Nosokomiale Infektionen bei Früh- und Neugeborenen stellen aufgrund ihrer hohen Inzidenz und Mortalität eine große Herausforderung für die moderne Versorgung dar. Außerdem sind sie Indikatoren für die Pflegequalität, wie auch Verletzungen und Gefäßschädigungen. In dieser retrospektiven Querschnittsstudie wurden die epidemiologische Situation nosokomialer Infektionen auf den neonatologischen Stationen der Universitätskinderklinik Leipzig für das Jahr 2006 beleuchtet, die Abhängigkeit der genannten Komplikationen von Plegepersonalqualifikation und –quantität untersucht, sowie die Stationsauslastung und Personalbesetzung mit deutschen Empfehlungen verglichen. Die Inzidenz systemischer Infektionen lag sowohl auf der neonatologischen Intensiv- als auch auf der Nachsorgestation unter dem deutschlandweiten Durchschnitt. Dagegen traten Lokalinfekte wie Windel-/ Mundsoor und Konjunktivitiden häufig auf. Das beobachtete Keimspektrum zeigte das aus der Literatur bekannte Bild, multiresistente Keime traten nicht auf. Bei der Untersuchung der Abhängigkeiten zeigte sich für die Intensivstation eine signifikante Häufung von Candidainfektionen bei geringerer Stationsauslastung und höherer Personalbesetzung, unabhängig von der Qualifikation des Personals. Auf der Nachsorgestation wurde eine vermehrte Zahl systemischer Infektionen bei höherem Anteil von Schwestern am Gesamtpersonal festgestellt. Beide Stationen waren gegenüber den Empfehlungen fast das ganze Jahr überbelegt und unterbesetzt. Gründe für die gefundenen Abhängigkeiten wurden vermutet in Informationsverlust und Trittbrettfahrerproblemen in größeren Kollektiven und verstärkter minimal-handling-Pflege und verstärkter Hygiene-Compliance in Stresssituationen. Die geringe Inzidenz systemischer Infektionen spricht für eine sichere Pflege und ist demnach sehr positiv zu bewerten, trotzdem sollten die Hintergründe für das Auftreten der Lokalinfekte, auch wenn sie meist einen milden Verlauf zeigten, überprüft werden. Eine Gesamtbeurteilung der Pflege ist anhand der gemachten Untersuchungen nicht möglich, da aufgrund der Retrospektive keinerlei Faktoren wie Belastungseinschätzung der Schwestern, Lerneinschätzung der Schüler oder Betreuungseinschätzung der Eltern einfließen konnten.

No description available.

Limited clinical evidence exists regarding whether the single private room Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environment of care delivery has a positive, negative, or neutral impact on health outcomes for the high risk neonate and on maternal stress as compared to the open room design. The study purpose was to examine whether a difference exists in health outcomes in the open room versus single private room NICU environment. The factors considered were weight gain, ventilator days, hospital length of stay, incidence and grade of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), the number of parental visits, and perceptions of maternal stress. Infants hospitalized in an open room environment (n=52) were matched by gestational age to infants in a single private room NICU (n=52). Mothers of the infants from the open room (n=26) and the single private room (n=20) groups completed the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU) survey instrument. The t-test for independent groups demonstrated a difference for the number of parent visits (t=6.672, df=60.13, p<.001) with a significant increase in visitation frequency for infants in the single private room NICU. Maternal perceptions of stress were not different (t=.154, df=44, p=.878), and high stress scores were reported for both groups regardless of the infant's environment of hospitalization. This study demonstrates that the single private room environment promotes increased parental access to their infants. The finding of high levels of maternal perception of stress in both the open room and single private room NICU's demonstrates that the environment did not impact the perception of maternal stress. This finding supports the implication that mothers of hospitalized infants need nursing support regardless of the type of NICU environment.

The purpose of this study was to conduct an integrated review of the literature examining the use of non-pharmacologic pain management strategies in premature neonates and to explore the relationship between health outcomes and time to discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Non-pharmacologic pain management strategies include human touch, facilitated tucking, non-nutritive sucking, and kangaroo care. A systematic review of the literature was conducted from multiple online databases. Peer reviewed, English-language articles containing the keywords ‘pain management’, ‘neonatal intensive care unit’, and ‘non-pharmacologic’ were included for synthesis. Exclusion criteria included articles with a focus on infants not admitted to the NICU and infants with a gestational age greater than 37 weeks. Results revealed positive outcomes when alternative pain-relieving methods, rather than drug therapy, were used in the NICU. A majority of articles suggest facilitated tucking is very successful in lowering a preterm infant’s pain. However, facilitated tucking alone was significantly less effective in relieving procedural pain compared to facilitated tucking in combination with oral sucrose administration. Kangaroo care and gentle human touch also proved to reduce physiologic and behavioral signs of pain in neonates. The literature reveled an overall positive outcome when non-pharmacologic pain interventions are used in the NICU, with some behavioral interventions showing better efficacy than others at relieving neonatal pain. None of the reviewed articles explored the relationship between reduced length of stay and parameters assessing health outcomes based on pain control in neonates. The literature indicated nurses play a significant role in the use of pain-relieving methods in neonatal populations. Implications for future research that focuses on successful behavioral based pain management strategies that assists in refining neonatal pain relief would be of great benefit to improving health outcomes related to infant survival after discharge from the NICU.

No description available.

Admission of an infant into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is an experience that has been associated with a variety of both positive and negative health outcomes for parent and child. While both the setting name and the admitted population alludes to a sole focus on the affected infant, what often remains underrecognized is the impact on the ones who care for the newborn long before and longer after their NICU stay. Given the recency and unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, very little research has examined the impact of COVID-19-specific stress on the experience of parents of infants requiring a NICU stay in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. As such, the current study aimed to gather electronic survey data from caregivers (both biological and non-biological) of infants across the United States admitted to a NICU on or after March 1, 2020. Major factors addressed in the survey included anticipation of the NICU, COVID-19-specific stress, NICU-specific stress, global health outcomes (physical, mental, and social health), parental bonding, and parental self-efficacy. It was hypothesized that (1) COVID-specific stress and would be associated with suboptimal NICU experiences; (2) COVID-specific stress would be associated with worse parental health (physical, mental, and social) and parent-child relational health (bonding, self-efficacy) outcomes; (3) NICU stress and parental health would serve as mechanisms through which COVID-specific stress impacts parental-relational outcomes; (4) These associations would vary depending on whether or not a caregiver was anticipating that their infant would need to go to the NICU. Hypotheses were partially supported such that COVID stress was associated with increased NICU stress and poorer caregiver physical and social health. Unique patterns were found depending on facets of caregiver health. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

This research examines the safety and cost effectiveness of an institutional policy on discharge of preterm infants with Apnea of Prematurity (AOP) from the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Newborn Intensive Care Unit (VCUNC NICU) with caffeine therapy and a cardiorespiratory monitor. This practice policy was developed over a decade ago as a cost containment measure in neonatal care and continues to be implemented today despite the lack of a formal evaluation. The secondary objective was to examine through a review of the literature the psychosocial impact of premature birth on the family and the potential effect on the infant's hospital discharge. The evaluation of this policy is based on the conceptual framework of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in health care. Results were used to generate policy recommendations.This is a retrospective case study of 933 infants admitted to the VCU Medical Center and the community hospital NICU between 1993 and 2002 diagnosed with Apnea of Prematurity. Data was obtained from the Neonatal Information System database at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS), the Virginia Department of Health, and the VCUHS hospital information system. In this mixed methods study, the infants were divided into two groups: 1) those discharged from the hospital on caffeine citrate therapy, and a cardiorespiratory monitor for continued management of apnea; and 2) those that were hospitalized until resolution of apnea. Data was analyzed for differences in mortality and morbidity, hospital readmissions and cost of hospital care from birth to 1 year of age. Interviews were conducted with NICU clinicians to obtain a qualitative perspective on this policy. No significant differences were found in the mortality rate between the two groups (p=.65), and the causes of the four deaths were unrelated to Apnea of Prematurity. Mean hospital costs were approximately $58,000 in both groups. Bronchiolitis was the leading cause for hospital readmission and there was no difference in the rate of hospital readmissions. Based on interviews with NICU clinicians, the policy works well and early discharge is advantageous to the infant and family. Therefore, we find no reason to not continue this policy. Study results support the importance and direction for further research on early discharge of infants with AOP and enhanced epidemiologic surveillance of this population.

Leveduras da mucosa oral, de cateter e de sangue de neonatos internados na UTIN (Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal) por período de 9 meses, foram avaliadas quanto ao perfil molecular pela técnica de PFGE. Dos 125 neonatos internados, 23 (18,4%) apresentaram leveduras na mucosa oral, sangue e cateter. Destes pacientes, obtivemos 54 amostras de leveduras, sendo 36 (66,7%) isoladas da colonização oral; 12 (22,2%) de sangue, seis (11,1%) de cateter. C. albicans foi a mais freqüente dentre as amostras isoladas da mucosa oral e sepse. C. parapsilosis foi a mais isolada dentre as amostras de cateter. Todas as amostras foram consideradas sensíveis aos antifúngicos. Estas amostras apresentaram atividade de pelo menos uma exoenzima. Dentre os 12 casos de sepse, 83,4% (10/12) foram causadas por espécies de Candida, sendo que, destas 10 candidemias, 60% (6/10) estiveram associadas com colonização oral prévia pela mesma espécie e perfil genotípico. A mortalidade devido a infecção sistêmica (septicemia) por leveduras,no período do estudo, foi de 91.6% . / Yeasts isolated from the oral mucosa, catheter and blood of neonates in na NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) over a period of 9 months, were were evaluated in regard to the molecular profile by PFGE technique. Of the 125 neonates studied, 23 (18.4%) presented yeast in their oral mucosa, blood, or catheter. From these 23 neonates, 54 samples of yeast were obtained; 36 (63.7%) from oral colonization, 12 (22.2%) from the blood, and 6 (11.1%) from the catheter. The most frequently encountered species among the samples isolated from the oral mucosa and blood was C. albicans; while C. parapsilosis was the species found most frequently among the samples obtained from catheters. All the samples were considered susceptible to antifungal agents tested. The samples presented activity of at least one exoenzyme. Among the 12 cases of sepsis, 10 (83.4%) were caused by species of Candida, and of these 10 cases, 6 (60%) were associated with previous oral colonization by the same species and genotypic profile. The mortality rate due to septicemia by yeasts was 91.6%.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Flavia Ianzini Carnielli.pdf: 228958 bytes, checksum: 5557e6e228a2c765e298a48125626f7e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-29 / Nowadays depression appears as a major cause of emotional illness and is often associated with sadness, apathy and failure. From this perspective, introspection and withdrawn, which are often characterized as depressive movements, are not taken into account as necessary for elaborating real or imagined losses. From the point of view of DW Winnicott, to deal with the existing psychic challenges, facing situations that break the expectations and idealizations, it is necessary that the individual has surpassed the stage of concern, acquiring the ability to depress which the author relates to emotional maturity. This paper seeks to understand, in the context of motherhood, how the mother's ability to depress associates with the mother's capacity to elaborate the negative aspects regarding the hospitalization of her baby in a Neonatal ICU and, thus, be able to play the role of a good enough mother. For this, a comparative case study was performed between a mother able to develop normal depression, in contrast to other cases (submitted through clinical vignettes) of mothers with difficulties or inability in achieving this process / Na atualidade a depressão aparece como uma das maiores causas de adoecimento emocional e frequentemente é associada à tristeza, à apatia e ao fracasso. A partir dessa perspectiva, os movimentos introspectivos e de retraimento, que muitas vezes se caracterizam como movimentos depressivos, não são levados em conta como necessários à elaboração de perdas reais ou imaginárias. Do ponto de vista de D. W. Winnicott, para fazer frente aos desafios psíquicos existentes diante de situações que quebrem com as expectativas e idealizações é necessário que o indivíduo tenha passado pelo estágio do concern, quando adquire a capacidade para deprimir, relacionada pelo autor ao amadurecimento emocional. O presente trabalho busca compreender, no contexto da maternidade, de que forma a capacidade materna de deprimir se associa à possibilidade de a mãe elaborar os aspectos negativos referentes à internação de seu bebê em uma UTI Neonatal e, assim, poder vir a desempenhar o papel da mãe suficientemente boa. Para tanto, realiza um estudo de caso comparativo entre uma mãe capaz de depressão normal, contrapondo-o a outros casos (apresentados por meio de vinhetas clínicas) de mães com dificuldades ou incapacidade na realização desse processo

Many parents experience high levels of stress after the birth of a premature infant admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) given the often fragile status of their infant and the numerous medical interventions necessary to stabilize the infant. Previous research has found that parents of very preterm (VPT; <32 weeks‟ gestation) infants often experience high levels of stress, particularly in relation to feelings of having lost their parental role. Of particular concern are findings which suggest that such symptoms may last beyond the immediate hospitalization period to have an adverse effect on the parental ability to provide quality infant care-giving at home. However, little is known about the paternal NICU stress response, the role of stressors external to the NICU environment and the perceptions of NICU staff. Against this background, aims of this thesis were: 1) to describe and compare sources of NICU stress for mothers and fathers of VPT infants, 2) to identify key predictors of parental NICU stress, 3) to describe staff perceptions of parental NICU stress, and 4) to identify parental stressors external to the NICU. Two cohorts of parents of VPT infants were studied: 11 mothers and 10 fathers of VPT infants (<32 weeks' gestation) admitted to a level III NICU, Christchurch Women's Hospital; and 68 mothers and 68 fathers of VPT infants (<30 weeks' gestation) who participated in the Victorian Infant Brain Studies, admitted to the Royal Women‟s Hospital NICU, Melbourne. Twenty-three NICU nurses from Christchurch Women‟s Hospital, level III NICU were also interviewed. The Parental Stressors Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) determined sources of stress among parents. NICU nurses completed an adapted version of the PSS: NICU that measured nursing staffs‟ perceptions of parental NICU stress. Parents also completed the Life Events Scale on upsetting life events from the previous 12 months. An external stressors scale which measured stress relating to finances, transport and childcare was developed and completed by parents and staff. Familial demographic and infant clinical information was collected from birth records and hospital databases. Results showed across both cohorts studied that mothers reported significantly higher levels of NICU stress than fathers on the “sights and sounds”, “infant appearance”, and “loss of parental role” subscales on the PSS: NICU (p < .05). The number of upsetting life events (B = .33, p = .01)) and paternal level of NICU stress predicted maternal NICU stress (B = .23, p = .03). Maternal NICU stress also predicted paternal NICU stress (B = .37, p = .01). Staff consistently overestimated parental stress levels (p < .05). The most stressful item on the external stressors scale reported by parents and staff was “fitting in everything else I have to do”. Findings emphasize the need for increased awareness of NICU-specific and NICU-external factors contributing to parental stress. Research into the extent to which staff perceptions of parent experiences may affect the quality of staff-parent relations in the NICU is also warranted. These findings contribute to our understanding of the parental experience of having a preterm infant in the NICU and implications for practice and future research are discussed.