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BACKGROUND Preterm infants often require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, which may impair splanchnic hemodynamics, thus predisposing to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether RBC transfusions alter splanchnic oxygenation patterns in response to enteral feeding in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preterm neonates (gestational age

Purpose of review Current management approaches for asymptomatic neonates at risk of early onset sepsis remain controversial. Strategies based entirely on clinical observation (SCO, serial clinical observation) have gained consensus. Recent findings We briefly compare different strategies for managing asymptomatic newborns suggested in four high-income countries. Then this review details the existing differences in carrying out the SCO in the United Kingdom, the USA, and Italy; the experiences from the studies performed using the SCO; and open questions regarding this strategy. Advantages and limitations of SCO are also discussed. There is a need to assess which symptoms at birth are more predictive of early onset sepsis and therefore require immediate interventions versus those symptoms that can be monitored and re-evaluated. Summary SCO strategy may require changes in the processes of newborn care at birthing centers. Nonetheless, SCO is safe and is associated with fewer laboratory evaluations and unnecessary antibiotics. Thoughtful and thorough practices related to the care of all newborns will benefit any birthing centre. VIDEO ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/MOP/A40.

Therapeutic hypothermia is the standard care for asphyxiated newborns. Discomfort and pain during treatment are common and may affect therapeutic efficacy of hypothermia. Opioid analgosedation is commonly used in the clinical setting, but its effects in the cooled newborns is poorly investigated.The aim of this study was to assess the safety of fentanyl analgosedation during therapeutic hypothermia, by evaluating severe adverse effects and possible correlation with the neurodevelopmental outcome.We analyzed asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia receiving fentanyl intravenous infusion (years 2013-2018). Severe neurodevelopmental outcome was defined as cerebral palsy or Griffith's developmental quotient70 or major sensorineural deficit. Severe brain lesions were defined as cortical or/and basal ganglia extensive involvement.Fentanyl cumulative dose was variable (61.7 ± 18.5 µg/kg; range 34.3-120.3 µg/kg) among 45 enrolled patients. Respiratory depression was recorded in 13.3% cases of 30 spontaneously breathing patients. Severe brain lesions and severe neurodevelopmental disability were found in 24.4 and 11.1% of all included cases, respectively. Higher cumulative fentanyl dose was not associated with poor outcome.Fentanyl treatment during therapeutic hypothermia does not negatively affect the neurodevelopmental outcome, thus on the contrary, it may contribute to ameliorate neuroprotection in the asphyxiated cooled newborns.

We describe the case of a neonate with signs of heart failure. Echocardiography showed a structural normal heart shape with left ventricular dysfunction. At 2 months of age, a vein of Galen arteriovenous malformation was diagnosed through a brain magnetic resonance imaging. Embolization therapy was accomplished and a clinical and neurological follow-up was started. This clinical case highlights how important it is considering an intracranial cause in the differential diagnosis of neonatal congestive heart failure (CHF). We performed a narrative minireview of the literature about treatments and outcome of this malformation in association to CHF, to point out how complex the diagnosis of vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) may be and how an early diagnosis is important for its management.

Purpose: Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) prevents group B streptococcus (GBS) early-onset disease (EOD). No European study evaluates the relative impact of risk factors (RFs) for EOD after...

At the time of late-onset disease, mothers often have positive breast milk culture or group B Streptococcus bacteriuria, suggesting heavy maternal colonization., We retrospectively investigated mother-to-infant transmission of group B Streptococcus (GBS) in 98 cases of late-onset disease reported during 2007–2018 by a network in Italy. Mothers with full assessment of vaginal/rectal carriage tested at prenatal screening and at time of late onset (ATLO) were included. Thirty-three mothers (33.7%) were never GBS colonized; 65 (66.3%) were vaginal/rectal colonized, of which 36 (36.7%) were persistently colonized. Mothers with vaginal/rectal colonization ATLO had high rates of GBS bacteriuria (33.9%) and positive breast milk culture (27.5%). GBS strains from mother–infant pairs were serotype III and possessed the surface protein antigen Rib. All but 1 strain belonged to clonal complex 17. GBS strains from 4 mother–infant pairs were indistinguishable through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. At least two thirds of late-onset cases are transmitted from mothers, who often have vaginal/rectal carriage, positive breast milk culture, or GBS bacteriuria, which suggests heavy maternal colonization.

