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Background Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) is inversely related to neurodevelopmental outcome. We analyzed growth outcomes and enteral nutrition practices among preterm infants at New York State (NYS) regional perinatal centers (RPCs) to identify practices associated with risk of EUGR. Methods Surviving infants < 31 weeks' gestation admitted to a NYS RPC during 2010 were identified and data collected on their growth and enteral nutrition from a statewide database. Neonatologists at NYS RPCs were surveyed to identify center-specific nutritional practices. Survey responses, nutrition, and growth data were then analyzed to identify factors associated with risk of EUGR. Results Of the 1,387 infants, 32.6% were discharged with EUGR. Incidence of EUGR varied more than fivefold among RPCs. Nutritional practices directly related to EUGR included age at first enteral feeding and full enteral feedings. Among the surveyed nutrition practices, longer duration of trophic feeding before advancing was associated with an increased risk of EUGR while later discontinuation of total parenteral nutrition and larger trophic feeding volume were associated with lower risk. Conclusion Our study found marked variation in nutrition practices and incidence of EUGR among preterm infants at NYS RPCs. A statewide quality improvement initiative to reduce practice variation and improve growth in preterm infants is underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVECarnitine transfer across the placenta occurs predominantly during the third trimester. Unless L-carnitine is provided, very preterm infants develop carnitine deficiency. Although breast milk and infant formulas contain L-carnitine, parenteral nutrition solutions do not routinely provide L-carnitine. We hypothesized that prolonged L-carnitine supplementation in very preterm infants would improve weight gain and shorten length of stay in the hospital.STUDY DESIGNThe study was a double-blind parallel placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Eligible patients were <29 weeks of gestation, <72 hours of age, and did not have a potentially life-threatening congenital malformation or hereditary metabolic disorder. Patients were stratified by gestational age (23 to 256/7 and 26 to 286/7 weeks), and randomized to receive, either L-carnitine at a dose of 50 μmol/kg/day, or placebo. Carnitine was provided intravenously until the infants tolerated 16 ml/day of feeds. The sample size was calculated to have 80% power to detect a 10% increase in weight gain from birth until 36 weeks of postmenstrual age or discharge from the hospital. Secondary outcome variables included food efficiency (defined as weight gain divided by caloric intake), weight gain at 4 weeks of age, time to regain birth weight and length of stay.RESULTSAmong the 63 infants enrolled in the trial, 32 were randomized to L-carnitine and 31 to placebo. L-Carnitine supplementation did not significantly affect average daily weight gain from birth until 36 weeks or hospital discharge, or any of the secondary outcome variables.CONCLUSIONProlonged supplementation of L-carnitine did not improve long-term weight gain in very preterm infants.Journal of Perinatology (2005) 25, 470–477. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211334 Published online 28 April 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric sepsis is a major public health problem. Published treatment guidelines and several initiatives have increased adherence with guideline recommendations and have improved patient outcomes, but the gains are modest, and persistent gaps remain. The Children's Hospital Association Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes (IPSO) collaborative seeks to improve sepsis outcomes in pediatric emergency departments, ICUs, general care units, and hematology/oncology units. We developed a multicenter quality improvement learning collaborative of US children's hospitals. We reviewed treatment guidelines and literature through 2 in-person meetings and multiple conference calls. We defined and analyzed baseline sepsis-attributable mortality and hospital-onset sepsis and developed a key driver diagram (KDD) on the basis of treatment guidelines, available evidence, and expert opinion. Fifty-six hospital-based teams are participating in IPSO; 100% of teams are engaged in educational and information-sharing activities. A baseline, sepsis-attributable mortality of 3.1% was determined, and the incidence of hospital-onset sepsis was 1.3 cases per 1000 hospital admissions. A KDD was developed with the aim of reducing both the sepsis-attributable mortality and the incidence of hospital-onset sepsis in children by 25% from baseline by December 2020. To accomplish these aims, the KDD primary drivers focus on improving the following: treatment of infection; recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis; de-escalation of unnecessary care; engagement