A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg, South Africa 2016 / Introduction: Neonatal infections contribute to 25% of all neonatal deaths, which account for approximately 44% of all under-5 childhood deaths globally. Pathogens responsible for sepsis in neonates and young infants can be acquired vertically prior to or during labour, or from the environment (community or hospital). This project evaluated the burden and aetiology of sepsis in neonates and young infants (≤90 days), and explored this association to in-utero exposure to human immunodeficiency virus. The study also included a specific focus on the epidemiology of invasive Group B Streptococcal disease in young infants. Additionally, we assessed the efficacy of intrapartum chlorhexidine vaginal washes for: (i) preventing early-onset neonatal sepsis; and (ii) vertical transmission of potentially pathogenic bacteria to the newborns. Furthermore, we evaluated risk factors for poor outcomes due to neonatal sepsis. Materials and methods: (i) A bacterial surveillance system was established at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) from 2004-2008 to identify young infants with bacterial sepsis hospitalised in the neonatal and paediatric wards. Medical and microbiological records were utilised to obtain clinical and laboratory data. Maternal HIV results were obtained from antenatal testing records or admission records. (ii) A blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of 0.5% chlorhexidine maternal vaginal intrapartum wipes and newborn skin wipes was conducted at CHBAH between 2004 and 2007. Consented, eligible participants were randomised during labour to receive either chlorhexidine vaginal wipes or water external genitalia wipes. Newborns received either chlorhexidine full-body wipes (intervention arm) or foot wipes (control arm). Maternal and infant participants were followed up for admissions during the first month after delivery/ birth. A subset of 5144 maternal participants had an intrapartum lower vaginal swab collected, and skin swabs were collected from their newborns to assess colonisation with potentially pathogenic bacteria (Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Results: Group B streptococcus (GBS) was the most commonly isolated bacterial pathogen, causing 35.2% of culture-confirmed sepsis in infants ≤90 days, 41.6% of early-onset disease (EOD, 0-6 days), 40.5% of late-onset neonatal disease (LOD, 7-27 days) and 18.7% of young-infant community-acquired disease (YI-CAD, 28-90 days). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) contribute 16.2%, 12.2% and 3.4% to sepsis in young infants. Overall, incidence (per 1000 live births) of invasive GBS disease was 2.72 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.46 to 3.01), including an incidence of 1.50 and 1.22, respectively, in infants 0-6 days and 7-90 days of age. HIV-exposed infants were at greater risk of EOD (Relative risk [RR]: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.28-2.24) and LOD (RR= 3.18; 95% CI: 2.34-4.36) than HIV-unexposed infants. GBS serotypes Ia and III caused 84.0% of invasive GBS disease in young infants. Intrapartum chlorhexidine interventional wipes was not efficacious in prevention of any of: (i) vertical transmission of pathogenic bacteria (54% vs. 55%; efficacy -0.05, 95% CI: -9.5 to 7.9) to the newborns; (ii) sepsis in first 3 days of life (3% vs. 4%; p=0.65,); (iii) sepsis in the later neonatal period (both <1%; p=0.4444); or (iv) maternal puerperal sepsis(both <1%; p=0.56). Conclusion: GBS, S. aureus, E. coli and K. pneumoniae are the most commonly isolated bacterial pathogens in neonates and infants ≤90 days old. HIV-exposed infants are at greater risk of GBS sepsis. Intrapartum chlorhexidine intervention was not efficacious in reducing vertical transmission of pathogenic bacteria, neonatal or maternal sepsis. Alternative interventions to prevent sepsis in young infants, including maternal immunisation, need to be investigated in setting such as ours where there is a high prevalence of maternal HIV infection. / MT2017

Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. There are two distinct types of sepsis- early and late onset. Group B streptococcus and Listeria are the most common causes of early onset neonatal sepsis historically. Physicians select antibiotics for neonates with fever based on historically common bacterial pathogens such as GBS, Ecoli, Listeria, and Staphylococcal aureus. However, the landscape of bacterial pathogens causing sepsis and fever in neonates seems to be changing. This could potentially change the first choice of antibiotics for this susceptible population. In this case study, we will present early-onset sepsis in a late preterm infant due to Streptococcus pneumoniae as confirmed by blood culture. The only maternal risk factors present in this case for septicemia were delivery less than 37 weeks. Patient initially had