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This position paper, developed by an interdisciplinary expert group of neonatologists, paediatric infectious disease physicians, clinical pharmacists and specialists for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections, describes the “Good handling practice of medicines parenterally administered to patients on NICUs”. It takes equal account of patient safety and the specialties of neonatal intensive care regarding feasibility and proportionality. The overall concept is perceived as a “learning system”, in which open communication within the health-care team relating to medication errors and critical incidents enables continuous development and improvement to ensure patient safety. In our opinion, pharmacists, who are responsible for the supply of ready-to-administer parenteral medicinal products for neonatal intensive care patients, as well as the hygiene staff responsible on site are integral parts of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Risks of the current clinical practice of parenteral treatment of NICU patients are discussed in detail and recommendations for safety-relevant procedures are given.

The two-week block rotation in paediatrics (tenth semester) took place for 62 students purely as online teaching in the summer semester of 2020, at the time of the initial restrictions. As a teaching module, virtual patient presentations including debriefing took place as synchronous teaching. Patients and one parent were broadcast from the wards and outpatient clinics via video conference. Students were able to interact in small groups with 15-22 patients or their parents, respectively, via a doctor and both conduct the case history interview and brief the examination steps. Despite the limitation of not being able to perform the clinical examination themselves, participants rated the block rotation with good marks. They particularly appreciated the ability to interact with the children online as an indispensable compromise in times of suspended classroom teaching during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

[english] Aims: Evaluation of the effectiveness of clinical teaching is an important contribution for the quality control of medical teaching. This should be evaluated using a reliable instrument in order to be able to both gauge the status quo and the effects of instruction. In the Stanford Faculty Development Program (SFDP), seven categories have proven to be appropriate: Since 1998, the SFDP26 questionnaire has established itself as an evaluation tool in English speaking countries. To date there is no equivalent German-language questionnaire available which evaluates the overall effectiveness of teaching.Question: Methods: 19 anaesthetists (7 female, 12 male) from the University of Lübeck were evaluated at the end of a teaching seminar on emergency medical care using SFDP-German. The sample consisted of 173 medical students (119 female (68.8%) and 54 male (31.2%), mostly from the fifth semester (6.6%) and sixth semester (80.3%). The mean age of the students was 23±3 years. Results: The discriminatory power of all items ranged between good and excellent (r=0.48-0.75). All subscales displayed good internal consistency (α=0.69-0.92) and significant positive inter-scale correlations (r=0.40-0.70). The subscales and “overall effectiveness of teaching” showed significant correlation, with the highest correlation for the subscale “communication of goals (p< 0.001; r = 0.61).Conclusion: The analysis of SFDP26-German confirms high internal consistency. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the individual categories on the overall effectiveness of teaching and validate according to external criteria. [german] Zielsetzung: Die Evaluation klinischer Lehrkompetenz ist ein wichtiger Beitrag zur Qualitätssicherung medizinischer Lehrveranstaltungen. Die Evaluation sollte mit einem verlässlichen Instrument durchgeführt werden, um Status quo sowie Effekte von medizindidaktischen Schulungsmaßnahmen beurteilen zu können. Im „Stanford Faculty Development Program“ (SFDP) haben sich folgende Aspekte als sinnvoll erwiesen: Als Evaluationsinstrument ist seit 1998 der Fragebogen „SFDP26“ im englischsprachigen Raum zur Erfassung dieser Kategorien etabliert. Bisher existiert kein gleichwertiges deutschsprachiges Instrument zur Überprüfung von Lehrkompetenz im klinischen Kontext.Fragestellung: Methodik: 19 Ärzte (w=7, m=12) der Klinik für Anästhesiologie an der Universität zu Lübeck wurden am Ende ihrer Lehrveranstaltungen zur Notfallmedizin durch Studierende mittels SFDP26-German evaluiert. Die Stichprobe setzte sich aus 173 Medizinstudierenden (w=119, bzw. 68.8%; m=54, 31.2%) des überwiegend fünften (6.6%) und sechsten Fachsemesters (80.3%) zusammen. Das durchschnittliche Alter der Studierenden betrug 23±3 Jahre. Ergebnisse: Die Trennschärfen der Items lagen alle in einem guten bis sehr guten Bereich (r=0.48-0.75). Alle Subskalen zeigten gute interne Konsistenzen (α=0.69-0.92) sowie signifikante positive Korrelationen (r=0.40-0.70) untereinander. Subskalen und „Gesamtlehreffektivität“ korrelierten signifikant (p