of patients and families; and methods to optimize performance. IPSO aims to improve sepsis outcomes through collaborative learning and reliable implementation of evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For parents, the experience of having an infant in the NICU is often psychologically traumatic. No parent can be fully prepared for the extreme stress and range of emotions of caring for a critically ill newborn. As health care providers familiar with the NICU, we thought that we understood the impact of the NICU on parents. But we were not prepared to see the children in our own families as NICU patients. Here are some of the lessons our NICU experience has taught us. We offer these lessons in the hope of helping health professionals consider a balanced view of the NICU's impact on families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objective: To aggregate data across institutions to identify, characterize, and differentiate potential survivors from nonsurvivors based on etiology of event. Aim: To evaluate the association of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) duration and probability of survival ( Ps), stratified by etiology of arrest. Background: In-hospital cardiac arrests occur in 2-6% of pediatric patients with poor survival rates resulting in significant expenditures of time and resources. Methods: Retrospective data from six pediatric hospitals on patients suffering from pulseless cardiac arrests receiving CPR for over one minute were analyzed. Data included demographics, reason for code, precardiac arrest diagnosis, devices and treatment, management strategies during cardiac arrest, compression duration, outcome at hospital discharge, and neurologic outcome of survivors at hospital discharge. Results of logistic regression analysis generated predicated probabilities of survival for duration of compression. Patients were stratified by cardiac-induced cardiac arrests (CICA) and respiratory-induced cardiac arrest (RICA). Results: A total of 257 patients were included, and 27% of CICA and 35% of RICA patients survived to hospital discharge. Ps was initially lower for the CICA patients ( Ps at 1 min = 29%) and remained constant ( Ps at 60 min = 25%). RICA patients' Ps was higher initially ( Ps at 1 min = 62%) but demonstrated a dramatic drop within the first 60 min of CPR ( Ps at 60 min = 0.2%). Conclusions: Probability of survival curves based on duration of CPR was statistically significantly different for CICA patients compared to RICA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Despite the magnitude of the problem of catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSIs) in children, relatively little research has been performed to identify effective strategies to reduce these complications. In this study, we aimed to develop and evaluate effective cathetercare practices to reduce pediatric CA-BSIs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Our study was a multi-institutional, interrupted time-series design with historical control data and was conducted in 29 PICUs across the United States. Two central venous catheter-care practice bundles comprised our intervention: the insertion bundle of pediatric-tailored care elements derived from adult efforts and the maintenance bundle derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and expert pediatric clinician consensus. The bundles were deployed with quality-improvement teaching and methods to support their adoption by teams at the participating PICUs. The main outcome measures were the rate of CA-BSIs from January 2004 to September 2007 and compliance with each element of the insertion and maintenance bundles from October 2006 to September 2007. RESULTS: Average CA-BSI rates were reduced by 43% across 29 PICUs (5.4 vs 3.1 CA-BSls per 1000 central-line-days; P < .0001). By September 2007, insertion-bundle compliance was 84% and maintenance-bundle compliance was 82%. Hierarchical regression modeling showed that the only significant predictor of an observed decrease in infection rates was the collective use of the insertion and maintenance bundles, as demonstrated by the relative rate (RR) and confidence intervals (Cis) (RR: 0.57 [95% Cl: 0.450.74]; P < .0001). We used comparable modeling to assess the relative importance of the insertion versus maintenance bundles; the results showed that the only significant predictor of an infection-rate decrease was maintenancebundle compliance (RR: 0.41 [95% Cl: 0.20-0.851; P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with adult CU care, maximizing insertionbundle compliance alone cannot help PICUs to eliminate CA-BSls. The main drivers for additional reductions in pediatric CA-BSI rates are issues that surround daily maintenance care for central lines, as defined in our maintenance bundle. Additional research is needed to define the optimal maintenance bundle that will facilitate elimination of CA-BSls for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]