respiratory distress at delivery and required CPAP for 3 days. On day 2 of life, cultures were taken due to acute deterioration. Ampicillin and Gentamycin were given to the patient for empiric coverage initially. On day 2 of antibiotics, cultures were reported positive. Patient’s antibiotics had to be altered at that time to cover the isolated organism. The patient was inadequately treated up until cultures were positive. This case raises the question if Ampicillin and Gentamycin remain the best choice for broad antibiotic coverage in neonates with possible sepsis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that neonatal patients are especially susceptible to. Fortunately, improved bedside monitoring has enabled the collection and use of continuous vital signs data for the purpose of detecting conditions such as sepsis. While current research has found some success in reducing mortality in neonatal intensive care units with linear directly interpretable models, such as logistic regression, accurate detection of sepsis from inherently noisy time-series data still remains a challenge. Furthermore, previous research has generally relied on pre-defined features extracted from rawvital signs data, which may not be optimal for the detection task. Therefore, assessing the overall feasibility of sequential deep learning models, such as recurrent and convolutional models, could improve the results of current research. This task was tackled in three phases. Firstly, baseline scores were established with a logistic regression model. Secondly, three common recurrent classifiers were tested on pre-defined window based features and compared with each other. Thirdly, a convolutional architecture with a recurrent and non-recurrent classifier was tested on raw low frequency (1Hz) signals in order to examine their capability to automatically extract features from the data. The final results from all phases were compared with each other. Results show that recurrent classifiers trained on pre-defined features do outperform automatic feature extraction with the convolutional models. The best model was based on a long-short term memory unit that achieved an area under the characteristic receiver operating unit curve of 0.806, and outperformed the established baseline results. In comparison with previous research, said model performed on par with the examined simple interpretable baseline models. The low results can likely be attributed to a insufficient sample size of patients with sepsis for the examined models and sub-optimal hyperparameter optimization due to the number of possible configurations. Further avenues of research include examination of high frequency data and more complex models for automatic feature extraction. / Sepsis är ett livshotande tillstånd som neonatala patienter är särskilt mottagliga för. Lyckligtvis har förbättrad patientmonitorering möjliggjort kontinuerlig insamling och andvänding av vitalparametrar i syfte att upptäcka tillstånd som sepsis. Medan aktuell forskning har funnit viss framgång i att minska dödligheten på neonatala intensivvårdsavdelningar med hjälp av linjära tolkbara modeller, såsom logistisk regression, är noggrann detektering av sepsis från brusig tidsseriedata fortfarande en utmaning. Dessutom har tidigare forskning i allmänhet förlitat sig på fördefinierade prediktorer extraherade från rå vitalparameterdata, som kanske inte är optimala för detektionsuppgiften. På grund av detta kan en bedömning av den övergripande användbarheten av sekventiella modeller för djupinlärning, såsom RNN- och CNN-modeller, förbättra resultaten av aktuell forskning. Denna uppgift tacklades i tre faser. Först och främst etablerades baslinjeresultat med en logistisk regressionsmodell. För det andra testades tre RNN-baserad klassificerare på data med fördefinierade fönsterbaserade prediktorer och jämfördes med varandra. För det tredje testades en CNN-arkitektur med både en RNN-klassificerare och MLP-klassificerare på råa lågfrekventa (1Hz) signaler för att undersöka deras förmåga att automatiskt extrahera egna prediktorer från datan. Slutresultaten från alla faser jämfördes med varandra. Resultaten visar att RNN-klassificerare som tränats på fördefinierade prediktorer överträffar automatisk extraktion av prediktorer med CNN-modellerna. Den bäst presterande modellen baserades på en långtidsminnesenhet som uppnådde en AUROC på 0.806, och överträffade de etablerade baslinjeresultaten. I jämförelse med tidigare forskning uppnådde ifrågavarande modell lika hög prestation som de väl undersökta enklare tolkbara baslinjemodellerna. De låga resultaten kan sannolikt tillskrivas en otillräcklig provstorlek av patienter med sepsis för de undersökta modellerna och suboptimal hyperparameteroptimering på grund av antalet möjliga konfigurationer. Ytterligare forskningsvägar inkluderar undersökning av högfrekventa data och mer komplexa modeller för automatisk extraktion av prediktorer.

