Kris De Coen

Selecting neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus infection for ganciclovir therapy

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to look for evidence based or scientific guidelines for selection of newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that might benefit from treatment with ganciclovir.Materials and methodsA literature search was conducted involving the MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Collaboration Library. Abstracts were reviewed to select pertinent articles dealing with ganciclovir therapy in neonates. References from selected articles as well as from reviews were screened for additional relevant articles. In total, 13 case reports (16 patients in all), three descriptive uncontrolled studies (20 patients in all), two randomized dose-comparative studies (54 patients in all) and one randomized controlled study (42 patients) were identified.ObservationsAll reported patients presented with central nervous system manifestation of CMV infection. Only the randomized controlled study showed a reduction of hearing deterioration in the treated group. Published predictors of hearing loss in congenitally CMV infected children allow identification of candidates that might benefit from treatment. Studies so far are promising but of insufficient number to make evidence based recommendations about indications for treatment of congenital CMV. As such, studies are very difficult to conduct and treatment of infants at high risk of hearing loss may appear justified. There is scientific data to help clinicians in selecting a subgroup of infants that is at higher risk of hearing deterioration and therefore might benefit the most from ganciclovir therapy.

Healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in a neonatal intensive care unit over a 20-year period (1992-2011) : trends in incidence, pathogens, and mortality

OBJECTIVE To analyze trends in the incidence and pathogen distribution of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (HABSIs) over a 20-year period (1992-2011). DESIGN Historical cohort study. SETTING Thirty-two-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS Neonates with HABSIs defined according to the criteria of the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD). METHODS A hospital-based ongoing surveillance program was used to identify HABSI cases in neonates. A distinction between definite or possible HABSI was made according to the NICHD criteria. Incidence, incidence densities (HABSIs per 1,000 hospital-days and HABSIs per 1,000 total parenteral nutrition-days), and case fatality rate were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to find time trends. Four periods of 5 years were considered when executing variance analysis. RESULTS In total, 682 episodes of HABSIs occurred on 9,934 admissions (6.9%). The median total incidence density rate was 3.1 (interquartile range, 2.2-3.9). A significant increasing time trend in incidence density was observed for the period 1995-2011 (P < .003). A significant decrease in the case fatality rate was found in the last 5-year period (P < .001). No neonate died following possible HABSIs, whereas the case fatality rate among neonates with definite HABSIs was 9.7%. Most HABSIs were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 414 [60.7%]). A significant increase in Staphylococcus aureus HABSI was observed in the last 10-year period (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS An increase in incidence density rate occurred, while the case fatality rate dropped. Better perinatal care could be responsible for the latter. A decrease in days before infection and a high incidence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus HABSIs indicate the need for vigorous application of evidence-based prevention initiatives, in particular for catheter care.

Unilateral bloody nipple discharge in a two-month-old male

Bloody nipple discharge is a rare but distressing finding in neonates and infants. We report on a 2-month-old boy with unilateral bloody nipple discharge. Ultrasound examination revealed dilated mammary ducts. This benign phenomenon is most likely to be caused by mammary ductal ectasia. Invasive investigations or surgery should be avoided in neonates or infants with bloody nipple discharge unless the discharge is unilateral, spontaneous, persistent and accompanied with a palpable mass. Otherwise only serial clinical follow-up is recommended until spontaneous resolution.

Evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance in prenatally diagnosed CHAOS.

Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) is a rare prenatal diagnosis consisting of a typical fetal triad of large hyperechogenic lungs, flattened or inverted diaphragms and ascites. Most cases are sporadic with unknown incidence. Before attempts of fetoscopic fetal salvage or ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) are considered, additional malformations must be carefully excluded as CHAOS may be part of various monogenic conditions or chromosomal disorders. We report an unique family with autosomal dominant inheritance of CHAOS and variable expression in the affected father and two affected children. It is concluded that minor expression in one of the parents may be an important indicator for genetic counseling in CHAOS and management of future pregnancies.

Phototherapy-Mediated Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone in an In Utero Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor–Exposed Newborn Infant

Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have gained wide acceptance in the off-label treatment of mental disorders in pregnant women, there seems to be an increased risk for serotonergic adverse effects in newborn infants who are exposed to SSRIs during late pregnancy. Hyponatremia as a result of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is a relatively common serious side effect of the use of SSRIs in (mostly elderly) adults. Severe hyponatremia as a result of an SIADH is proposed here as part of a neonatal serotonin toxicity syndrome in a newborn infant who was exposed prenatally to an SSRI. The definite reversal to normal serum sodium levels after fluid restriction, the lack of any alternative cause for the SIADH, and the positive temporal relation with a high score on a widely used adverse drug reaction probability scale offer solid support for the hypothesis of a causal relationship between the SIADH and the prenatal sertraline exposure in our neonate. Moreover, accumulative data on the acute enhancement of serotonergic transmission by intense illumination led us to hypothesize that phototherapy used to treat hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant could have been the ultimate environmental trigger for this proposed new cause of iatrogenic neonatal SIADH. The speculative role of phototherapy as a physical trigger for this drug-related adverse event should be confirmed in other cases by thorough study of the serotonin metabolism, assay of SSRI levels in cord blood, and serial measurement of plasma levels in exposed neonates. As phototherapy is used frequently in jaundiced neonates and an apparently increasing number of infants are born to mothers who take SSRIs, serotonin toxicity in neonates deserves increased attention.

Risk factors for health care-associated sepsis in critically Ill neonates stratified by birth weight

Background: Health care–associated bloodstream infection (HABSI) is a frequent complication in neonatal intensive care. Research on risk factors stratified by birth weight and adjusted for severity of illness and comorbidities is limited. Our objective is to describe independent risk factors for HABSI in critically ill neonates with emphasis on risk variation between birth weight groups. Methods: We performed a single-center historical cohort study in a tertiary referral center. A neonatal intensive care-audit system was used to identify eligible neonates admitted for ≥72 hours (2002–2011). HABSI is defined according to National Institute of Child Health and Human Development criteria. Risk factors for HABSI were assessed by univariate and logistic regression analysis for the total cohort and for birth weight subgroups, that is, neonates ⩽1500 g and >1500 g. Results: A total of 342 neonates developed HABSI in 5134 admissions of ≥72 hours (6.7%). Very low birth weight, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), mechanical ventilation, gastrointestinal disease, surgery (cardiac and other type), and renal insufficiency are independent risk factors for the total cohort. Gastrointestinal disease and cardiac surgery are independent risk factors in both birth weight groups; mechanical ventilation (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6; confidence interval [CI]: 1.6–4.0) and other type of surgery (OR: 4.3; CI: 2.1–8.8) are solely independent risk factors in the ⩽1500-g cohort; TPN is exclusively an independent risk factor (OR: 7.9; CI: 3.9–16.2) in the >1500-g cohort. Conclusions: In our neonatal intensive care unit, risk stratification by birth weight revealed some difference. Special attention concerning infection control practices is for neonates receiving TPN, mechanical ventilation, cardiac surgery, and with a gastrointestinal disease.

Desmopressin Lyophilisate for the Treatment of Central Diabetes Insipidus: First Experience in Very Young Infants

Introduction: In neonates and small infants, early diagnosis of central diabetes insipidus (CDI) and treatment with desmopressin in low doses (avoiding severe hypo- or hypernatremia) are important to prevent associated high morbidity and mortality in this particular age group. Case Presentation: We described pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic results of the use of recently launched oral desmopressin lyophilisate (Minirin Melt®) in two infants with CDI, diagnosed at the age of 12 and 62 days, respectively. We observed that a starting dose of 60 μg of Minirin Melt® in the first case resulted in a pharmacokinetic profile largely exceeding the reference frame observed in children with nocturnal enuresis, while a dose of 15 μg in the second case resulted in acceptable concentrations. After initial dose adjustments, administration of sublingual lyophilisate resulted in rather stable serum sodium concentrations. Conclusions: Using Minirin Melt® in infants with CDI appears to be effective, easy to use and well tolerated.

Functional Polymorphism in Gamma-Glutamylcarboxylase is a Risk Factor for Severe Neonatal Hemorrhage

A neonate who received vitamin K (VK) supplementation then developed severe late-onset bleeding with abnormal prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastine time. The bleeding was corrected after intravenous VK. Molecular analysis of the gamma-glutamylcarboxylase gene revealed a heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphism, which decreases carboxylase activity and induces VK-dependent coagulation deficiency.