A Randomized Case-Controlled Study of Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor for the Treatment of Sepsis in Preterm Neutropenic Infants

BackgroundTo investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) to treat sepsis in neutropenic preterm infants.MethodsFifty-six neutropenic preterm infants with suspected or culture-proven sepsis hospitalized in Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Educational and Training Hospital, Kozyatağı/Istanbul, Turkey between January 2008 and January 2010 were enrolled. Patients were randomized either to receive rhG-CSF plus empirical antibiotics (Group I) or empirical antibiotics alone (Group II). Clinical features were recorded. Daily complete blood count was performed until neutropenia subsided. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.5.ResultsThirty-three infants received rhG-CSF plus antibiotic treatment and 23 infants received antibiotic treatment. No drug-related adverse event was recorded. Absolute neutrophil count values were significantly higher on the 2nd study day and 3rd study day in Group I. Short-term mortality did not differ between the groups.ConclusionTreatment with rhG-CSF resulted in a more rapid recovery of ANC in neutropenic preterm infants. However, no reduction in short-term mortality was documented

Immunogenicity, safety and clinical outcomes of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

IntroductionThe mRNA-based BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine has been shown to elicit robust systemic immune response and confer substantial protection against the severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with a favorable safety profile in adolescents. However, no data exist regarding immunogenicity, reactogenicity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this prospective observational cohort study, we examined the humoral immune responses and side effects induced by the BNT162b2 vaccine, as well as, the rate and symptomatology of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections after completion of dual-dose BNT162b2 vaccination in adolescents with T1D and compared their data with those of healthy control adolescents. The new data obtained after the vaccination of adolescents with T1D could guide their further COVID-19 vaccination schedule.MethodsA total of 132 adolescents with T1D and 71 controls were enrolled in the study, of whom 81 COVID-19 infection-naive adolescents with T1D (patient group) and 40 COVID-19 infection-naive controls (control group) were eligible for the final analysis. The response of participants to the BNT162b2 vaccine was assessed by measuring their serum IgG antibodies to the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), 4–6 weeks after the receipt of first and second vaccine doses. Data about the adverse events of the vaccine was collected after the receipt of each vaccine dose. The rate of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections was evaluated in the 6-month period following second vaccination.ResultsAfter vaccinations, adolescents with T1D and controls exhibited similar, highly robust increments in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers. All the participants in the patient and control groups developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers over 1,050 AU/ml after the second vaccine dose which is associated with a neutralizing effect. None of the participants experienced severe adverse events. The rate of breakthrough infections in the patient group was similar to that in the control group. Clinical symptomatology was mild in all cases.ConclusionOur findings suggest that two-dose BNT162b2 vaccine administered to adolescents with T1D elicits robust humoral immune response, with a favorable safety profile and can provide protection against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection similar to that in healthy adolescents

Congenital depressed fracture of the skull in a neonate

Objective: Congenital depression of the skull is a rare event and the cause is not always clear. It may be complicated by brain injury, hematoma and epilepsy. This case is presented to draw attention to this rare congenital disorder which may raise suspicions in the family and discuss treatment options. Description: This baby boy was born at term by cesarean section and the depressed fracture of the right parietal bone, 5 cm × 4 cm, with a depth of 7.7 mm was noted at the first examination. Conventional and 3-dimentional computed tomography of the skull confirmed the diagnosis. The neurological examination was unremarkable. The depressed portion was elevated by surgery; the baby was growing well in the first month. Comments: Skull fracture is frequently assumed to have resulted from trauma, but it may occur prenatally

Short-Term Outcomes and Mortality of Late Preterm Infants

Background: Late preterm infants have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to term infants. Determining the risk factors in these infants leads to more comprehensive preventive and treatment strategies. Aims: Our aim was to analyse the morbidity rates such as respiratory system diseases, infections, congenital anomalies, hypoglycemia and hematologic abnormalities and mortality rates in a large group of patients at a referral center. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Medical records of late preterm and term infants who were managed at the referral center were analysed. Results: 41752 births were analysed in 3 years. 71.9% of all births were between 37-42 gestational weeks (i.e. term) and 16.1% were between 34-37 weeks (i.e. late preterm). Compared to term infants, late preterm infants had increased rates of short-term problems. The rate of mortality increased with decreased gestational age. The duration of hospitalization was significantly higher in the smallest late preterm infants. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the need that late preterm infants who have higher risk for morbidity and mortality, compared to term infants require close monitoring. The rate of mortality and hospitalization increased with decreased gestational age