No description available.

Introdução: A infecção amniótica e a corioamnionite (CAM) são determinantes de infecções materna e do recém-nascido, parturição e nascimento prematuro, morbidade e mortalidade pós-natal. Embora métodos clínicos, histopatológicos, microbiológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares possam diagnosticar CAM, muitos serviços hospitalares não examinam as placentas das parturientes, permanecendo muitos casos sem diagnóstico. O presente estudo utiliza o exame extemporâneo do cório placentário (EECP) proposto por Blanc em 1959 para o diagnóstico de CAM em mães que tiveram Recém-Nascido Pré- Termo (RNPT) e avaliou a morbidade e mortalidade nesse grupo de pacientes. Objetivo: Verificar a relação entre a CAM histológica e o prognóstico do RNPT nascidos no ano de 2012 no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes (HUCAM) em Vitória - ES. Justificativa: A maioria dos óbitos do período neonatal continua sendo por sepse, e esta também leva muitas sequelas no RNPT, assim exames que possam auxiliar no diagnóstico precoce da sepse neonatal ajudarão na instituição rápida do tratamento e consequentemente redução das sequelas, da mortalidade neonatal e redução dos índices de mortalidade neonatal e mortalidade infantil. Hipótese: RNPT filhos de mães com CAM terão mais complicações pós-parto, tais como: sepse neonatal, insuficiência respiratória, asfixia perinatal e óbito do que aqueles cujas mães não tiveram CAM. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, onde todas as placentas examinadas e laudadas no ano de 2012, no laboratório de Patologia do HUCAM em Vitória, ES, foram analisadas em conjunto com a evolução dos RNPT. Os casos foram categorizados por idade gestacional, desfecho perinatal e presença ou ausência de CAM. Resultados: No presente estudo foram selecionados 274 RNPT, desses 61 (22,2%) as placentas foram positivas para CAM e 213 (77,8%) as placentas foram negativas CAM. Quanto ao sexo (51,5%) eram masculinos (48,5%) eram femininos e não houve diferença estatiscamente significante.Quanto ao Apgar 5\', 14 (5,1%) tiveram Apgar menor ou igual a 5 e 260 (94,9%) tiveram Apgar maior do que 5.Quanto ao peso, nos RNPT selecionados 82 (29,9%) foram classificados como PIG, 184 (67,2%) foram classificados como AIG e 8 (2,9%) foram classificados como GIG.Quanto a necessidade de oxigenioterapia 154 (56,2%) necessitaram de suporte ventilatório e oxigênio nas primeiras 72 horas de vida e 116 (42,4%) ficaram em ar ambiente, sem necessidade de oxigênio nas primeiras 72 hs de vida. Quanto a sepse neonatal 140 (51%) tiveram hemograma classificado pelo Escore de Rodwell menor ou igual a 3, ou seja, sem risco para sepse neonatal precoce e 16 (5,9%) tiveram Escore Rodwell maior ou igual a 3, com risco para sepse neonatal precoce. Quanto o desfecho do RNPT, 169 (61,7%) dos casos receberam alta, 78 (28,5%) foram transferidos para outras Unidade de Terapia intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) devido superlotação do HUCAM e 27 (9,9%) dos casos foram a óbito.Teste t para médias e Teste de Mann-Whitney, foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significante nas variáveis: Idade gestacional, Peso ao nascer, Estatura ao nascimento (EM), Pressão Arterial Média (PAM), número total de leucócitos (LEUCO) e proteína C reativa (PCR), já as variáveis frequência cardíaca (FC), temperatura axilar (TAX), leucócitos imaturos (IMAT), leucócitos segmentados (SEG) e plaquetas (PLAQ) não houve diferença estatística significante entre os grupos com CAM e sem CAM. Discussão: O estudo demonstrou que os RNPT nascidos de mães com CAM são mais graves, pois tem mais chances de nascerem asfixiados, ter insuficiência respiratória grave com necessidade de VPM, sepse neonatal precoce e vão mais a óbito do que os RNPT de mães sem CAM. Conclusão: Se a gestante apresentar sinais clínicos de infecção no trabalho de parto, deve-se ficar atento ao suporte que será dado ao RNPT, pois ele tem mais chances de apresentar complicações ao nascimento tais como, asfixia e insuficiência respiratória. Assim o EECP deve ser feito o mais rápido possível e o resultado entregue a equipe de Neonatologia do serviço para que a terapêutica antimicrobiana seja instituída precocemente e não precise aguardar alterações no hemograma e PCR