To summarize and evaluate current reports on community-onset severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in young infants.
We performed a systematic review to identify ...reports published from November 1, 2019, until June 15, 2020, on laboratory-confirmed community-onset SARS-CoV-2 infection in infants younger than 3 months of age. We excluded studies reporting neonates with perinatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure and diagnosis before hospital discharge and hospital-onset disease, as well as clinically diagnosed cases without confirmation. Two independent reviewers performed study screening, data abstraction, and risk of bias assessment. Variables of interest included patient age, exposure to COVID-19, medical history, clinical symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 testing, laboratory findings, clinical course, and disposition.
In total, 38 publications met inclusion criteria, including 23 single case reports, 14 case series, and 1 cohort study, describing 63 infants younger than 3 months of age with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most cases were mild to moderate. Fever, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and neurologic findings were reported. Laboratory abnormalities included neutropenia, lymphopenia, and elevated serum levels of inflammatory markers and aminotransferases. Fifty-eight (92%) infants were hospitalized, 13 (21%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 2 (3%) required mechanical ventilation. No death was reported.
Among young infants with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, most cases were mild to moderate and improved with supportive care. Our results demonstrate a need for a high index of suspicion for SARS-CoV-2 infection in young infants presenting with generalized symptoms such as fever or decreased feeding, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms.
To compare early routine pharmacologic treatment of moderate-to-large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) at the end of week 1 with a conservative approach that requires prespecified respiratory and ...hemodynamic criteria before treatment can be given.
A total of 202 neonates of <28 weeks of gestation age (mean, 25.8 ± 1.1 weeks) with moderate-to-large PDA shunts were enrolled between age 6 and 14 days (mean, 8.1 ± 2.2 days) into an exploratory randomized controlled trial.
At enrollment, 49% of the patients were intubated and 48% required nasal ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure. There were no differences between the groups in either our primary outcome of ligation or presence of a PDA at discharge (early routine treatment ERT, 32%; conservative treatment CT, 39%) or any of our prespecified secondary outcomes of necrotizing enterocolitis (ERT, 16%; CT, 19%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (ERT, 49%; CT, 53%), BPD/death (ERT, 58%; CT, 57%), death (ERT,19%; CT, 10%), and weekly need for respiratory support. Fewer infants in the ERT group met the rescue criteria (ERT, 31%; CT, 62%). In secondary exploratory analyses, infants receiving ERT had significantly less need for inotropic support (ERT, 13%; CT, 25%). However, among infants who were ≥26 weeks gestational age, those receiving ERT took significantly longer to achieve enteral feeding of 120 mL/kg/day (median: ERT, 14 days range, 4.5-19 days; CT, 6 days range, 3-14 days), and had significantly higher incidences of late-onset non-coagulase-negative Staphylococcus bacteremia (ERT, 24%; CT,6%) and death (ERT, 16%; CT, 2%).
In preterm infants age <28 weeks with moderate-to-large PDAs who were receiving respiratory support after the first week, ERT did not reduce PDA ligations or the presence of a PDA at discharge and did not improve any of the prespecified secondary outcomes, but delayed full feeding and was associated with higher rates of late-onset sepsis and death in infants born at ≥26 weeks of gestation.
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01958320.