Background: Very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs; birth weight < 1500 g) are at an increased risk of complicated influenza infection, which frequently includes pneumonia, encephalitis or even death. Data on influenza immunization and its outcome in VLBWIs are scarce. This study aimed to provide epidemiological data on influenza immunization for German VLBWIs and hypothesized that immunization would protect VLBWIs from infection-mediated neurodevelopmental impairment and preserves lung function at early school age. Methods: In this observational population-based German Neonatal Network (GNN) study, infants born between 2009 and 2015 were invited to partake in a 6-year follow-up investigation including lung function and developmental testing. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of influenza-immunized VLBWIs compared to non-immunized VLBWIs. Results: Influenza immunization was performed in 871 out of the 3358 VLBWIs (26%) with six-year follow-up. Immunized infants were characterized by a low gestational age and higher rates of morbidity, particularly bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Although early immunization showed no safety signals and had protective effects on the long-term risk of bronchitis (OR: 0.2; CI: 0.1–0.6; p = 0.002), most VLBWIs (88.0%) were unimmunized in their first influenza season. Conclusions: Influenza immunization was not associated with improved lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity) or a better neurocognitive outcome (intelligence quotient and strengths and difficulties questionnaire) at early school age. In Germany, only one quarter of 6-year-old VLBWIs were immunized against influenza, particularly those born <28 gestational weeks and/or BPD. Specific influenza immunization guidelines that define evidence-based recommendations are needed for this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) has become the preferred method of surfactant administration for spontaneously breathing babies on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Summary: The development of LISA followed the need to combine CPAP and surfactant replacement as mainstay treatment options for respiratory distress syndrome, thereby avoided exposure to positive pressure ventilation. Key Messages: This review summarises the current knowns and unknowns of LISA including the physiological concept, its relevance for short-term and long-term outcomes and the challenges for practical implementation of LISA as part of a less invasive respiratory care bundle. Further, we provide an update of the evidence on alternatives to LISA, for example, nebulised surfactant administration, pharyngeal deposition of surfactant and delivery via supraglottic airway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI), formerly referred to as primary immunodeficiencies, manifest with a wide range of symptoms such as increased susceptibility to infections, immune dysregulation, and autoinflammation. Although most cases manifest in childhood, onset during the neonatal period is rare but potentially critical. Summary: In this review, we discuss the diverse clinical presentations of IEI and the specific challenges they pose to neonatologists. Rather than detailing every molecular defect, we focus on common clinical scenarios in neonates and young infants, providing practical diagnostic strategies to ensure timely and effective therapeutic interventions. Key Messages: Clinical presentations of IEI in neonates may include delayed separation of the umbilical cord, skin rashes such as eczema and erythroderma, and recurrent episodes of inflammation. We also highlight immunological emergencies that require urgent medical attention, such as hyperinflammatory activity mimicking acute neonatal liver failure, sometimes seen in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. We also discuss appropriate medical action in the case of a positive newborn screening for severe T-cell defects. Early medical intervention in such circumstances may significantly improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (pACC) is rare, and prognostic stratification remains challenging. We aimed to confirm the prognostic value of the previously published pediatric scoring system (pS-GRAS) in an international multicenter cohort. Design Analysis of pS-GRAS items of pACC from 6 countries in collaboration of ENSAT-PACT, GPOH-MET, and IC-PACT. Methods We received patient data of the pS-GRAS items including survival information from 9 centers. PS-GRAS score was calculated as a sum of tumor stage (1 = 0; 2-3 = 1; 4 = 2 points), grade (Ki67 index: 0%-9% = 0; 10%-19% = 1; ≥20% = 2 points), resection status (R0 = 0; RX/R1/R2 = 1 point), age (<4 years = 0; ≥4 years = 1 point), and hormone production (androgen production = 0; glucocorticoid-/mixed-/no-hormone production = 1 point) generating 8 scores and 4 groups (1: 0-2, 2: 3-4, 3: 5, 4: 6-7). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results We included 268 patients with median age of 4 years. The analysis of the pS-GRAS score showed a significantly favorable prognosis in patients with a lower scoring compared to higher scoring groups (5-year OS: Group 1 98%; group 2 87% [hazard ratio {HR} of death 3.6, 95% CI of HR 1.6-8.2]; group 3 43% [HR of death 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-4.4]; group 4: OS 18% [HR of death 2.1, 95% CI 1.7-2.7]). In the multivariable analysis, age (HR of death 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-7.0), resection status (HR of death 5.5, 95% CI 2.7-11.1), tumor stage (HR of death 1.9, 95% CI of HR 1.2-3.0), and Ki67 index (HR of death 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4) remained strong independent outcome predictors. Especially infants < 4 years showed more often low-risk constellations with a better OS for all tumor stages. Conclusion In an international multicenter study, we confirmed that the pS-GRAS score is strongly associated with overall survival among patients with pACC. Age, resection status, stage, and Ki67 index are important parameters for risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Germany, more than 40% of infants are born to immigrant parents. Increased survival rates of very preterm (below 32 weeks gestation at birth; VP) infants have not resulted in equally improved life chances and quality of life. More information on perinatal variations in outcomes according to social inequalities, migration background, and language barriers is needed. We tested whether mothers' immigrant status and language barriers are associated with perinatal health and short-term neonatal outcomes. Methods: The data are from the national multi-centre German Neonatal Network (GNN) cohort, including VP births from 2009 onwards. In total, 3606 (n = 1738 female) children were assessed, and 919 (n = 449 female) of these children had immigrant backgrounds. Immigrant status was operationalised as a binary variable based on the children's mothers' countries of birth (born in Germany vs. foreign-born). Self-reported home language (L1) was used to calculate the average linguistic distance to German as one continuous variable. Results: Mixed-effects models showed that two out of fourteen effects of interest survived the adjustment for known confounders and accounting for the nestedness of data within birth hospitals. Linguistic distance from mothers' L1s to German was independently associated with diagnoses of preeclampsia (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = [1.00, 1.01]). Infants of foreign-born mothers had higher odds for amniotic infection syndrome (AIS; OR = 1.45 [1.13, 1.86]) than infants of German mothers. Conclusions: Our findings from this large multi-centre longitudinal cohort of VP-born children indicate that maternal immigrant status and language barriers have limited impact on perinatal health and severe neonatal outcomes. This suggests that, regardless of background or language skills, there may be few inequalities in the perinatal health of pregnant women and their newborn preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial components of the innate immune system in various organisms, including humans. Beyond their direct antimicrobial effects, AMPs play essential roles in various physiological processes. They induce angiogenesis, promote wound healing, modulate immune responses, and serve as chemoattractants for immune cells. AMPs regulate the microbiome and combat microbial infections on the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Produced in response to microbial signals, AMPs help maintain a balanced microbial community and provide a first line of defense against infection. In preterm infants, alterations in microbiome composition have been linked to various health outcomes, including sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, atopic dermatitis, and respiratory infections. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the microbiome, can alter AMP profiles and potentially lead to inflammation-mediated diseases such as chronic lung disease and obesity. In the following review, we summarize what is known about the vital role of AMPs as multifunctional peptides in protecting newborn infants against infections and modulating the microbiome and immune response. Understanding their roles in preterm infants and high-risk populations offers the potential for innovative approaches to disease prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document, titled "Neonatal Immunology," explores various aspects of neonatal immunity and its importance in the development and long-term health of children. The neonatal period is unique in terms of exposure to environmental antigens, establishment of microbiota, and the presence of maternal passive immunity. The document highlights the need for research in neonatal immunity and discusses specific studies on neonatal adaptive and innate immunity, sex differences in immune cells, neonatal inflammation, microbiota, and infection. The authors emphasize the potential of understanding neonatal immunity to prevent chronic diseases and improve overall health. [Extracted from the article]