e/ou na clínica do paciente para ter o início do tratamento da infecção / Introduction: Amniotic infection and chorioamnionitis (CAM) are determinants of maternal and newborn infections, parturition and preterm birth, postnatal morbidity and mortality. Although clinical, histopathological, microbiological, biochemical and molecular methods can diagnose CAM, many hospital services do not examine the placenta of the parturients, many cases remain undiagnosed. The present study utilizes extemporaneous placental laryngoscopy (ECC) proposed by Blanc in 1959 for the diagnosis of CAM in mothers who had Preterm Newborn (PTNB) and evaluated morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Objective: To verify the relationship between the histological CAM and the prognosis of the PTNB born in 2012 at the Cassiano Antônio de Moraes University Hospital (HUCAM) in Vitória - ES. Rationale: Most neonatal deaths continue to be sepsis, and this also leads to many sequels in PTNB, so tests that may help in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis will aid in the rapid institution of treatment and consequently reduction of sequelae, neonatal mortality, and Reduction of neonatal mortality rates and infant mortality. Hypothesis: Children born to mothers with CAM will have more postpartum complications such as: neonatal sepsis, respiratory failure, perinatal asphyxia and death than those whose mothers did not have CAM. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, in which all the placentas examined and lauded in 2012, in the HUCAM pathology laboratory in Vitória, ES, were analyzed together with the evolution of the PTNBs. The cases were categorized by gestational age, perinatal outcome and presence or absence of CAM. Results: In the present study, 274 PTNBs were selected, of which 61 (22.2%) placentas were positive for CAM and 213 (77.8%) placentas were CAM negative. As for the gender (51.5%) were male (48.5%) were female and there was no statistically significant difference. As for Apgar 5 \', 14 (5.1%) had Apgar less than or equal to 5 and 260 9%) had Apgar greater than 5. Regarding weight, 82 (29.9%) were classified as PIG, 184 (67.2%) were classified as AIG, and 8 (2.9%) were (56.2%) required ventilatory support and oxygen in the first 72 hours of life, and 116 (42.4%) remained in ambient air, with no need for oxygen in the first 72 hours of life. life. As for neonatal sepsis, 140 (51%) had a hemogram classified by Rodwell score less than or equal to 3, that is, without risk for early neonatal sepsis, and 16 (5.9%) had Rodwell score greater than or equal to 3, with risk For early neonatal sepsis. Regarding the outcome of the PTNB, 169 (61.7%) of the cases were discharged, 78 (28.5%) were transferred to other NICUs due to overcrowding of HUCAM and 27 (9.9%) of the cases died. For mean and Mann-Whitney tests, a statistically significant difference was found in the following variables: gestational age, birth weight, height at birth, mean arterial pressure (MAP), total leukocyte count (LEUCO) and C-reactive protein PCR), the variables heart rate (HR), axillary temperature (TAX), immature leukocytes (IMAT), segmented leukocytes (SEG) and platelets (PLAQ) were not statistically significant between CAM and CAM groups. Discussion: The study showed that the infants born to mothers with CAM are more severe, as they are more likely to be asphyxiated, have severe respiratory insufficiency with need for MVP, early neonatal sepsis and more than death of the infants of mothers without CAM. Conclusion: If the pregnant woman presents clinical signs of infection in labor, one should be aware of the support that will be given to the PTNB, since it is more likely to present complications at birth, such as asphyxia and respiratory failure. Thus the EECP must be done as soon as possible and the result delivered to the Neonatology team of the service so that the antimicrobial therapy is instituted early and does not have to wait for changes in the blood count and PCR and / or in the patient\'s clinic to have the beginning of the treatment Infection