IMPORTANCE: Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of health care–associated infections in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Parents may expose neonates to S aureus colonization, a ...well-established predisposing factor to invasive S aureus disease. OBJECTIVE: To test whether treating parents with intranasal mupirocin and topical chlorhexidine compared with placebo would reduce transmission of S aureus from parents to neonates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Double-blinded randomized clinical trial in 2 tertiary NICUs in Baltimore, Maryland. Neonates (n = 236) with S aureus–colonized parent(s) were enrolled. The study period was November 7, 2014, through December 13, 2018. INTERVENTIONS: Parents were assigned to intranasal mupirocin and 2% chlorhexidine–impregnated cloths (active treatment, n = 117) or petrolatum intranasal ointment and nonmedicated soap cloths (placebo, n = 119) for 5 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was concordant S aureus colonization by 90 days, defined as neonatal acquisition of an S aureus strain that was the same strain as a parental strain at time of screening. Secondary outcomes included neonatal acquisition of any S aureus strain and neonatal S aureus infections. RESULTS: Among 236 randomized neonates, 208 were included in the analytic sample (55% male; 76% singleton births; mean birth weight, 1985 g SD, 958 g; 76% vaginal birth; mean parent age, 31 SD, 7 years), of whom 18 were lost to follow-up. Among 190 neonates included in the analysis, 74 (38.9%) acquired S aureus colonization by 90 days, of which 42 (56.8%) had a strain concordant with a parental baseline strain. In the intervention and placebo groups, 13 of 89 neonates (14.6%) and 29 of 101 neonates (28.7%), respectively, acquired concordant S aureus colonization (risk difference, –14.1% 95% CI, –30.8% to –3.9%; hazard ratio HR, 0.43 95.2% CI, 0.16 to 0.79). A total of 28 of 89 neonates (31.4%) in the intervention group and 46 of 101 (45.5%) in the control group acquired any S aureus strain (HR, 0.57 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.88), and 1 neonate (1.1%) in the intervention group and 1 neonate (1.0%) in the control group developed an S aureus infection before colonization. Skin reactions in parents were common (4.8% intervention, 6.2% placebo). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this preliminary trial of parents colonized with S aureus, treatment with intranasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine-impregnated cloths compared with placebo significantly reduced neonatal colonization with an S aureus strain concordant with a parental baseline strain. However, further research is needed to replicate these findings and to assess their generalizability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02223520
Neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are at risk of cerebral blood flow dysregulation. Our objective was to describe the relationship between autoregulation and neurologic injury in ...HIE.
Neonates with HIE had autoregulation monitoring with the hemoglobin volume index (HVx) during therapeutic hypothermia, rewarming, and the first 6 h of normothermia. The 5-mm Hg range of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) with best vasoreactivity (MAPOPT) was identified. The percentage of time spent with MAP below MAPOPT and deviation in MAP from MAPOPT were measured. Neonates received brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3-7 d after treatment. MRIs were coded as no, mild, or moderate/severe injury in five regions.
HVx identified MAPOPT in 79% (19/24), 77% (17/22), and 86% (18/21) of the neonates during hypothermia, rewarming, and normothermia, respectively. Neonates with moderate/severe injury in paracentral gyri, white matter, basal ganglia, and thalamus spent a greater proportion of time with MAP below MAPOPT during rewarming than neonates with no or mild injury. Neonates with moderate/severe injury in paracentral gyri, basal ganglia, and thalamus had greater MAP deviation below MAPOPT during rewarming than neonates without injury.
Maintaining MAP within or above MAPOPT may reduce the risk of neurologic injuries in neonatal HIE.
Limited data are available about the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy and risk of vertical transmission in exposed neonates. We reviewed studies published February 1, ...2020, through August 15, 2020, on outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 and neonates with perinatal exposure. Among pregnant women with COVID-19, 181 (11%) required intensive care unit admission and 123 (8%) required mechanical ventilation. There were 22 maternal deaths. Most infections occurred in the third trimester. Among women who delivered, 28% had a preterm birth, and 57% had a Caesarean section. Sixty-one (4%) of 1222 neonates with reported testing had at least 1 positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction test. The most common symptom among neonates was respiratory distress (n = 126; 21%). There were 14 neonatal deaths, one of which occurred in a neonate with positive testing. Further study of COVID-19 in pregnant women and neonates, including standardized reporting of outcomes, testing and treatment protocols, is essential to optimize maternal and neonatal care.
Extremely low gestational age neonates born <28 weeks gestation are at risk for chronic disease. We sought to describe the prevalence of kidney outcomes by gestational age and determine risk factors ...for their development.
The Recombinant Erythropoietin for Protection of Infant Renal Disease (REPAIReD) study examined kidney outcomes of extremely low gestational age neonates enrolled in the Preterm Epo NeuroProtection Trial (PENUT) study. Kidney function, urine albumin, and BP were measured at 2-year (24±2 months) corrected gestational age. We compared outcomes across gestational age categories and evaluated associations between kidney-related outcomes and neonatal and maternal characteristics. The primary outcome was eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m
(CKD); secondary outcomes were spot urine albumin-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g (albuminuria) and either systolic BP or diastolic BP >90th percentile for height, age, and sex.
