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Background and Objectives: There is a debate regarding the preferred intravenous (IV) access for newborns. Our aim was to study practices regarding the choice of vascular access and outcomes. Methods: A seven-month prospective observational study on IV lines used in all newborns admitted to Bnai Zion Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Results: Of 120 infants followed, 94 required IV lines. Infants born at ≤32 weeks gestation, or with a head circumference ≤29 cm were more likely to require two or more IV lines or a central line for the administration of parenteral nutrition or medications for longer periods. However, central lines (umbilical or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC)) were not associated with better nutritional status at discharge based on weight z-scores. Only one complication was noted—a central line-associated bloodstream infection in a PICC. Conclusions: Our data suggest preferring central IV access for preterm infants born at ≤32 weeks or with a head circumference ≤29 cm. We encourage other NICUs to study their own data and draw their practice guidelines for preferred IV access (central vs. peripheral) upon admission to the NICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Diagnosis of late onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants relies mainly on clinical suspicion, whereas prognosis depends on early initiation of antibiotic treatment. RALIS is a mathematical algorithm for early detection of LOS incorporating six vital signs measured every 2 hours. Objective The aim of this study is to study RALIS ability to detect LOS before clinical suspicion. Study Design A total of 118 VLBWpreterm infants (gestational age < 33 weeks, birth weight < 1,500 g) were enrolled in a prospective multicentered study. Vital signs were recorded prospectively up to day 21 of life in a blinded manner, with no effect on standard care. The primary end point was comparison of the rates and timing of detection of LOS between RALIS and clinical/culture evidence of LOS. Results Of the 2,174 monitoring days, RALIS indicated sepsis in 590 days, and LOS was positively diagnosed in 229 days. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values were 74.6, 80.7, 38.8, and 95.1%, respectively. RALIS provided an indication for sepsis 3 days on the average before clinical suspicion. Conclusion RALIS has a promising potential as an easy to implement noninvasive early indicator of LOS, especially for ruling out LOS in VLBW high-risk infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the influence of policy changes in the evaluation of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on discharge process from the nursery. Changes included early assessment of risk factors by universal umbilical blood sampling for blood type, Coombs test, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and universal noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubinometry at discharge. Study Design The 1,569 newborns (≥36 weeks' gestation) admitted after the implementation of changes were compared with the 1,822 born before. Results Policy changes improved the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency and ABO incompatibility and decreased the number of referrals from the community for jaundice follow-up. The average number of needlesticks per baby as well as the time required for the analysis of serum bilirubin levels on discharge day decreased. Changes did not significantly increase costs. Conclusion Changes seem to have improved the quality of medical care, including early identification of risk factors and better follow-up of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with reduction of pain and increased efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The goals were to assess risk factors and mortality rate changes over time and to develop simple estimates of mortality rates for specific groups of infants at 23 to 26 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Data from the Israel national very low birth weight infant database on 3768 infants born in 1995-2006 with gestational ages (GAs) of 23 to 26 weeks were evaluated, and we developed a tool for estimating infants' mortality rates. RESULTS: Major factors associated with death were GA, genderspecific birth weight percentile, prenatal steroid therapy, and multiple births. There was a steady decrease in mortality rates for all GAs during the study period. In 2004-2006, mortality rates before discharge were 89%, 67%, 46%, and 26% for infants with GAs of 23, 24, 25, and 26 weeks, respectively. Estimated mortality rates were calculated as the sum ofthe percentages determined for each of4 parameters, as follows: GA of 26, 25, 24, or 23 weeks, 0%, 17%, 34%, and 51%, respectively (P < .001); birth weight percentile of >75th, 25th to 75th, or <25th, 0%, 16%, and 32%, respectively (P< .001); no prenatal steroid treatment, +22% (P < .001); multiple birth, +7% (P = .1). Estimated mortality rates for the 48 subgroups of infants ranged from 0%to 100% and correlated well with observed rates (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.89). CONCLUSION: Mortality rates for infants born at 23 to 26 weeks of gestation could be estimated simply on the basis of GA, gender-specific birth weight quartiles, prenatal corticosteroid therapy, and multiple births. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examines the association between delivery mode and grade 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage in single, very low birth weight (VLBW), vertex-presenting infants in Israel. The Israel National VLBW Infant Database includes perinatal and neonatal information on greater than 99% of all VLBW newborns. The study found that the odds for severe intraventricular hemorrhage were independent on the mode of delivery in vertex-presenting VLBW infants.