BackgroundMost studies regarding late-onset sepsis (LOS) address selected populations (i.e., neonates with low birth weight or extremely preterm neonates). Studying all age groups is more suitable to assess the burden of single pathogens and their clinical relevance.MethodsThis is a retrospective regional study involving paediatric departments and NICUs in Emilia-Romagna (Italy). Regional laboratory databases were searched from 2009 to 2012. Records of infants (aged 4 to 90 days) with a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture were retrospectively reviewed and analysed according to acquisition mode (whether hospital- or community-acquired).ResultsDuring the study period, there were 146,682 live births (LBs), with 296 patients experiencing 331 episodes of LOS (incidence rate: 2.3/1000 LBs). Brain lesions upon discharge from the hospital were found in 12.3% (40/296) of cases, with death occurring in 7.1% (23/296; 0.14/1000 LBs). With respect to full-term neonates, extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight neonates had very high risk of LOS and related mortality (> 100- and > 800-fold higher respectively). Hospital-acquired LOS (n = 209) was significantly associated with very low birth weight, extremely preterm birth, pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, and death (p< 0.01). At multivariate logistic regression analysis, catecholamine support (OR = 3.2), central venous line before LOS (OR = 14.9), and meningitis (OR = 44.7) were associated with brain lesions or death in hospital-acquired LOS (area under the ROC curve 0.81, H-L p = 0.41). Commonly identified pathogens included coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS n = 71, 21.4%), Escherichia coli (n = 50, 15.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 41, 12.4%) and Enterobacteriaceae (n = 41, 12.4%). Group B streptococcus was the predominant cause of meningitis (16 of 38 cases, 42%). Most pathogens were sensitive to first line antibiotics.ConclusionsThis study provides the first Italian data regarding late-onset sepsis (LOS) in all gestational age groups. Compared to full-term neonates, very high rates of LOS and mortality occurred in neonates with a lower birth weight and gestational age. Group B streptococcus was the leading cause of meningitis. Excluding CoNS, the predominant pathogens were Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Neonates with hospital-acquired LOS had a worse outcome. Antibiotic associations, recommended for empirical treatment of hospital- or community-acquired LOS, were adequate.

There is an increasing evidence that the intestinal microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maturation of the immune system and in the prevention of diseases occurring during the neonatal period, childhood, and adulthood. A number of nonphysiological conditions during the perinatal period (i.e. caesarean section, prolonged hospitalization, formula feeding, low gestational age) may negatively affect the normal development of the microbiota, leading to decreased amounts of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria and increased amounts of Clostridia. In addition, perinatal antibiotics can cause intestinal dysbiosis that has been associated with short- and long-term diseases. For example, prolonged early empiric antibiotics increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm neonates, whereas the administration of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) has been associated with inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, and atopic conditions, such as eczema and wheezing. Promoting breastfeeding, reducing the length of hospital stay, and reducing unnecessary antibiotic therapies are useful strategies to counterbalance unintended effects of these conditions.

