Management and outcome of positive urine cultures in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the management and outcome of positive urine cultures in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Study Design: A chart review was completed of infants born October 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006 and admitted to the NICU at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta with any growth of bacteria or fungi in urine.

Results: Positive urine cultures were obtained in 64 of 2936 admissions (2%) and were classified as contaminated urines (n=34), possible urinary tract infection (UTI) (n=14), definite UTI (n=10), and candidal UTI (n=6).

Ototoxic drugs and sensorineural hearing loss following severe neonatal respiratory failure.

Aim: To determine relationships between ototoxic drugs and 4-y sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in near-term and term survivors of severe neonatal respiratory failure.

Methods: All 81 survivors of the Canadian arm of the Neonatal Inhaled Nitric Oxide Study (mortality 32, loss to follow-up 9) received loop diuretics, aminoglycosides, and neuromuscular blockers (NMB), and 50 received vancomycin as neonates. Prospective, longitudinal secondary outcome using audiological tests diagnosed late-onset, progressive SNHL in 43 (53%); not flat (sloping) in 29, flat (severe to profound) in 14.

Use of plasma lactate to predict early mortality and adverse outcome after neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a prospective cohort in early childhood.

Objective: To examine the use of plasma lactate levels to predict mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome of neonates treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Two level III neonatal intensive care units in Canada and the United States.

Late-onset, progressive sensorineural hearing loss after severe neonatal respiratory failure.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) at the age of 4 years among survivors of severe neonatal respiratory failure with and without congenital diaphragmatic hernia and to document the occurrence of late-onset or progressive SNHL among the survivors.

Design: Prospective, longitudinal secondary outcome study.

Setting: Multicenter Canadian study in 9 tertiary referral centers.