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 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

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the positive rate of enterovirus (EV) nucleic acid in throat swabs of term late neonates hospitalized during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and the clinical characteristics of the neonates. METHODS: A single-center cross-sectional study was performed on 611 term late infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal center from October 2020 to September 2021. Throat swabs were collected on admission for coxsackie A16 virus/EV71/EV universal nucleic acid testing. According to the results of EV nucleic acid test, the infants were divided into a positive EV nucleic acid group (8 infants) and a negative EV nucleic acid group (603 infants). Clinical features were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 611 neonates, 8 tested positive for EV nucleic acid, with a positive rate of 13.1‰, among whom 7 were admitted from May to October. There was a significant difference in the proportion of infants contacting family members with respiratory infection symptoms before disease onset between the positive and negative EV nucleic acid groups (75.0% vs 10.9%, P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in demographic data, clinical symptoms, and laboratory test results (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a certain proportion of term late infants testing positive for EV nucleic acid in throat swabs during the COVID-19 epidemic, but the proportion is low. The clinical manifestations and laboratory test results of these infants are non-specific. Transmission among family members might be an important cause of neonatal EV infection.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Enterovirus ; COVID-19/diagnosis* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pharynx ; Nucleic Acids ; Enterovirus Infections

Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated

Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of neonates with upper airway obstruction (UAO) who were admitted via transportation, hence to provide more evidence-based information for the clinical management of UAO. Methods: This was a single center retrospective study. Patients were hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 1, 2016 to May 31, 2021 with age <28 days or postmenstrual age (PMA) ≤44 weeks, and UAO as the first diagnosis. The general information of patients, obstructed sites in the upper airway, treatment, complications and prognosis were analyzed. The outcomes of surgical UAO vs. non-surgical UAO were analyzed by 2 by 2 χ² test. Results: A total of 111 cases were analyzed (2.3% of the total NICU hospitalized 4 826 infants in the same period), in which 62 (55.9%) were boys and 101 (91.0%) were term infants, and their gestational age was (38.7±2.0) weeks, birth weight (3 207±585) g, PMA on admission (40.8±2.5) weeks and weight on admission was (3 221±478) g. There were 92 cases (82.9%) with symptoms of UAO presenting on postnatal day 1, and 35 cases (31.5%) had extra-uterine growth retardation on admission. The diagnosis of UAO and the obstructive site was confirmed in 25 cases (22.5%) before transportation. There were 24 cases (21.6%), 71 cases (64.0%), and 16 cases (14.4%) who had UAO due to nasal, throat, and neck problems, respectively. The top 5 diagnosis of UAO were vocal cord paralysis (28 cases), bilateral choanal atresia (20 cases), laryngomalacia (15 cases), pharynx and larynx cysts (7 cases), and subglottic hemangioma (6 cases). The diagnosis and treatment of all the patients followed a multidisciplinary approach consisted of neonatal intensive care unit, ear-nose-throat department and medical image departments. A total of 102 cases (91.9%) underwent both bronchofiberscope and fiber nasopharyngoscope investigation. Seventy cases (63.1%) required ventilation. Among the 58 cases (52.3%) who required surgical intervention, 16 had tracheotomy. For cases with vs. without surgical intervention, the rate of cure and (or) improvement were 94.8% (55/58) vs. 54.7% (29/53), and the rate of being discharged against medical arrangement were 1.7% (1/58) vs. 45.3% (24/53) (χ²=24.21 and 30.11, both P<0.01). Conclusions: Neonatal UAO may locate at various sites of the upper airway. The overall prognosis of neonatal UAO is favorable. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for efficient evaluation and appropriate surgical intervention.
Airway Obstruction/therapy* ; Child ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Trachea

