The purpose of this study was to investigate the time of admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and its association with in-hospital mortality among a cohort of neonates at a regional perinatal center. Two different time points were considered: admissions on the weekend versus the weekday and admissions during the nighttime shift versus the day shift. The secondary purpose of the study was to investigate if registered nurse staffing affected this association between NICU admission day or admission time and in-hospital death. Three separate databases were used which contained information on NICU admissions, hospital deliveries and nurse staffing. These databases were linked resulting in data for each individual mother-infant pair for each separate admission to the NICU. Readmissions to the NICU, NICU admissions which could not be linked with the delivery data, admissions from the Newborn Nursery and transfers from other hospitals were excluded from the study. The final study population consisted of 1,846 admissions from October 1, 2001 through December 31, 2006. Weekend admissions were lower than weekday admissions (29.6% versus 70.4%) and nighttime admissions were lower than day admissions (43.2% versus 56.8%). Infants admitted at nighttime were more likely to be low birth weight, have lower Apgar scores and less likely to be delivered by cesarean section. Weekend admissions did not differ significantly from weekday admissions, except weekend admissions were more likely to be Black (33.6% versus 28.6%, p=.30). After adjusting for infant's acuity and other covariates using multivariate logistic regression, the odds of dying on the weekend was not significantly different than weekday admissions (AOR=1.06, 95% CI=.653-1.721) and were not significantly different for nighttime admissions (AOR=1.14, 95% CI=.722-1.79). Nurse staffing was not a significant covariate. Covariates which were significant risk factors for death prior to discharge were non-Black race of the infant, Apgar score of less than 7 at five minutes, presence of a fetal anomaly, and use of ventilation during the stay. Infant's birth weight was a significant protective factor.

O colostro é fonte de energia e imunidade aos leitões neonatos. Para que a ingestão de colostro seja satisfatória, de modo a garantir a sobrevivência e ganho de peso dos leitões, as porcas devem produzir colostro suficiente para suprir as necessidades de toda a leitegada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar fatores relacionados à fêmea, à leitegada e ao trabalho de parto que poderiam influenciar a produção de colostro em suínos. Foram utilizadas 96 matrizes suínas Camborough 25® com ordem de parto 1 a 7 e parição espontânea. As fêmeas e as leitegadas foram acompanhadas até 24 h após o início do parto. A produção de colostro foi estimada pela soma do consumo individual dos leitões, baseado no ganho de peso durante o primeiro dia de vida. O modelo de regressão múltipla explicou 28% da produção de colostro, sendo 24% explicados pelo peso total dos leitões nascidos vivos e 4% pela largura do primeiro par de tetos. O peso total dos leitões nascidos vivos foi correlacionado com o número total de leitões nascidos (r= 0,73) e nascidos vivos (r= 0,83). Quando separadas em duas classes de produção de colostro (ALTAPCOL; >3,4 kg; n = 50 vs BAIXAPCOL; ≤3,4 kg; n = 46), as fêmeas BAIXAPCOL tiveram menor número de leitões nascidos vivos e menor peso da leitegada viva (P<0,05). Por análise de regressão logística, foi verificado que fêmeas de OP 1, 2 e >3 apresentaram maior chance (P≤0,05) de estar no grupo BAIXAPCOL do que as fêmeas de OP 3. Fêmeas com mais de uma intervenção obstétrica no parto tiveram maior chance (P<0,05) de serem fêmeas BAIXAPCOL, em comparação ao grupo de fêmeas sem intervenções no parto. Este estudo evidenciou que o fator que mais influencia a produção de colostro é o peso total da leitegada viva, indiretamente representando o número de leitões amamentados pela porca. / Colostrum provides newborn piglets with energy and with passive immunity. An adequate colostrum intake, in order to fulfill the needs of piglets and then ensure their survival and weight gain, depends on sow’s ability to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors involved on colostrum yield variability related to the sow, the litter and farrowing process. The experiment was conducted with 96 Camborough 25® sows of parities one to seven whose farrowing was spontaneous. Sows and their litters were followed until 24 h after farrowing onset. Colostrum production was estimated by summing up colostrum intake of each piglet of the litter. Colostrum ingestion by individual piglets was estimated using piglet weight gain during the first 24 h of life. The multiple regression model explained 28% of variation in colostrum yield, with 24% and 4% of variation being explained by the litter weight at birth and the width of first mammary glands, respectively. Litter weight at birth was positively correlated with the number of total born (r = 0.73) and liveborn piglets (r = 0.83).When separated into two classes of colostrum yield (HIGHPROD; >3.4 kg; n= 50 vs LOWPROD; ≤3.4 kg; n= 46), LOWPROD sows had lighter litters and fewer total born and liveborn piglets (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that sows from parities 1, 2 and >3 had greater odds (P ≤ 0.05) to be in the LOWPROD group than parity 3. Sows with two or more obstetrical interventions had higher odds (P < 0.05) of belonging to the LOWPROD group than sows without interventions at farrowing. This study showed that litter weight at birth is the most important factor involved in colostrum yield variability, indirectly representing the number of piglets nursed by the sow.

O colostro é fonte de energia e imunidade aos leitões neonatos. Para que a ingestão de colostro seja satisfatória, de modo a garantir a sobrevivência e ganho de peso dos leitões, as porcas devem produzir colostro suficiente para suprir as necessidades de toda a leitegada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar fatores relacionados à fêmea, à leitegada e ao trabalho de parto que poderiam influenciar a produção de colostro em suínos. Foram utilizadas 96 matrizes suínas Camborough 25® com ordem de parto 1 a 7 e parição espontânea. As fêmeas e as leitegadas foram acompanhadas até 24 h após o início do parto. A produção de colostro foi estimada pela soma do consumo individual dos leitões, baseado no ganho de peso durante o primeiro dia de vida. O modelo de regressão múltipla explicou 28% da produção de colostro, sendo 24% explicados pelo peso total dos leitões nascidos vivos e 4% pela largura do primeiro par de tetos. O peso total dos leitões nascidos vivos foi correlacionado com o número total de leitões nascidos (r= 0,73) e nascidos vivos (r= 0,83). Quando separadas em duas classes de produção de colostro (ALTAPCOL; >3,4 kg; n = 50 vs BAIXAPCOL; ≤3,4 kg; n = 46), as fêmeas BAIXAPCOL tiveram menor número de leitões nascidos vivos e menor peso da leitegada viva (P<0,05). Por análise de regressão logística, foi verificado que fêmeas de OP 1, 2 e >3 apresentaram maior chance (P≤0,05) de estar no grupo BAIXAPCOL do que as fêmeas de OP 3. Fêmeas com mais de uma intervenção obstétrica no parto tiveram maior chance (P<0,05) de serem fêmeas BAIXAPCOL, em comparação ao grupo de fêmeas sem intervenções no parto. Este estudo evidenciou que o fator que mais influencia a produção de colostro é o peso total da leitegada viva, indiretamente representando o número de leitões amamentados pela porca. / Colostrum provides newborn piglets with energy and with passive immunity. An adequate colostrum intake, in order to fulfill the needs of piglets and then ensure their survival and weight gain, depends on sow’s ability to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors involved on colostrum yield variability related to the sow, the litter and farrowing process. The experiment was conducted with 96 Camborough 25® sows of parities one to seven whose farrowing was spontaneous. Sows and their litters were followed until 24 h after farrowing onset. Colostrum production was estimated by summing up colostrum intake of each piglet of the litter. Colostrum ingestion by individual piglets was estimated using piglet weight gain during the first 24 h of life. The multiple regression model explained 28% of variation in colostrum yield, with 24% and 4% of variation being explained by the litter weight at birth and the width of first mammary glands, respectively. Litter weight at birth was positively correlated with the number of total born (r = 0.73) and liveborn piglets (r = 0.83).When separated into two classes of colostrum yield (HIGHPROD; >3.4 kg; n= 50 vs LOWPROD; ≤3.4 kg; n= 46), LOWPROD sows had lighter litters and fewer total born and liveborn piglets (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that sows from parities 1, 2 and >3 had greater odds (P ≤ 0.05) to be in the LOWPROD group than parity 3. Sows with two or more obstetrical interventions had higher odds (P < 0.05) of belonging to the LOWPROD group than sows without interventions at farrowing. This study showed that litter weight at birth is the most important factor involved in colostrum yield variability, indirectly representing the number of piglets nursed by the sow.

