ten confirmed infections resulting in serious conditions, including one fatal case.
  • The risk of acquiring the infection was significantly higher in neonates nursing in incubators, highlighted by statistical analysis (OR: 2.99; p < 0.05).
  • Whole genome sequencing revealed multiple clusters and the importance of ongoing surveillance and specific infection control measures in NICUs to prevent similar outbreaks in the future.
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Background: Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) is one of the most common diagnoses among preterm infants. AOP often leads to hypoxemia and bradycardia which are associated with an increased risk of death or disability. In addition to caffeine therapy and non-invasive respiratory support, doxapram might be used to reduce hypoxemic episodes and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in preterm infants, thereby possibly improving their long-term outcome.

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Objective: To explore clinical effect modifiers of systemic hydrocortisone in ventilated very preterm infants for survival and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years' corrected age (CA).

Design: Secondary analysis of a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Dutch and Belgian neonatal intensive care units.

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Objective: To survey the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) by gestational age and to report the impact on mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm/very low birthweight infants.

Study Design: This was a population-based cohort study of 1927 very preterm/very low birthweight infants born in 2014-2016 and admitted to Flemish neonatal intensive care units. Infants underwent standard follow-up assessment until 2 years corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and neurological assessments.

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Objective: To report the parent-reported behavioural outcomes of infants included in the Systemic Hydrocortisone To Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in preterm infants study at 2 years' corrected age (CA).

Design: Randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Dutch and Belgian neonatal intensive care units.

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Objective: Observational studies in preterm infants suggest that systemic hydrocortisone improves pulmonary condition but may also lead to systemic adverse effects. We report the short-term pulmonary and systemic effects of hydrocortisone initiated in the second week.

Design: Randomised placebo-controlled trial.

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Background: With constant changes in neonatal care practices, recent information is valuable for healthcare providers and for parental counselling. The aim of the study was to describe the neurodevelopmental outcome in a cohort of very preterm (VPT)/very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants at 2 years corrected age (CA).

Material And Methods: This is a population-based cohort study of all infants born with a GA <31 weeks and/or BW < 1500 g between 2014 and 2016 admitted to the Flemish (Belgium) neonatal intensive care units.

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Importance: Dexamethasone initiated after the first week of life reduces the rate of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) but may cause long-term adverse effects in very preterm infants. Hydrocortisone is increasingly used as an alternative, but evidence supporting its efficacy and safety is lacking.

Objective: To assess the effect of hydrocortisone initiated between 7 and 14 days after birth on death or BPD in very preterm infants.

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Pneumopericardium is the least common form of air leak in infants. A tension pneumopericardium is even more infrequent but associated with a very high mortality rate. We describe the case of an unsuccessful resuscitation in a preterm infant due to a pneumothorax and tension pneumopericardium.

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