Introdução: A infecção amniótica e a corioamnionite (CAM) são determinantes de infecções materna e do recém-nascido, parturição e nascimento prematuro, morbidade e mortalidade pós-natal. Embora métodos clínicos, histopatológicos, microbiológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares possam diagnosticar CAM, muitos serviços hospitalares não examinam as placentas das parturientes, permanecendo muitos casos sem diagnóstico. O presente estudo utiliza o exame extemporâneo do cório placentário (EECP) proposto por Blanc em 1959 para o diagnóstico de CAM em mães que tiveram Recém-Nascido Pré- Termo (RNPT) e avaliou a morbidade e mortalidade nesse grupo de pacientes. Objetivo: Verificar a relação entre a CAM histológica e o prognóstico do RNPT nascidos no ano de 2012 no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes (HUCAM) em Vitória - ES. Justificativa: A maioria dos óbitos do período neonatal continua sendo por sepse, e esta também leva muitas sequelas no RNPT, assim exames que possam auxiliar no diagnóstico precoce da sepse neonatal ajudarão na instituição rápida do tratamento e consequentemente redução das sequelas, da mortalidade neonatal e redução dos índices de mortalidade neonatal e mortalidade infantil. Hipótese: RNPT filhos de mães com CAM terão mais complicações pós-parto, tais como: sepse neonatal, insuficiência respiratória, asfixia perinatal e óbito do que aqueles cujas mães não tiveram CAM. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, onde todas as placentas examinadas e laudadas no ano de 2012, no laboratório de Patologia do HUCAM em Vitória, ES, foram analisadas em conjunto com a evolução dos RNPT. Os casos foram categorizados por idade gestacional, desfecho perinatal e presença ou ausência de CAM. Resultados: No presente estudo foram selecionados 274 RNPT, desses 61 (22,2%) as placentas foram positivas para CAM e 213 (77,8%) as placentas foram negativas CAM. Quanto ao sexo (51,5%) eram masculinos (48,5%) eram femininos e não houve diferença estatiscamente significante.Quanto ao Apgar 5\', 14 (5,1%) tiveram Apgar menor ou igual a 5 e 260 (94,9%) tiveram Apgar maior do que 5.Quanto ao peso, nos RNPT selecionados 82 (29,9%) foram classificados como PIG, 184 (67,2%) foram classificados como AIG e 8 (2,9%) foram classificados como GIG.Quanto a necessidade de oxigenioterapia 154 (56,2%) necessitaram de suporte ventilatório e oxigênio nas primeiras 72 horas de vida e 116 (42,4%) ficaram em ar ambiente, sem necessidade de oxigênio nas primeiras 72 hs de vida. Quanto a sepse neonatal 140 (51%) tiveram hemograma classificado pelo Escore de Rodwell menor ou igual a 3, ou seja, sem risco para sepse neonatal precoce e 16 (5,9%) tiveram Escore Rodwell maior ou igual a 3, com risco para sepse neonatal precoce. Quanto o desfecho do RNPT, 169 (61,7%) dos casos receberam alta, 78 (28,5%) foram transferidos para outras Unidade de Terapia intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) devido superlotação do HUCAM e 27 (9,9%) dos casos foram a óbito.Teste t para médias e Teste de Mann-Whitney, foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significante nas variáveis: Idade gestacional, Peso ao nascer, Estatura ao nascimento (EM), Pressão Arterial Média (PAM), número total de leucócitos (LEUCO) e proteína C reativa (PCR), já as variáveis frequência cardíaca (FC), temperatura axilar (TAX), leucócitos imaturos (IMAT), leucócitos segmentados (SEG) e plaquetas (PLAQ) não houve diferença estatística significante entre os grupos com CAM e sem CAM. Discussão: O estudo demonstrou que os RNPT nascidos de mães com CAM são mais graves, pois tem mais chances de nascerem asfixiados, ter insuficiência respiratória grave com necessidade de VPM, sepse neonatal precoce e vão mais a óbito do que os RNPT de mães sem CAM. Conclusão: Se a gestante apresentar sinais clínicos de infecção no trabalho de parto, deve-se ficar atento ao suporte que será dado ao RNPT, pois ele tem mais chances de apresentar complicações ao nascimento tais como, asfixia e insuficiência respiratória. Assim o EECP deve ser feito o mais rápido possível e o resultado entregue a equipe de Neonatologia do serviço para que a terapêutica antimicrobiana seja instituída precocemente e não precise aguardar alterações no hemograma e PCR e/ou na clínica do paciente para ter o início do tratamento da infecção / Introduction: Amniotic infection and chorioamnionitis (CAM) are determinants of maternal and newborn infections, parturition and preterm birth, postnatal morbidity and