Human-Based Human Milk Fortifier as Rescue Therapy in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Demonstrating Intolerance to Bovine-Based Human Milk Fortifier.

Objective: To describe the results of utilizing a human milk-based human milk fortifier (HMHMF) as rescue therapy to meet nutritional requirements in very low birth weight and preterm infants demonstrating feeding intolerance to bovine-based human milk fortifier (BHMF) in the Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting.

Materials And Methods: At two Level III NICUs in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, a rescue protocol was implemented to provide HMHMF for infants demonstrating intolerance to BHMF. To qualify for rescue, infants were required to experience two episodes of significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms associated with fortification with BHMF.

Patient and prescriber factors and the prolongation of antibiotics after birth in infants less than 29 weeks.

Objective: The objective of this study is to delineate whether patient-related or prescriber-related factors account for the prolongation of antibiotic therapy beyond 48 h in premature infants whose initial blood cultures are negative.

Methods: Retrospective review of infants born <29 weeks born between January 2011 and December 2012. Infants who had positive blood cultures or who died in the first 48 h were excluded from analysis.

Genetics of perinatal brain injury in the preterm infant.

Due to developmental immaturity of the central nervous system, effects of an adverse intrauterine environment and need for intensive care postnatally, preterm infants are at high risk of sustaining brain injury in the perinatal period. Infants who suffer brain injury in the perinatal period are at risk for long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. Clinical and experimental data supports a significant role for inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiology of perinatal brain injury.