Evaluation of 3 year surveillance of device associated infections in a neonatal intensive care unit

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the rates of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and device associated healthcare associated infections (DA-HAIs) as well as the rates of invasive device utilization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); and to compare findings with national and international reports. Materials and methods: A total of 1984 patients who admitted to NICU between January 2016 and December 2018 were enrolled. We retrospectively analysed patient’s characteristics, etiologic pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility, mortality from medical charts and infection control committee surveillance reports. Infections were defined using the standart Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Results: During the 3-year period, total 98 HAI cases 69 of which were DA-HAI were detected. The overall incidence of HAIs was 4.9% and rate was 3.7 per 1000 patient days. The most common HAI was blood stream infection (BSI) (n=64, 65.3%) of those 52 were central line-associated (CLA). The CLA-BSI rate was 8.6 per 1000 central line days with central line utilization ratio of 0.22. Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) rate was 5.1 per 1000 ventilator days with ventilator utilization ratio of 0.12. The most common pathogens were Klebsiella pneumonia. (38.9%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (22.1%) and Candida spp. (11.6%). The overall mortality rate was 3%. The HAI-related mortality rate was 9.2%. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of an surveillance approach in the NICU setting. HAI rates were lower than the rates reported from developing countries. However, with device utilization rates similar to those in developed countries our HAI rates were higher than that of the developed countries. Continous monitoring and implementation of necessary precautions are essential to decrease the rates of HAIs

Turkish Neonatal and Turkish Ophthalmology Societies consensus guideline on the retinopathy of prematurity.

Retinopathy of prematurity is a pathophysiological condition that occurs in relation to abnormal proliferation in the retinal vessels in premature babies. Its exact pathogenesis is not known. In Turkey, the increased chance of survival in premature babies with much younger gestational age and much lower birth weight in parallel with the developments in neonatal care causes retinopathy of prematurity, which has led to vision problems and blindness to emerge as a more frequent problem. Early diagnosis and timely and appropriate treatment of retinopathy of prematurity contributes to the developmental process and increases the quality of life by preventing vision loss. It should be kept in mind that retinopathy of prematurity may also lead to serious medicolegal problems

Turkish Validity Reliability of the Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration Scale and Its Adaptation to Newborns

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the Turkish validity reliability and newborns’ adaptation to Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration Scale. Materials and Methods: This study is methodological and was conducted on 54 newborns with the simultaneous evaluation of two observers. Each infant was monitored 8 times with hourly observations from when the vein path was changed, and a total of 864 observational outcomes were assessed with scale. SPSS program was used for statistical evaluations. Results: A total of 54 newborns were taken into the study and the proportions of cases at each care level in neonatal intensive care unit were similar (level 1: 16 patients, level 2: 23 patients, level 3: 15 patients (p=0.348). The most commonly used fluid was found to be dextrose 10% in 63%, and total parenteral nutritional fluid in 26%. The newborns’ postnatal age was median 3 days (minimum: 1, maximum: 27). A total of 864 observations were made for 8 hours and in the 35% (n=19) of 54 babies, the vein pathway was changed after the first observation. 69% of the infants whose vascular accesses were changed, were identified in the first stage (1 point), 25% in the second stage (2 points), and vascular accesses were renewed. The Krippendorff’s alpha reliability coefficient showing the integration between the two evaluators was 1.00 (p<0.001). This result shows “full agreement” between the two evaluators. Intra-class correlation coefficient showing reliability between measurements was r=0.99 (p<0.001). This coefficient also indicates that the measurements are highly reliable. Conclusion: Intravenous infiltration and extravasations are preventable complications in neonates and should be assessed with the aid of a scale at regular intervals. Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration Scale can be used in newborns and also in Turkish