Congenital Syphilis: A Challenging Case for NICU Clinicians.

Congenital syphilis (CS) has been consistently on the rise in the United States since 2012, despite long-standing recommendations for routine testing and treatment of pregnant women. CS is associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant death, and organ dysfunction in the newborn. Prevention is the optimal goal; however, early identification of infected infants is imperative to reduce the risk of serious, long-term complications.

Application of Kotter's Theory of Change to Achieve Baby-Friendly Designation.

Creating an environment that optimally supports exclusive breastfeeding can require a cultural transformation. Our initial attempt at obtaining Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation was unsuccessful when surveyors determined insufficient enculturation of BFHI practices. Using Kotter's theory of change, we overcame the barriers, enhanced our practices, and effectively transformed the culture, and our facility ultimately became the first maternity hospital in Pennsylvania to obtain BFHI designation.