mortality. Although clinical, histopathological, microbiological, biochemical and molecular methods can diagnose CAM, many hospital services do not examine the placenta of the parturients, many cases remain undiagnosed. The present study utilizes extemporaneous placental laryngoscopy (ECC) proposed by Blanc in 1959 for the diagnosis of CAM in mothers who had Preterm Newborn (PTNB) and evaluated morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Objective: To verify the relationship between the histological CAM and the prognosis of the PTNB born in 2012 at the Cassiano Antônio de Moraes University Hospital (HUCAM) in Vitória - ES. Rationale: Most neonatal deaths continue to be sepsis, and this also leads to many sequels in PTNB, so tests that may help in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis will aid in the rapid institution of treatment and consequently reduction of sequelae, neonatal mortality, and Reduction of neonatal mortality rates and infant mortality. Hypothesis: Children born to mothers with CAM will have more postpartum complications such as: neonatal sepsis, respiratory failure, perinatal asphyxia and death than those whose mothers did not have CAM. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, in which all the placentas examined and lauded in 2012, in the HUCAM pathology laboratory in Vitória, ES, were analyzed together with the evolution of the PTNBs. The cases were categorized by gestational age, perinatal outcome and presence or absence of CAM. Results: In the present study, 274 PTNBs were selected, of which 61 (22.2%) placentas were positive for CAM and 213 (77.8%) placentas were CAM negative. As for the gender (51.5%) were male (48.5%) were female and there was no statistically significant difference. As for Apgar 5 \', 14 (5.1%) had Apgar less than or equal to 5 and 260 9%) had Apgar greater than 5. Regarding weight, 82 (29.9%) were classified as PIG, 184 (67.2%) were classified as AIG, and 8 (2.9%) were (56.2%) required ventilatory support and oxygen in the first 72 hours of life, and 116 (42.4%) remained in ambient air, with no need for oxygen in the first 72 hours of life. life. As for neonatal sepsis, 140 (51%) had a hemogram classified by Rodwell score less than or equal to 3, that is, without risk for early neonatal sepsis, and 16 (5.9%) had Rodwell score greater than or equal to 3, with risk For early neonatal sepsis. Regarding the outcome of the PTNB, 169 (61.7%) of the cases were discharged, 78 (28.5%) were transferred to other NICUs due to overcrowding of HUCAM and 27 (9.9%) of the cases died. For mean and Mann-Whitney tests, a statistically significant difference was found in the following variables: gestational age, birth weight, height at birth, mean arterial pressure (MAP), total leukocyte count (LEUCO) and C-reactive protein PCR), the variables heart rate (HR), axillary temperature (TAX), immature leukocytes (IMAT), segmented leukocytes (SEG) and platelets (PLAQ) were not statistically significant between CAM and CAM groups. Discussion: The study showed that the infants born to mothers with CAM are more severe, as they are more likely to be asphyxiated, have severe respiratory insufficiency with need for MVP, early neonatal sepsis and more than death of the infants of mothers without CAM. Conclusion: If the pregnant woman presents clinical signs of infection in labor, one should be aware of the support that will be given to the PTNB, since it is more likely to present complications at birth, such as asphyxia and respiratory failure. Thus the EECP must be done as soon as possible and the result delivered to the Neonatology team of the service so that the antimicrobial therapy is instituted early and does not have to wait for changes in the blood count and PCR and / or in the patient\'s clinic to have the beginning of the treatment Infection

