Objectives: This study was conducted to determine profile of neonates being treated with meropenem as well as to assess its clinical efficacy in the treatment of neonatal infections. Methods: This is a retrospective review of the records of sick neonates admitted at the Newborn Care Unit of a tertiary hospital and treated with meropenem. Those discharged against advice were excluded. Frequency and percentage were used in comparing the following variables: sex, 5-minute APGAR score, age of gestation, birth weight, type of infection, culture results, treatment outcome, and adverse reactions. Results: There were 34 charts available for review, but two were excluded. There were 62.5 % females and 37.5 % males: 28.1 % of them had a 5-minute APGAR score of 10; 37.5 % had 9; 21.9% had 8; and 12.5 % had 7. Sixty-two percent (62.5%) of the subjects were between 32 to 35 weeks age of gestation: 46.9 % were of low birth weight; 34.4 % were of very low birth weight; and 18.7 % had normal weights. Sepsis was the most common indication in the use of meropenem, followed by sepsis with pneumonia, pneumonia then sepsis with meningitis. Majority (68.75%) of the patients had no growth in their blood while 60% had no growth in the CSF. Enterobacter aerogenes (15.6%) was the most common blood isolate while Enterobacter gergeviae (20%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%) were the isolates in the CSF culture. Treatment outcomes were favorable; 84.4% were improved, while 9.4% were unimproved and shifted to other antibiotics, and 6.2% died. Conclusion: The use of meropenem is effective in the treatment of life-threatening infections among newborns.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Infant Newborn ; MEROPENEM ; SEPSIS ; INFECTIONS

Background: Changes in the blood cell counts, such as leukopenia and neutropenia, in patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) are common events following chemotherapy. These commonly delay further administration of chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, the risk of infection rises correspondingly with the degree of neutropenia. Bovine colostrum is a rich source of immunoglobulins and other antimicrobial factors. These immunoglobulins are believed to improve the immune function and may be effective in the prevention of neutropenia following chemotherapy. Objective: To determine the efficacy of bovine colostrum in preventing neutropenia among ALL patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This study included pediatric patients, aged 6 months to 18 years old diagnosed with ALL undergoing chemotherapy. Twenty-one subjects were randomly assigned to receive bovine colostrum or placebo that were taken twice a day for a week beginning from the first day of chemotherapy. Baseline complete blood count (CBC) and the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) were determined before and after 7 days of giving the colostrum or placebo. A ttest was applied to determine significant differences before and after the supplementation on each group. Results: Results showed that there was a significant increase in ANC of patients given bovine colostrum as compared to the placebo group with a pvalue of 0.007. There were also significant increases in the white blood cells and platelet counts in those who were given bovine colostrum, with p-values of Conclusion Exclusively breastfed infants who were admitted for very severe pneumonia at the critical care areas showed better outcomes in terms of shorter ICU stay and ventilator use, and lower incidence of HAI as compared to the NEBF infants. However, data showed no significant association between mortality and type of feeding.
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma