Effect of Bifidobacterium lactis on the incidence of nosocomial infections in very-low-birth-weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Nosocomial infections endanger preterm infants.

Objective: The aim of the present controlled randomized trial was to investigate whether Bifidobacterium lactis reduces the incidence of nosocomial infections in infants with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,500 g) <30 weeks of gestation.

Patients And Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 183 VLBW infants <30 weeks of gestation were stratified according to gestational age (23-26 and 27-29 weeks) and early antibiotic therapy (days 1-3, yes or no) and randomly assigned to have their milk feedings supplemented with B.

Neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcome in infants born before 30 weeks of gestation with absent or reversed end-diastolic flow velocities in the umbilical artery.

Unlabelled: The objective of our study was to examine the outcome of infants born at a gestational age < 30 weeks with absent or reversed end-diastolic flow velocity (AREDFV) in the umbilical artery in comparison with gestational age-matched eutrophic controls. A group of 40 infants who had AREDFV were matched for gestational age and date of birth with 40 appropriate for gestational age infants. Perinatal outcome variables were retrospectively reviewed.

Delivery room management of extremely low birth weight infants: spontaneous breathing or intubation?

Objective: To study the effect of two different delivery room (DR) policies on the rate of endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (EI/MV) and short term morbidity in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI; <1000 g, >/=24 weeks).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 123 inborn ELBWIs born in 1994 and in 1996. DR policies have changed.

Neonatal hypocalcaemia associated with rotavirus diarrhoea.

Unlabelled: We observed an association between rotavirus diarrhoea and hypocalcaemia in several patients and therefore started a prospective evaluation with measurement of calcium levels in all patients with rotavirus infection during a period of 8 months. We report on 54 infants with rotavirus gastro-enteritis. Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, and total and ionized calcium were measured on admission.