No description available.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are being used for diagnosis of sepsis. However, studies have reported varying cut-off levels and diagnostic performance. This study aims to investigate the optimal cut-off levels and performance of IL-6 and CRP for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. The study was conducted at the University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany from November 2012 to June 2020. A total of 899 neonates: 104 culture proven sepsis, 160 clinical sepsis, and 625 controls were included. Blood culture was performed using BacT/ALERT 3D system. IL-6 and CRP were analyzed by electrochemiluminescent immunoassay and immunoturbidimetric assay, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 statistical software. Among neonates with proven sepsis, the optimal cut-off value of IL-6 was 313.5 pg/mL. The optimal cut-off values for CRP in 5 days serial measurements (CRP1, CRP2, CRP3, CRP4, and CRP5) were 2.15 mg/L, 8.01 mg/L, 6.80 mg/L, 5.25 mg/L, and 3.72 mg/L, respectively. IL-6 showed 73.1% sensitivity, 80.2% specificity, 37.6% PPV, and 94.8% NPV. The highest performance of CRP was observed in the second day with 89.4% sensitivity, 97.3% specificity, 94.5% PPV, and 98.3% NPV. The combination of IL-6 and CRP showed increase in sensitivity with decrease in specificity. In conclusion, this study defines the optimal cut-off values for IL-6 and CRP. The combination of IL-6 and CRP demonstrated increased sensitivity. The CRP 2 at cut-off 8.01 mg/L showed the highest diagnostic performance for identification of culture negative clinical sepsis cases. We recommend the combination of IL-6 (≥313.5 pg/mL) and CRP1 (≥2.15 mg/L) or IL-6 (≥313.5 pg/mL) and CRP2 (≥8.01 mg/L) for early and accurate diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. The recommendation is based on increased sensitivity, that is, to minimize the risk of any missing cases of sepsis. The CRP2 alone at cut-off 8.01 mg/L might be used to identify clinical sepsis cases among culture negative sepsis suspected neonates in hospital settings.

Neonatal sepsis caused by resistant bacteria is a worldwide concern due to the associated high mortality and increased hospitals costs. Bacterial pathogens causing neonatal sepsis and their antibiotic resistance patterns vary among hospital settings and at different points in time. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogens causing neonatal sepsis and to assess trends in antibiotic resistance. The study was conducted among neonates with culture proven sepsis at the University Hospital of Leipzig between November 2012 and September 2020. Blood culture was performed by BacT/ALERT 3D system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done with broth microdilution method based on ISO 20776-1 guideline. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 software. From 134 isolates, 99 (74%) were gram positive bacteria. The most common gram positive and gram negative bacteria were S. epidermidis, 51 (38%) and E. coli, 23 (17%), respectively. S. epidermidis showed the highest resistance to penicillin G and roxithromycin (90% each) followed by cefotaxime, cefuroxime, imipenem, oxacillin, and piperacillin-tazobactam (88% each), ampicillin-sulbactam (87%), meropenem (86%), and gentamicin (59%). Moreover, S. epidermidis showed raising levels of resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and cotrimoxazol. Gram positive bacteria showed less or no resistance to daptomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, and vancomycin. E. coli showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (74%) followed by ampicillin-sulbactam (52%) and piperacillin (48%). Furthermore, increasing levels in resistance to ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin, and cefuroxime were observed over the years. Encouragingly, E. coli showed significantly declining trends of resistance to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, and no resistance to amikacin, colistin, fosfomycin, gentamicin, imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and tobramycin. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that gram positive bacteria were the leading causes of neonatal sepsis. Bacterial isolates were highly resistant to first and second-line empiric antibiotics used in this hospital. The high levels of antibiotic resistance patterns highlight the need for modifying empiric treatment regimens considering the most effective antibiotics. Periodic surveillance in hospital settings to monitor changes in pathogens, and antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial in order to implement optimal prevention and treatment strategies.

No description available.