OBJECTIVE

Preterm birth is a major cause of complications leading to death of children under 5 years old. Infections are important to be identified because antimicrobial treatment may prevent or delay progression to preterm delivery. This study determined if routine screening tests of infections are useful in the clinical management of preterm labor.

A cross-sectional (descriptive) study was done involving 417 pregnant patients who had preterm labor and was subsequently admitted from 2015 to 2019 at a tertiary hospital in the Philippines, using review of past medical records, inpatient charts, and admission charts.

Majority of the patients delivered at less than 34 weeks, most of the culture results turned out negative, and urine tests were more commonly employed as screening tests for preterm labor. The endocervical and rectovaginal swab studies had no significant growths. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was diagnosed in 1 out of 10 patients and they were subsequently started on antibiotic treatment. Majority of the patients who were given antibiotics delivered within 48 hours from admission. 

The routine use of cultures in the assessment of preterm labor is costly and is unlikely to be helpful in the clinical management of patients in preterm labor.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding Singapore's PTB trends and associated risk factors can inform effective strategies for screening and intervention. This study analyses PTB trends in Singapore from 2017 to 2023, identifies risk factors in this multi-ethnic population and evaluates a predictive model for PTB. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of all PTBs between 22+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2023, was performed by extracting maternal and neonatal data from electronic medical records. These PTBs were taken from the registry of births for Singapore and SingHealth cluster data. Cochran- Armitage trend test and multinomial logistic regression were used. An extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model was developed to test and predict the risk of PTB. RESULTS: The PTB rate in Singapore did not show a significant change. However, there was modest downward trend in the SingHealth population from 11.3% to 10.2%, mainly in late spontaneous PTBs (sPTBs). sPTBs accounted for ∼60% of PTBs. Risk factors for very/extreme sPTB included Chinese ethnicity, age ≥35 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m², being unmarried, primiparity, twin pregnancy and maternal blood group AB. The XGBoost model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.75, indicating moderate ability to predict PTB. CONCLUSION The overall PTB rate in Singapore has not improved. This study underscores the importance of local factors, particularly advanced maternal age, BMI, primiparity, unmarried, Chinese ethnicity and maternal blood group AB influencing PTB risk. Artificial intelligence methods show promise in improving PTB risk stratification, ultimately supporting personalised care and intervention.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Premature Birth/ethnology* ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Infant, Newborn ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; Gestational Age ; Body Mass Index ; Maternal Age ; Logistic Models ; Ethnicity

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of different treatment attitudes on the survival status of extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and evaluate the mortality and occurrence of severe complications in actively treated infants, as well as their risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on perinatal data of EPIs born between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2023, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Nanjing Women and Children's Healthcare Hospital within 24 hours after birth. The analysis focused on the attributable risk of mortality associated with different treatment attitudes in EPIs of varying gestational ages and birth weights. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for mortality and severe complications in the actively treated group. RESULTS: A total of 485 EPIs were included. As gestational age or birth weight increased, the attributable risk of mortality with care withdrawal increased. Active treatment significantly improved the survival status of EPIs born at a gestational age of ≥24 weeks. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lower gestational age and the need for mechanical ventilation within 72 hours after birth were independent risk factors for mortality or severe complications in EPIs (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Active treatment can significantly extend the survival time of EPIs born at a gestational age of ≥24 weeks. Lower gestational age and the need for mechanical ventilation within 72 hours after birth are closely associated with poor survival outcomes in EPIs.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Risk Factors ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Male ; Gestational Age ; Logistic Models ; Birth Weight

