Mother to Newborn Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Evolution of Evidence in 1.5 Years of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant mortality and morbidity in people of all age groups worldwide. Given the uncertainty regarding the mode of transmission and potential effects of COVID-19 on pregnant mothers and their newborns, guidelines for taking care of maternal-newborn dyads have evolved tremendously since the pandemic began. There has been an enormous influx of published materials regarding the outcomes of mothers and newborns.

The impact of donor breast milk on metabolic bone disease, postnatal growth, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months' corrected age.

Background: Preterm infants are at risk for metabolic bone disease (MBD). Analysis of donor breast milk (DBM) shows lower levels of macronutrients compared with mother's own milk (MOM). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MBD, rate of postnatal growth, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants fed predominantly MOM vs DBM.

Standardized Nutrition Protocol for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants Resulted in Less Use of Parenteral Nutrition and Associated Complications, Better Growth, and Lower Rates of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Background: We assessed the impact of a standardized nutrition initiative for very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants on their nutrition and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This was a prospective analysis of VLBW infants born before and after the initiation of a nutrition protocol. This protocol included trophic feeds, feeding advancement, fortification guidelines, parameters on the concentration of parenteral nutrition (PN), and the discontinuation of PN and central lines.

Neural Breathing Pattern and Patient-Ventilator Interaction During Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist and Conventional Ventilation in Newborns.

Objective: To compare neurally adjusted ventilatory assist and conventional ventilation on patient-ventilator interaction and neural breathing patterns, with a focus on central apnea in preterm infants.

Design: Prospective, observational cross-over study of intubated and ventilated newborns. Data were collected while infants were successively ventilated with three different ventilator conditions (30 min each period): 1) synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) combined with pressure support at the clinically prescribed, SIMV with baseline settings (SIMVBL), 2) neurally adjusted ventilatory assist, 3) same as SIMVBL, but with an adjustment of the inspiratory time of the mandatory breaths (SIMV with adjusted settings [SIMVADJ]) using feedback from the electrical activity of the diaphragm).

Virtual radiology rounds: adding value in the digital era.

Background: To preserve radiology rounds in the changing health care environment, we have introduced virtual radiology rounds, an initiative enabling clinicians to remotely review imaging studies with the radiologist.

Objective: We describe our initial experience with virtual radiology rounds and referring provider impressions.

Materials And Methods: Virtual radiology rounds, a web-based conference, use remote sharing of radiology workstations.

Evacuation of a neonatal intensive care unit in a disaster: lessons from Hurricane Sandy.

NICU patients are among those potentially most vulnerable to the effects of natural or man-made disaster on a medical center. The published data on evacuations of NICU patients in the setting of disaster are sparse. In October of 2012, New York University Langone Medical Center was evacuated during Hurricane Sandy in the setting of a power outage secondary to a coastal surge.

Respiratory syncytial virus as a cause of pulmonary hemorrhage in a low birth weight infant: strategies for protection and prevention: a case report.

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus is a common neonatal pathogen. Here we present a case of a premature, low birth weight infant who contracted respiratory syncytial virus and developed a severe pulmonary hemorrhage.

Case Presentation: A 12-day-old Asian male, former 30 week premature infant with a birth weight of 1025 grams presented with nasal secretions, episodes of desaturations and increased work of breathing.

Respiratory syncytial virus as a cause of pulmonary hemorrhage in a low birth weight infant - strategies for protection and prevention: a case report.

Introduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common neonatal pathogen. Here we present a case of a premature, low birth weight infant who contracted respiratory syncytial virus and developed a severe pulmonary hemorrhage.

Case Presentation: A 12-day-old Asian male, former 30-week premature infant with a birth weight of 1025 grams presented with nasal secretions, episodes of desaturations and increased work of breathing.

Availability of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine to parents of neonatal intensive care unit patients and its effect on the healthcare worker vaccination rate.

Background: Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) is indicated for healthcare workers (HCWs); however, the vaccination rate in this population is estimated at 35%. We implemented a program for the administration of TIV, targeted at parents of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients.

Objective: To determine the effect of availability of TIV to parents in the NICU on HCW vaccination rates.

Quantification of impulse experienced by neonates during inter- and intra-hospital transport measured by biophysical accelerometery.

Background: Transport of premature infants incurs transfer-related morbidity, including intraventricular hemorrhage, a contributing factor to cerebral palsy. The force transmitted to the neonate during transport as a consequence of motion may be implicated in the increased morbidity in this population. Morbidity may occur via direct concussive force to a vulnerable germinal matrix, induction of an inflammatory reaction, or via transient desaturation via extubation.

Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine compliance rate in neonatal intensive care unit parents.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends injected, inactivated influenza vaccine for all close contacts of high-risk infants. This population includes parents of infants younger than 59 months of age, with an emphasis on children 0-6 months who are not direct candidates for immunization. This 0-6 month age group is a major component of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population.

Administration of inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine to parents of high-risk infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: Infants who are younger than 6 months and have influenza demonstrate significant morbidity and mortality. Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine is indicated for parents and household contacts of these infants; however, the influenza vaccination rate in this population is estimated at 30%. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine administration to parents in a tertiary-care, level III NICU and measure the effect of this program on vaccination rates among parents of this high-risk population.

Computer-based multivariate economic analysis of neonatal-intensive-care-unit-based influenza vaccine administration to parents in a low-socio-economic, urban setting.

Objective: Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine has been shown to reduce the number of influenza-related outpatient visits and hospitalizations of children up to 24 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control, and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend that the influenza vaccine be administered to the first-person contacts of infants less than 6 months of age. However, the economic implications of increasing immunization rates by using the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as an arena to capture the parents of these infants has not been fully evaluated.

Optimizing long-term care by administration of influenza vaccine to parents of NICU patients.

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team has traditionally invested itself in maintaining the health of its patients upon discharge from high-acuity care. Historically, this has included the administration of vaccinations to the patients and more recently, Palivizumab--a monoclonal antibody directed against respiratory synctial virus (RSV). With increasing awareness of the ill-effects associated with influenza virus and recommendations those in close contact with high-risk infants receive the vaccine, the NICU may be an ideal arena to capture parents of high-risk infants for vaccination.