Association between SMOFlipid and impaired brain development on term-equivalent age brain magnetic resonance imaging in very preterm infants.

Soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOFlipid) is used without evidence of benefits. We investigated the relationship between lipid emulsions and brain injury in term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 148 very preterm infants with a birth weight of < 1500 g at ≤ 32 gestational weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit. Infants who received soybean-based lipid emulsions between January 2015 and December 2018 were compared with those who received SMOFlipids between January 2019 and December 2022.

Impact of Refeeding Syndrome on the Short-Term Clinical Outcomes of Very-Premature Infants.

Background: Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur in preterm infants if nutritional support is initiated or increased after a period of starvation or malnutrition.

Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the short-term clinical outcomes of RFS in preterm infants born at ≤32 weeks of gestation.

Methods: Infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks and a birth weight of <1500 g who were born and admitted to the level III neonatal intensive care unit and received parenteral nutrition upon admission were retrospectively evaluated.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Refeeding Syndrome in Preterm Infants.

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors associated with refeeding syndrome (RFS) in preterm infants (≤32 weeks gestational age) during their first week of life. Infants (gestational age ≤ 32 weeks; birth weight < 1500 g) who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), level III, and received parenteral nutrition between January 2015 and April 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. Modified log-Poisson regression with generalized linear models and a robust variance estimator was applied to adjust the relative risk of risk factors.

SMOFlipid Impact on Growth and Neonatal Morbidities in Very Preterm Infants.

The soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil lipid (SMOFlipid) is increasingly being used worldwide without definite evidence of its benefits. We examined the effect of SMOFlipid on growth velocity and neonatal morbidities in very preterm infants. Very preterm infants who received soybean-based lipid emulsion between January 2015 and 2018 were compared with those who received SMOFlipids between 2019 and January 2022 in our neonatal tertiary center.

Gastroschisis Due to Maternal Exposure to Carbimazole in A Term Neonate.

Pregnant women with hyperthyroidism need careful management, which is due to the increased risk of maternal and fetal complications. However, safe and effective therapies for hyperthyroidism during pregnancy remain limited. Carbimazole is an anti-thyroid agent and has been used to treat hyperthyroidism.

Association between acute kidney injury and brain injury on term-equivalent age brain magnetic resonance imaging in very preterm infants.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between acute kidney injury (AKI) in the first 2 weeks of life and brain injury on term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging in very preterm infants.

Methods: We included 116 infants with a birth weight of < 1500 g who were born at the King Saud Medical City at ≤ 32 gestational weeks. They were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and underwent term-equivalent age and pre-discharge brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Association between morphine exposure and impaired brain development on term-equivalent age brain magnetic resonance imaging in very preterm infants.

To investigate the relationship between morphine exposure in the first week of life and brain injury on term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in very preterm infants. A retrospective study included 106 infants with a birth weight of < 1500 g who were born at King Saud Medical City at ≤ 32 gestational weeks, were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, and underwent term-equivalent age or pre-discharge brain MRI. A univariate analysis in addition to modified log-Poisson regression with a robust variance estimator was applied, and the effect of early morphine exposure and cumulative dose in the first seven days on brain morphology and growth at term-equivalent age was determined using the Kidokoro score.

Intravenous Ceftazidime-Avibactam in Extremely Premature Neonates With Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: Two Case Reports.

The increasing use of carbapenems has contributed to a notable distribution of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Recently, the incidence of CRE-associated infections is increasing significantly in NICUs, which pose a grave challenge to clinical treatment. We report 2 cases of IV ceftazidimeavibactam use to treat CRE infections in extremely premature neonates.

High alanine aminotransaminase associated with daptomycin use in a premature infant.

Daptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, a fermented product derived from that is active against gram-positive bacteria. We report on a premature infant who developed hepatotoxicity as an adverse drug reaction after the administration of daptomycin 6 mg per kg per dose every 12 h. The patient had an unexpectedly sharp rise of alanine aminotransaminase, prothrombin time and international normalised ratio on the second day following daptomycin administration.

Safety and efficacy of colistin and fluoroquinolone in neonatal persistent late-onset sepsis.

Growing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics for the treatment of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in premature infants has led physicians to use antibiotics that are not well studied in neonatal populations. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of colistin and fluoroquinolone for the treatment of persistent LOS. We retrospectively reviewed infants with gram-negative LOS, who received either colistin or fluoroquinolone therapy, to determine if there was a significant difference in kidney and liver function tests and electrolyte levels before, during, and at the end of the treatment.

Relationship between intraventricular hemorrhage and acute kidney injury in premature infants and its effect on neonatal mortality.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are important neonatal morbidities in premature infants. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between IVH and AKI in premature infants and whether this association affects the incidence of neonatal mortality. Infants [gestational age (GA) ≤ 32 weeks; birth weight (BW) < 1500 g] were retrospectively evaluated in a large tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

Risk factors for intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants in the central region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious complication of premature (<32 weeks) deliveries, especially in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; <1500 g) neonates. Infants developing severe IVH are more prone to long-term developmental disabilities. Although 62%-79% of women in Saudi Arabia receive antenatal steroids, IVH incidence remains high.

Ivabradine Monotherapy for the Treatment of Congenital Junctional Ectopic Tachycardia in a Premature Neonate.

Congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia is a rare and special type of supraventricular arrhythmia. Junctional ectopic tachycardia is characterized by persistently elevated heart rates that may cause an impairment in cardiac function. Junctional ectopic tachycardia is considered one of the most difficult-to-treat conditions even with a combination of antiarrhythmic medications.

Safety and Efficacy of Daptomycin in Neonates with Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci: Case Series Analysis.

There has been an increase in the prevalence of gram-positive bacteremia in neonates in the last two decades. However, as a consequence of better care, there has been an increase in the survival of premature neonates. (CoNS) is the most prevalent bacteria, responsible for up to 60% of late-onset sepsis (LOS).

The Use of Daptomycin in the Treatment of Persistent Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Sepsis in Premature Infants: A Case Series.

Objective: Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic with rapid bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Reports regarding the use of daptomycin in infants are still limited. Thus, the objective of this report is to describe the safety and efficacy of daptomycin in premature infants with persistent coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) infection.

Antenatal care of mothers and morbidity and mortality disparities among preterm Saudi and non-Saudi infants less than or equal to 32 weeks' gestation.

Background: Premature non-Saudi infants comprise a significant proportion of neonatal intensive care unit admissions in Saudi Arabia. Any differences in antenatal care of mothers and neonatal outcomes compared with premature Saudi infants are unreported.

Objective: Assess antenatal care of mothers and neonatal outcomes among premature Saudi and non-Saudi infants, and investigate possible reasons for disparities.

Retrospective study of short-term complications associated with early morphine use in intubated premature infants.

Relieving neonatal pain is essential for the management of premature infants. Morphine is the most frequently used analgesic in neonatal intensive care. Here we report the relationship between early morphine infusion and the composite outcome of intraventricular hemorrhage and/or death in intubated premature infants.

A Neonatal Unit Experience with Empiric Antibiotics for Late-onset Neonatal Sepsis: A Retrospective Study.

Unlabelled: Neonatal sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality and warrants the immediate start of appropriate empiric treatment. Thus, this study compared the effectiveness of the 2 antibiotic regimens (cloxacillin-amikacin or cefotaxime-ampicillin) among neonates with late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing mortality between 2 treatment cohorts of very low birth weight neonates with late-onset sepsis, who had received amikacin-cloxacillin or cefotaxime-ampicillin between January 2014 and December 2017.

Early initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics in premature infants.

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains one of the main reasons for mortality among premature infants, and the early initiation of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics could increase the risk of complications, including late-onset sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the complications related to the use of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics in the first week of life.

Methods: A retrospective study of 365 neonates with gestational age ≤32 weeks and birth weight <1500 g who survived and had no confirmed sepsis in the first week of life from July 2015 to June 2018 was performed in a large tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The consequences of prolonged duration of antibiotics in premature infants with suspected sepsis in a large tertiary referral hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess whether there is any association between prolonged duration of the first course of empirical antibiotic treatment for suspected neonatal sepsis and other factors including comorbidities, interventions, and adverse outcomes.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the main reasons of mortality among premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Therefore, commencing antibiotics treatment on admission plays a crucial role in reducing the complications of neonatal sepsis, however the arbitrary use of antibiotics holds many serious complications.

A New IVH Scoring System Based on Laterality Enhances Prediction of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 3 Years Age in Premature Infants.

 To compare the new intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) Abdi score to the Papile grading system of IVH for prediction of composite outcome of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).  In a cohort study, all preterm infants with IVH who were born ≤1,250 g and/or ≤ 28 weeks of gestation at birth were prospectively followed up in our neonatal follow-up clinic. All cranial ultrasounds of the included infants were reviewed by neuroradiologists who were blinded to the clinical data and neurodevelopmental outcomes.