OBJECTIVES: To explore the influencing factors for very preterm birth at a gestational age of <32 weeks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. METHODS: Clinical data of women with preterm deliveries and their newborns admitted to five hospitals in Xinjiang from January 2023 to December 2024 were retrospectively collected. The subjects were divided by gestational age into very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) and moderate/late preterm (32-36⁺⁶ weeks of gestation) groups. Risk factors associated with very preterm birth were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 4 105 pregnant women with preterm deliveries were included, with 793 cases (19.32%) in the very preterm group and 3 312 cases (80.68%) in the moderate/late preterm group. The factors significantly associated with very preterm birth were as following: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR=1.785, 95%CI: 1.492-2.135, P<0.05), excessive gestational weight gain (GWG, OR=2.002, 95%CI: 1.672-2.397, P<0.05), insufficient GWG (OR=1.746, 95%CI: 1.326-2.300, P<0.05), chorioamnionitis (OR=2.163, 95%CI: 1.694-2.763, P<0.05), premature rupture of membranes ≥18 hours (OR=2.158, 95%CI: 1.599-2.912, P<0.05), placental abruption (OR=2.228, 95%CI: 1.646-3.014, P<0.05), and ≤7 prenatal visits (OR=3.419, 95%CI: 2.882-4.055, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, excessive or insufficient GWG, chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes ≥18 hours, placental abruption, and ≤7 prenatal visits are risk factors for very preterm birth. Strengthening high-risk pregnancy management is necessary for reducing the incidence of very preterm birth.
Humans ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth/etiology* ; Gestational Age ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Infant, Newborn ; Gestational Weight Gain

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess research productivity on preterm birth (PTB) in Southeast Asian (SEA) countries and its correlation with socioeconomic characteristics and burden of disease. Methods: A systematic review of preterm birth publications by SEA authors indexed in Scopus, PubMed, ClinicalTrials. gov, and Cochrane was done. Case reports, cohorts, control trials, reviews and cost analysis studies done by SEA researches involving pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and complications of preterm birth was included in the study while published letters to editors were excluded. The correlation of bibliometric indices, namely Scopus citations, and PlumX metrics indices (citations, usage, captures, mentions, and social media), with socioeconomic status and burden of preterm birth in SEA countries were analyzed by computing for the correlation coefficient (r) and p-value at an alpha of 0.05. Results: Thailand had the highest number of publications and the highest count across all bibliometric indices among all countries in SEA. The percent gross domestic product (GDP) per capita allotted for research and development (R & D) had direct correlation with publications and captures while crude birth rates had indirect correlation with publications, citations, and captures. Neonatal mortality had indirect correlation with publications and captures. Conclusion Support for research and development is essential to increase research productivity in SEA, which in turn may help in finding solutions to decrease the rate of preterm birth in the region.
Bibliometric Analysis ; Bibliometrics ; Preterm Birth ; Premature Birth ; Gross Domestic Product ; Asia, Southeastern

OBJECTIVES: To study the treatment outcomes of extremely preterm infants. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of extremely preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to December 2022. The infants were divided into a non-in-hospital death group and a survival group. SPSS 29.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 422 extremely preterm infants were included, of which 155 were in the non-in-hospital death group and 267 in the survival group. The gestational age, birth weight, cesarean section rate, and proportion of mothers with premature rupture of membranes >18 hours in the non-in-hospital death group were all lower than those in the survival group (P<0.05). In contrast, the proportions of Apgar score ≤3 at 1 minute, intubation, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, early-onset sepsis, periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (grades III-IV), and pneumorrhagia were higher in the non-in-hospital death group compared to the survival group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Low gestational age, low birth weight, the history of birth asphyxia, severe intracranial hemorrhage, and pneumorrhagia may be the main causes of non-in-hospital death in extremely preterm infants, and therefore, perinatal health care should be enhanced to reduce the onset of asphyxia and severe diseases.
Humans ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Gestational Age ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/mortality*

Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Cervix Uteri

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34⁺⁰ weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Sepsis/epidemiology* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology*