O colostro é fonte de energia e imunidade aos leitões neonatos. Para que a ingestão de colostro seja satisfatória, de modo a garantir a sobrevivência e ganho de peso dos leitões, as porcas devem produzir colostro suficiente para suprir as necessidades de toda a leitegada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar fatores relacionados à fêmea, à leitegada e ao trabalho de parto que poderiam influenciar a produção de colostro em suínos. Foram utilizadas 96 matrizes suínas Camborough 25® com ordem de parto 1 a 7 e parição espontânea. As fêmeas e as leitegadas foram acompanhadas até 24 h após o início do parto. A produção de colostro foi estimada pela soma do consumo individual dos leitões, baseado no ganho de peso durante o primeiro dia de vida. O modelo de regressão múltipla explicou 28% da produção de colostro, sendo 24% explicados pelo peso total dos leitões nascidos vivos e 4% pela largura do primeiro par de tetos. O peso total dos leitões nascidos vivos foi correlacionado com o número total de leitões nascidos (r= 0,73) e nascidos vivos (r= 0,83). Quando separadas em duas classes de produção de colostro (ALTAPCOL; >3,4 kg; n = 50 vs BAIXAPCOL; ≤3,4 kg; n = 46), as fêmeas BAIXAPCOL tiveram menor número de leitões nascidos vivos e menor peso da leitegada viva (P<0,05). Por análise de regressão logística, foi verificado que fêmeas de OP 1, 2 e >3 apresentaram maior chance (P≤0,05) de estar no grupo BAIXAPCOL do que as fêmeas de OP 3. Fêmeas com mais de uma intervenção obstétrica no parto tiveram maior chance (P<0,05) de serem fêmeas BAIXAPCOL, em comparação ao grupo de fêmeas sem intervenções no parto. Este estudo evidenciou que o fator que mais influencia a produção de colostro é o peso total da leitegada viva, indiretamente representando o número de leitões amamentados pela porca. / Colostrum provides newborn piglets with energy and with passive immunity. An adequate colostrum intake, in order to fulfill the needs of piglets and then ensure their survival and weight gain, depends on sow’s ability to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors involved on colostrum yield variability related to the sow, the litter and farrowing process. The experiment was conducted with 96 Camborough 25® sows of parities one to seven whose farrowing was spontaneous. Sows and their litters were followed until 24 h after farrowing onset. Colostrum production was estimated by summing up colostrum intake of each piglet of the litter. Colostrum ingestion by individual piglets was estimated using piglet weight gain during the first 24 h of life. The multiple regression model explained 28% of variation in colostrum yield, with 24% and 4% of variation being explained by the litter weight at birth and the width of first mammary glands, respectively. Litter weight at birth was positively correlated with the number of total born (r = 0.73) and liveborn piglets (r = 0.83).When separated into two classes of colostrum yield (HIGHPROD; >3.4 kg; n= 50 vs LOWPROD; ≤3.4 kg; n= 46), LOWPROD sows had lighter litters and fewer total born and liveborn piglets (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that sows from parities 1, 2 and >3 had greater odds (P ≤ 0.05) to be in the LOWPROD group than parity 3. Sows with two or more obstetrical interventions had higher odds (P < 0.05) of belonging to the LOWPROD group than sows without interventions at farrowing. This study showed that litter weight at birth is the most important factor involved in colostrum yield variability, indirectly representing the number of piglets nursed by the sow.