4 research outputs found
Single Enteral Loading Dose of Phenobarbital for Achieving Its Therapeutic Serum Levels in Neonates
Aim To investigate whether therapeutic serum drug levels
may be achieved with a single enteral loading dose of
phenobarbital.
Methods The study was performed at the Mersin University
Hospital in Turkey between April 2004 and August 2006,
and included 29 newborn babies with seizure. After the
acute treatment of the seizure with midazolam at a dose of
0.1 mg/kg, phenobarbital was administered by orogastric
route at a loading dose of 20 mg/kg. Serum phenobarbital
concentrations were measured at 0.5, 3, 6, and 12 hours
after the loading. Serum phenobarbital levels between 10-
30 μg/mL were considered as the therapeutic range.
Results The serum phenobarbital levels reached therapeutic
values in 9 (31%), 19 (66%), 21 (72%), and 23 (79%)
patients at 0.5, 3, 6, and 12 hours after loading, respectively,
while they did not reach therapeutic values in 6 patients
(21%) after 12 hours. Four of the patients in whom there
was no increase in serum phenobarbital levels had hypoxic-
ischemic encephalopathy.
Conclusion Enteral loading of phenobarbital can achieve
therapeutic serum levels in the large majority of newborn
babies with seizure and may be safely used in babies with
the intact gastrointestinal tract
Single Enteral Loading Dose of Phenobarbital for Achieving Its Therapeutic Serum Levels in Neonates
Aim To investigate whether therapeutic serum drug levels
may be achieved with a single enteral loading dose of
phenobarbital.
Methods The study was performed at the Mersin University
Hospital in Turkey between April 2004 and August 2006,
and included 29 newborn babies with seizure. After the
acute treatment of the seizure with midazolam at a dose of
0.1 mg/kg, phenobarbital was administered by orogastric
route at a loading dose of 20 mg/kg. Serum phenobarbital
concentrations were measured at 0.5, 3, 6, and 12 hours
after the loading. Serum phenobarbital levels between 10-
30 μg/mL were considered as the therapeutic range.
Results The serum phenobarbital levels reached therapeutic
values in 9 (31%), 19 (66%), 21 (72%), and 23 (79%)
patients at 0.5, 3, 6, and 12 hours after loading, respectively,
while they did not reach therapeutic values in 6 patients
(21%) after 12 hours. Four of the patients in whom there
was no increase in serum phenobarbital levels had hypoxic-
ischemic encephalopathy.
Conclusion Enteral loading of phenobarbital can achieve
therapeutic serum levels in the large majority of newborn
babies with seizure and may be safely used in babies with
the intact gastrointestinal tract
Nosocomial infections in neonatal units in Turkey: epidemiology, problems, unit policies and opinions of healthcare workers
WOS: 000276572900008PubMed ID: 20402067Turkish Neonatal Society Nosocomial Infections Study Group. Nosocomial infections in neonatal units in Turkey: epidemiology, problems, unit policies and opinions of healthcare workers. Turk J Pediatr 2010; 52: 50-57. The epidemiology of nosocomial infections in Turkish neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) shows that nosocomial sepsis is an important problem, especially for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, and gram-negative agents, particularly Klebsiella species, are still the major causes of nosocomial infections. Sepsis frequency was 6.4%, ranging from 2.1 to 17%, in 16 centers in Turkey. Sepsis frequency was 22% in infants 2500 g. Sepsis-related mortality was 24.4 for 100 sepsis cases, ranging from 0 to 75 for 100 cases. Ventilator-associated pneumonia frequency was 1.7%, catheter-related infection frequency was 0.14% and urinary tract infection frequency was 3.7%. Healthcare workers (HCWs) complain of the inadequacy of some basic facilities and of staffing; however, they are aware of the causes and solutions and are willing to overcome this major health problem. We conclude that Turkish neonatal HCWs are quite optimistic about preventing neonatal nosocomial infections