Objective: To investigate the outcomes including major complications and prognosis of extremely preterm infants with gestational age ≤25⁺⁶ weeks. Methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled 233 extremely preterm infants with gestational age ≤25⁺⁶ weeks who were admitted to the Department of Neonatology of Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021. The clinical data including perinatal factors, treatments, complications, and prognosis were extracted and analyzed. These extremely preterm infants were also grouped according to gestational age and year of admission to further analyze their survival rate, major complications, causes of death, and long-term outcomes. The comparisons between the groups were performed with Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis. Results: Among these 233 extremely preterm infants, 134 (57.5%) were males and 99 (42.5%) females. The gestational age was (24.6±0.9) weeks, the birth weight was 710.0 (605.0,784.5) g, and the overall survival rate was 61.8% (144/233). Among the surviving extremely preterm infants, the earliest gestational age was 22⁺² weeks and the lowest birth weight was 390 g. There were 17.6% (41/233) of extremely preterm infants had treatment withdrawn and were discharged in line with the will of guardians. Among the rest 192 extremely preterm infants managed with aggressive treatments, 14 (7.3%) died in hospital and 34 (17.7%) had treatment withdrawn later due to severe complications. Of the 192 extremely preterm infants, 144 (75.0%) survived, and the survival rate increased year by year (χ²=26.28, P<0.001) while the mortality decreased year by year (χ²=14.09, P=0.027). Among the survivors, 20.8%(30/144) had no major complications, and the incidence of complications was also negatively related with the gestational age (χ²=7.24, P=0.044), and the length of invasive ventilation was negatively related to the gestational age (χ²=29.14, P<0.001). In the group of less than 23⁺⁶ weeks, all extremely preterm infants had one or more major complications. The follow-up were completed in 122 infants and revealed that delayed motor development, language retardation, and hearing and vision impairment accounted for 17.2% (21/122), 8.2% (10/122) and 17.2% (21/122), respectively. Conclusions: Extremely preterm infants with gestational age ≤25⁺⁶ weeks are difficult to treat, but the survival rate of infants undergoing aggressive treatments increases year by year. Although the prevalence of major complications is still high, most extremely preterm infants have acceptable prognosis during follow-up.
Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Birth Weight ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To compare the dwelling time and complications of low lying umbilical venous catheterization (UVC) in preterm infants with that of central UVC. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. A total of 3 020 preterm infants from 44 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) who had UVC inserted from October 2019 to August 2021 were enrolled. Demographic and general baseline data, dwelling time of UVC and reasons for removal, complications and their occurrence time were collected. According to the position of the catheter tip, the preterm infants were divided into low lying UVC group (insertion depth of 3-5 cm) and central UVC group (the catheter tip was close to the entrance of right atrium, or at the 8^th-9^th thoracic vertebra level). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the dwelling time and incidence of complications (cases/1 000 catheter days), and the independent t test and Chi-square test were used to compare the characteristics between the 2 groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the optimal cut-off value of UVC dwelling time. Results: Among the included 3 020 preterm infants, 1 624 (53.8%) were males, the gestational age was 29.9 (28.4, 31.6) weeks, the birth weight was (1 264±301) g, and 2 172 (71.9%) premature babies had central UVC. There were no significant differences in the proportion of males, the gestational age and the birth weight of neonates between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in the rate of maternal history, PPROM>18 hours, chorioamnionitis, antenatal antibacterial angents exposure and antibacterial angents usage through UVC (all P>0.05). The dwelling time of central UVC was longer than that of low lying UVC (7 (6, 10) vs. 4 (3, 7) days, U=23.42, P<0.001). The complication incidence of central and low lying UVC were 20.0 and 70.8 cases/1 000 catheter days, respectively. The top 3 complications of central UVC were occlusion, catheter tip migration, and CLABSI (9.3, 3.5, 3.0 cases/1 000 catheter days). The top 3 complications of low lying UVC were catheter occlusion, CLABSI, and catheter tip migration (45.8, 6.3, 5.4 cases/1 000 catheter days). The ROC curve of UVC dwelling time and complications showed that the cut-off values ​​of central UVC and low lying UVC were 6.5 and 4.5 days, respectively. The 2 groups both showed a trend of increases in the 3 complications with the prolonged dwelling time. Cox regression analysis showed that the overall difference in the proportion of occlusion between the central UVC and low lying UVC groups was statistically significant (χ²=30.18, P=0.024). There were both no significant differences in catheter tip migration and CLABSI (both P>0.05). Conclusions: The most common UVC complication in preterm infants is occlusion. It is not recommended to keep a low lying UVC for longer than 4.5 days. During the whole dwelling period, a close monitoring for UVC complications is required.
Pregnancy ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Female ; Infant ; Infant, Premature ; Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Catheterization, Central Venous/adverse effects* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheterization, Peripheral/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies