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Aim: We investigated the historical origins of developmental care for newborn infants using Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS), an innovative method of bibliometric analysis. Methods: A Web of Science search query that combined infant and intervention‐related synonyms was performed on 2 February 2022. RPYS analysis was performed on this dataset to identify the most referenced historical publications for developmental care in newborn infants. Median deviation analysis identified the peak publication years, including the most cited historical references. Landmark publications were defined as those belonging to the top 10% of the most frequently referenced publications for at least 20 years. Results: The RPYS peaks showed an early phase (1936–1986), during which infant development was studied and analysed, leading to a conceptualisation of developmental care for newborn infants. The following years (1987–2020), showed an explosion of interest in developmental care and highlighted two main programmes. The Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care Assessment Program (NIDCAP) and the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP) inspired numerous publications during those years, which strove to demonstrate evidence of their clinical benefits. Conclusion: Developmental care has become increasingly important, thanks to the implementation of NIDCAP and IHDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate (1) fathers’ perceptions and care involvement for their very premature infants and their views of the hospitalization period based on parental reports and (2) their evolution over time. Methods: We used an online parental survey to assess answers from parents of very preterm infants who were successfully discharged from French neonatal units. We analysed answers from February 2014 to January 2019 to an anonymous internet-based survey from the GREEN committee of the French Neonatal Society. Responses were compared for period 1 (P1, 1998 to 2013) and period 2 (P2, 2014 to 2019). Results: We analyzed 2,483 surveys, 124 (5%) from fathers and 2,359 (95%) from mothers. At birth, 1,845 (80%) fathers were present in the hospital, but only 879 (38%) were near the mother. The presence of fathers in the NICU increased from P1 to P2 (34.5% vs. 43.1%, p =  0.03). Nearly two thirds of fathers accompanied their infants during transfer to the NICU (1,204 fathers, 60.6%). Fathers and mothers had similar perceptions regarding relationships with caregivers and skin-to-skin contact with their infants. However, more fathers than mothers felt welcome in the NICU and in care involvement regarding requests for their wishes when they met their infant (79% vs. 60%, p =  0.02) and in the presentation of the NICU (91% vs. 76%; p =  0.03). Mothers and fathers significantly differed in the caring procedures they performed (p =  0.01), procedures they did not perform but wanted to perform (p <  0.001), and procedures they did not perform and did not want to perform (p <  0.01). Conclusion: Most fathers were present at the births of their very preterm infants, but fewer fathers were near the mother at this time. Less than two thirds of fathers accompanied their infants to the NICU. There should be further changes to better meet the specific needs of the fathers of infants requiring care in the NICU. Continuing assessment with an online questionnaire may be useful to monitor changes over time in father’s involvement in NICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Thermal instability is harmful on the newborn infant. We sought to draw up practical guidelines on maintaining homeothermy alongside skin‐to‐skin contact. Methods: A systematic analysis of the literature identified relevant studies between 2000 and 2021 in the PubMed database. Selected publications were evaluated, and their level of evidence was graded, in order to underpin the development of clinical guidelines. Results: We identified 7 meta‐analyses and 64 clinical studies with a focus on newborn infants homeothermy. Skin‐to‐skin contact is the easiest and most rapidly implementable method to prevent body heat loss. Alongside skin‐to‐skin contact, monitoring the newborn infant's body temperature with a target of 37.0°C is essential. For newborn infants <32 weeks of gestation, a skullcap and a polyethylene bag should be used in the delivery room or during transport. To limit water loss, inhaled gases humidification and warming is recommended, and preterm infants weighing less than 1600 g should be nursed in a closed, convective incubator. With regard to incubators, there are no clear benefits for single‐ versus double‐wall incubators as well as for air versus skin servo control. Conclusion: Alongside skin‐to‐skin contact, a bundle of practical guidelines could improve the maintenance of homeothermy in the newborn infant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Neonatal unit design may affect the neurodevelopment of hospitalised neonates and the well‐being of parents and healthcare staff (HCS). We aimed to provide recommendations regarding the minimum area required for a hospital room for a single neonate and their family. Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published from 1 January 2011 to 1 May 2021 by using the keywords NICU and facility design. Recommendations were developed after internal and external review by a multidisciplinary group including 15 professionals and parent representatives. Results: We identified 314 studies and developed six recommendations from four eligible studies. Recommendations for room size were developed according to three perspectives: opinions of users, who emphasised the need for a spacious room; proposals of organisations by HCS, which advocated for a minimum floor area of 11.2–18 m2 in a single non‐family room and 15.3–24 m2 in a single‐family room; and simulation methods indicating that the minimum floor area in the neonatal unit should be 18.5–24 m2. Conclusion: Units need to provide a minimum room size to allow for optimal newborn development and a better experience for parents and caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habituation has been a topic of interest since the early 20th century. We summarise the characteristics of habituation, the proposed habituation mechanisms, the associated cortical responses and the link between habituation and cognitive development. Behavioural and neuroimaging studies have highlighted the early sensory abilities of foetuses and newborn infants, with preterm newborn infants exhibiting decreased habituation and dishabituation capabilities that increase their environmental vulnerability. Habituation provides a foundation for the learning and cognition on which higher functions are constructed. It has been suggested that it is efficient for predicting cognitive developmental outcomes in term and preterm newborn infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show high rates of extended-spectrum [beta]-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriage among the staff and children at an orphanage in Bamako, Mali. Enterobacteriaceae colonized in 100% and 63%, respectively, of the 38 [...]

Data on features of Pneumocystis primary infection in infancy are still fragmented. To study Pneumocystis primary infection, 192 infants who were monitored for acute pulmonary disease or fever over a 40-month period were retrospectively investigated. P. jirovecii detection on archival nasopharyngeal aspirates was performed using a qPCR assay. Factors associated with P. jirovecii were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. P. jirovecii genotypes in infants and a control group of adults contemporaneously diagnosed with Pneumocystis pneumonia were identified using unilocus, bilocus, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). P. jirovecii was detected in 35 infants (18.2%). The univariate analysis pointed out four factors: viral infection (P =.035, OR [IC 95], 2.2 [1.1–4.7]), lower respiratory tract infection (P =.032, OR [IC 95], 2.5 [1.1–5.9]), absence of hospital discharge after birth (P =.003, OR (IC 95), 0.1 (0.02–0.5]), and the 63–189-day group (P <.001, OR [IC 95], 42.2 [5.4–332]). The multivariate analysis confirmed these two latter factors (P =.02, OR [IC 95], 0.1 [0.02–0.72]; P =.005, OR [IC 95], 11.5 [2.1–63.5]). Thus, P. jirovecii acquisition mostly takes place in the community. A comparison of these data with those of previously published studies showed that median and interquartile range of positive-infant ages were close to those observed in Chile, Denmark, and Peru, highlighting similar characteristics. Common unilocus or bilocus genotypes were identified in infants and adults, whereas no MLST genotypes were shared. Therefore, a common reservoir made up of infected infants and adults is still hypothetical. Finally, primary infection is a worldwide phenomenon occurring at the same time in childhood regardless of geographical location, rather than an incidental event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]