A total of 832 survived to 2 years, and 565 (68%) had at least one outcome measured. Overall, 297 (53%) had one abnormal kidney outcome; 61 (18%) had an eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m
, 155 (36%) had albuminuria, 65 (22%) had elevated systolic BP, and 128 (44%) had elevated diastolic BP. Gestational age (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 0.99), birth weight
-score (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.98), and prenatal steroids (odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.39) were associated with an eGFR <90 ml/min per 1.73 m
. An elevated systolic BP was associated with indomethacin use (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.33) and Black race (odds ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.39); elevated diastolic BP was associated with male sex (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.49), severe AKI (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.48), and indomethacin use (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.33).
Approximately 18% of extremely low gestational age neonates have CKD, 36% have albuminuria, 22% have an elevated systolic BP, and 44% have an elevated diastolic BP at 2 years of age. Gestational age, birthweight
-score, and prenatal steroids were associated with CKD. Male sex, Black race, indomethacin use, and severe AKI were associated with elevated BP.
This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2022_07_19_CJN15011121.mp3.
IMPORTANCE: Extremely preterm infants are among the populations receiving the highest levels of transfusions. Erythropoietin has not been recommended for premature infants because most studies have ...not demonstrated a decrease in donor exposure. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether high-dose erythropoietin given within 24 hours of birth through postmenstrual age of 32 completed weeks will decrease the need for blood transfusions. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial (PENUT) is a randomized, double-masked clinical trial with participants enrolled at 19 sites consisting of 30 neonatal intensive care units across the United States. Participants were born at a gestational age of 24 weeks (0-6 days) to 27 weeks (6-7 days). Exclusion criteria included conditions known to affect neurodevelopmental outcomes. Of 3266 patients screened, 2325 were excluded, and 941 were enrolled and randomized to erythropoietin (n = 477) or placebo (n = 464). Data were collected from December 12, 2013, to February 25, 2019, and analyzed from March 1 to June 15, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: In this post hoc analysis, erythropoietin, 1000 U/kg, or placebo was given every 48 hours for 6 doses, followed by 400 U/kg or sham injections 3 times a week through postmenstrual age of 32 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Need for transfusion, transfusion numbers and volume, number of donor exposures, and lowest daily hematocrit level are presented herein. RESULTS: A total of 936 patients (488 male 52.1%) were included in the analysis, with a mean (SD) gestational age of 25.6 (1.2) weeks and mean (SD) birth weight of 799 (189) g. Erythropoietin treatment (vs placebo) decreased the number of transfusions (unadjusted mean SD, 3.5 4.0 vs 5.2 4.4), with a relative rate (RR) of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.59-0.75); the cumulative transfused volume (mean SD, 47.6 60.4 vs 76.3 68.2 mL), with a mean difference of −25.7 (95% CI, 18.1-33.3) mL; and donor exposure (mean SD, 1.6 1.7 vs 2.4 2.0), with an RR of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.58-0.77). Despite fewer transfusions, erythropoietin-treated infants tended to have higher hematocrit levels than placebo-treated infants, most noticeable at gestational week 33 in infants with a gestational age of 27 weeks (mean SD hematocrit level in erythropoietin-treated vs placebo-treated cohorts, 36.9% 5.5% vs 30.4% 4.6% (P < .001). Of 936 infants, 160 (17.1%) remained transfusion free at the end of 12 postnatal weeks, including 43 in the placebo group and 117 in the erythropoietin group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that high-dose erythropoietin as used in the PENUT protocol was effective in reducing transfusion needs in this population of extremely preterm infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01378273
Cooling delays, temperature outside 33-34 °C, and blood pressure below the mean arterial blood pressure with optimal cerebral autoregulation (MAP
) might diminish neuroprotection from therapeutic ...hypothermia in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We hypothesized that longer time to reach temperature <34 °C and having temperature outside 33-34 °C would be associated with worse autoregulation and greater brain injury.
Neonates with HIE had rectal temperature and near-infrared spectroscopy autoregulation monitoring during hypothermia (n = 63) and rewarming (n = 58). All underwent brain MRI, and a subset received diffusion tensor imaging MRI before day 10 (n = 41).
