Population pharmacokinetics of amikacin in suspected cases of neonatal sepsis.

Aims: This study aimed to characterize the population pharmacokinetic parameters of intravenously administered amikacin in newborns and assess the effect of sepsis in amikacin exposure.

Methods: Newborns aged ≥3 days who received at least 1 dose of amikacin during their hospitalization period were eligible for the study. Amikacin was administered intravenously during a 60-min infusion period.

A global point prevalence survey of antimicrobial use in neonatal intensive care units: The no-more-antibiotics and resistance (NO-MAS-R) study.

Background: Global assessment of antimicrobial agents prescribed to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

Methods: We conducted a one-day global point prevalence study of all antimicrobials provided to NICU infants. Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were obtained including NICU level, census, birth weight, gestational/chronologic age, diagnoses, antimicrobial therapy (reason for use; length of therapy), antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), and 30-day in-hospital mortality.

Infection profile in neonatal patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Objectives: To describe risk factors for acquired infection during neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and to examine the predictive value of inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of infection.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with data for patients under 30 days supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation from 2003 to April 2016, in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Results: Our study included 160 neonatal patients, the average age of connection was 8.

[Strategies to reduce infections and antibiotic use and its effects in a neonatal care unit].

Introduction: Late onset sepsis (LOS) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The empirical use of vancomycin and other broad spectrum antibiotics is very frequent and is associated with the emergence of resistant agents, infection by gram-negative bacilli (GNB), fungal infections and increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of 5 intervention protocols designed to reduce infections and promote the rational use of antibiotics (AB) in a single NICU.

Survival of newborn infants with severe respiratory failure before and after establishing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program.

Background: Severe hypoxic respiratory failure is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in Chile. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation improves survival in neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure.

Objective: To determine the impact of the establishment of a Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program on the outcome of newborns with severe hypoxic respiratory failure in a developing country.

Randomized trial of early bubble continuous positive airway pressure for very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To determine whether very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs), initially supported with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and then selectively treated with the INSURE (intubation, surfactant, and extubation to CPAP; CPAP/INSURE) protocol, need less mechanical ventilation than those supported with supplemental oxygen, surfactant, and mechanical ventilation if required (Oxygen/mechanical ventilation [MV]).

Study Design: In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, spontaneously breathing VLBWIs weighing 800-1500 g were allocated to receive either therapy. In the CPAP/INSURE group, if respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) did not occur, CPAP was discontinued after 3-6 hours.

Improvement of survival in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in recent years: effect of ECMO availability and associated factors.

Background/purpose: Survival of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) depends both on non-modifiable congenital conditions and on modifiable pre and postnatal management. ECMO improves survival up to 80% in neonates with CDH in the best ECMO centers worldwide. The first Neonatal ECMO Program in Chile was started in our University in 2003.