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis remains a serious and potentially fatal illness. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) prevents group B streptococcal (GBS) early-onset sepsis. The optimal duration of IAP (adequate IAP) to reduce vertical transmission of GBS has been debated. Understanding the mechanism of action of IAP may help in minimizing neonatal evaluation and unnecessary antibiotic use.Areas covered: In recent years, several studies on pharmacokinetics and clinical use of IAP have been published. Although penicillin and ampicillin are the most preferred antibiotics, the clinical efficacy of non-beta-lactam antibiotics, including clindamycin and vancomycin, used in cases of penicillin anaphylaxis-associated allergy, remains debatable. This is a narrative review of the literature regarding the impact of 'inadequate' IAP on the clinical management of women and newborns.Expert opinion: Recent evidence suggests that 'inadequate' IAP with beta-lactams is more effective in preventing vertical transmission of GBS than previously thought. Newborns exposed to intrapartum beta-lactams and who are asymptomatic at birth are likely uninfected, irrespective of IAP duration before delivery. Hence, we may abandon the concept of 'inadequate' IAP with beta-lactams in early-onset GBS sepsis, relying primarily on clinical signs observed at birth for managing IAP-exposed neonates.

Objective: Group B streptococcus (GBS) early-onset sepsis (EOS) has declined after widespread intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. However, strategies for preventing EOS may differ across countries. The analysis of their strategies allows to compare the effectiveness of prevention in different countries and suggests opportunities for improvement. Methods: We compared six western countries. Prevention strategies, incidence rates of EOS and approaches for managing neonates at-risk were analysed. Countries were selected because of availability of recommendations for prevention and sufficient epidemiological data for comparison. Results: Five of six countries recommend antenatal vagino-rectal screening. The decline of GBS cases is relevant in most countries, particularly in those with a screening-based strategy, which have reached incidence rates from 0.1 to 0.3/1000 live births and zero or close to zero mortality in full-term newborns. The recommendation for managing asymptomatic neonates at risk for EOS varies according to gestational age and ranges from observation only to laboratory testing plus empirical antibiotics. Chorioamnionitis (suspected or confirmed) is the main indication for carry out laboratory testing and for administering empirical antibiotics. Conclusions: Wide variations exists in preventing EOS. They depend on national epidemiology of GBS infections, compliance, cost, and feasibility of the strategy. The extreme variability of approaches for managing neonates at risk for EOS reflects the even greater uncertainty regarding this issue, and may explain the persisting, great use of resources to prevent a disease that has become very rare nowadays.

PurposeThe purpose of the framework here proposed is to introduce an industrial culture within the service organizations. Concepts such as employees empowerment, ownership, continuous improvement, together with the systematic implementation of quantitative methods builds the organizational basis for achieving operational excellence in services, reducing costs and increasing service quality. This has been deployed in two phases: a “hard” phase to support the design of the service and the construction of tangible and intangible elements of the service, and a “soft” phase to support the management, maintenance and improvement of the service delivery. All this has been applied to the hotel service sector where the interaction between tangible and intangible elements of the service are particularly evident.Design/methodology/approachThe framework uses and integrates several methodologies. Quality function deployment (QFD) is largely used in order to support the “hard” phase of the framework. Kano's model of customer requirements has been integrated in the QFD structure by means of an original method developed by the authors, introducing a so‐called non‐quality priority number (similar to the failure modes and effects analysis' risk priority number) that in combination with a so‐called quality priority number drives the decisions for improvement towards operational excellence. Moreover, the “soft” phase of the framework introduces methods such as failure mode and effect analysis and total productive maintenance in order to improve the service organization's operational competence and culture, increasing at the same time the sense of ownership and the commitment for improvement of front line workers.FindingsThrough this paper, it has been shown that industrial methods for operational excellence can be adapted and transferred to the service sector with a potential for significant improvements in particular for those services with a high degree of tangible factors. Allowing in this way to achieve outstanding results also without significant investments.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper does not have the intention of describing the state‐of‐the‐art of service design and management, but rather it focuses on the transfer of industrial methods and techniques to the service sector.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is related to proposal of a global systemic approach to operational excellence in services, by means of which industrial methods for operational excellence are transferred to the service sector. Only few works in literature have tried to transfer industrial methods for operational excellence to services, however the main value of this paper is not – or not only – in the specific methods proposed, but in their integration in the systemic approach.