Most neonates reached <34 °C at 3-6 h of life. MAP
was identified in 54/63 (86%) during hypothermia and in 53/58 (91%) during rewarming. Cooling time was not related to blood pressure deviation from MAP
. Later cooling was associated with lower ADC scalar in unilateral posterior centrum semiovale but not in other regions. Temperatures >34 °C were associated with blood pressure above MAP
but not with brain injury.
In neonates who were predominantly cooled after 3 h, cooling time was not associated with autoregulation or overall brain injury. Blood pressure deviation above MAP
was associated with temperature >34 °C. Additional studies are needed in a more heterogeneous population.
Cooling time to reach target hypothermia temperature within 6 h of birth did not affect cerebral autoregulation measured by NIRS in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Temperature fluctuations >33-34 °C were associated with blood pressures that exceeded the range of optimal autoregulatory vasoreactivity. Cooling time within 6 h of birth and temperatures >33-34 °C were not associated with qualitative brain injury on MRI. Regional apparent diffusion coefficient scalars on diffusion tensor imaging MRI were not appreciably affected by cooling time or temperature >33-34 °C. Additional research in a larger and more heterogeneous population is needed to determine how delayed cooling and temperatures beyond the target hypothermia range affect autoregulation and brain injury.
Therapeutic hypothermia provides incomplete neuroprotection for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We examined whether hemodynamic goals that support autoregulation are associated with ...decreased brain injury and whether these relationships are affected by birth asphyxia or vary by anatomic region.
Neonates cooled for HIE received near-infrared spectroscopy autoregulation monitoring to identify the mean arterial blood pressure with optimized autoregulatory function (MAPOPT). Blood pressure deviation from MAPOPT was correlated with brain injury on MRI after adjusting for the effects of arterial carbon dioxide, vasopressors, seizures, and birth asphyxia severity.
Blood pressure deviation from MAPOPT related to neurologic injury in several regions independent of birth asphyxia severity. Greater duration and deviation of blood pressure below MAPOPT were associated with greater injury in the paracentral gyri and white matter. Blood pressure within MAPOPT related to lesser injury in the white matter, putamen and globus pallidus, and brain stem. Finally, blood pressures that exceeded MAPOPT were associated with reduced injury in the paracentral gyri.
Blood pressure deviation from optimal autoregulatory vasoreactivity was associated with MRI markers of brain injury that, in many regions, were independent of the initial birth asphyxia. Targeting hemodynamic ranges to optimize autoregulation has potential as an adjunctive therapy to hypothermia for HIE.
Studies of the efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) to prevent or treat respiratory failure in preterm infants have had variable and contradictory findings.
To systematically review the evidence on ...the use of iNO in infants born at ≤ 34 weeks' gestation who receive respiratory support.
Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Studies, PsycInfo, ClinicalTrials.gov, and proceedings of the 2009 and 2010 Pediatric Academic Societies meetings were searched in June 2010. Additional studies from reference lists of eligible articles, relevant reviews, and technical experts were considered. Two investigators independently screened search results and abstracted data from eligible articles. We focus here on mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the composite outcome of death or BPD, and neurodevelopmental impairment.
Fourteen randomized controlled trials, 7 follow-up studies, and 1 observational study were eligible for inclusion. Mortality rates in the NICU did not differ for infants treated with iNO compared with controls (risk ratio RR: 0.97 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-1.15). BPD at 36 weeks for iNO and control groups also did not differ for survivors (RR: 0.93 95% CI: 0.86-1.003). A small difference was found in favor of iNO in the composite outcome of death or BPD (RR: 0.93 95% CI: 0.87-0.99). There was no evidence to suggest a difference in the incidence of cerebral palsy (RR: 1.36 95% CI: 0.88-2.10), neurodevelopmental impairment (RR: 0.91 95% CI: 0.77-1.12), or cognitive impairment (RR: 0.72 95% CI: 0.35-1.45).
There was a 7% reduction in the risk of the composite outcome of death or BPD at 36 weeks for infants treated with iNO compared with controls but no reduction in death alone or BPD. There is currently no evidence to support the use of iNO in preterm infants with respiratory failure outside the context of rigorously conducted randomized clinical trials.
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