Background: Insulin-treated patients with long duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk of ketoacidosis related to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). The extent of circulating ketone elevation in these patients remains unknown. We conducted this study to compare the serum ketone response between dapagliflozin, an SGLT2i, and sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, among insulin-treated T2DM patients. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, active comparator-controlled study involving 60 insulin-treated T2DM patients. Participants were randomized 1:1 for 24-week of dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or sitagliptin 100 mg daily. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were measured at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after intervention. Comprehensive cardiometabolic assessments were performed with measurements of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), vibration-controlled transient elastography and echocardiography. Results: Among these 60 insulin-treated participants (mean age 58.8 years, diabetes duration 18.2 years, glycosylated hemoglobin 8.87%), as compared with sitagliptin, serum BHB levels increased significantly after 24 weeks of dapagliflozin (P=0.045), with a median of 27% increase from baseline. Change in serum BHB levels correlated significantly with change in free fatty acid levels. Despite similar glucose lowering, dapagliflozin led to significant improvements in body weight (P=0.006), waist circumference (P=0.028), HDL-C (P=0.041), CEC (P=0.045), controlled attenuation parameter (P=0.007), and liver stiffness (P=0.022). Average E/e’, an echocardiographic index of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, was also significantly lower at 24 weeks in participants treated with dapagliflozin (P=0.037). Conclusion Among insulin-treated T2DM patients with long diabetes duration, compared to sitagliptin, dapagliflozin modestly increased ketone levels and was associated with cardiometabolic benefits.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of neonatal tracheotomy in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 14 neonates admitted to NICU of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2016 to August 2021, and were<28 days of age on admission, who met the criteria of tracheotomy and finally completed the procedure. The clinical characteristics including age, weight, duration of ventilation, etiology of tracheotomy, length of hospital stay and prognosis were summarized and analyzed. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the weight gain velocity and the duration of ventilation before and after tracheotomy. Paired t-test was used to compare the hospitalization length before and after tracheotomy. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the clinical characteristics and outcomes. Results: For the 14 neonates, the gestational age was (38±4) weeks and birth weight was (2 824±949) g. Nine of them were male. The age on transportation was 16 (6, 25) d. A total of 10 neonates were on invasive ventilation on admission, the other 4 were on nasal continuous positive airway pressure support. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (7 cases) was the commonest cause of tracheotomy. The age on operation was 33 (22, 44) d. There were statistically significant differences in duration of ventilation and weight gain velocity before and after operation (19.00 (10.50, 34.00) vs. 0.86 (0.06, 3.25) d, 1.66 (-0.16, 5.54) vs. 4.69 (2.30, 9.32) g/(kg·d), Z=3.01 and -1.98, both P<0.05). The total hospital stay in NICU was (37±12) d. One neonate died during hospitalization. The existence of pneumonia on admission was positively correlated to NICU stay length (r=0.57, P=0.027), the pre-operational weight gain velocity was negatively correlated to the post-operational NICU stay length (r=-0.73, P=0.020). There were 4 neonates de-cannulated during 7-38 months after the tracheotomy, and 5 neonates still wearing the tracheal cannulation during 15-66 months after the tracheotomy. Two neonates died and 2 neonates lost follow-up after discharge. All neonates could not vocalize normally before de-cannulation, and the language development obviously lagged behind the normal age group after de-cannulation. Conclusions: Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is the commonest cause of neonatal tracheotomy. The benefit of tracheotomy for NICU neonates with surgical indications is obvious, especially in facilitating extubation and improving weight gain.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheotomy ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; Weight Gain

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) remains an important cause of neonatal death and disability in infants and young children, but it has a complex mechanism and lacks specific treatment methods. As a new type of programmed cell death, ferroptosis has gradually attracted more and more attention as a new therapeutic target. This article reviews the research advances in abnormal iron metabolism, glutamate antiporter dysfunction, and abnormal lipid peroxide regulation which are closely associated with ferroptosis and HIBD.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ferroptosis ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant, Newborn ; Neurons

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience in the application of muscle relaxants in the perioperative period in neonates with congenital esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 58 previously untreated neonates with EA-TEF who were treated in the Neonatal Center of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from 2017 to 2019. The incidence rate of anastomotic leak was compared between the neonates receiving muscle relaxants for different durations after surgery (≤ 5 days and > 5 days). The correlation between the duration of postoperative use of muscle relaxants and the duration of mechanical ventilation was evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 58 neonates with EA-TEF, 44 underwent surgery, among whom 35 with type III EA-TEF underwent thoracoscopic surgery. Among these 35 neonates, 30 (86%) received muscle relaxants after surgery, with a median duration of 4.75 days, and 6 (18%) experienced anastomotic leak. There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of anastomosis leak between the ≤ 5 days and > 5 days groups ( CONCLUSIONS Prolonged use of muscle relaxants after surgery cannot significantly reduce the incidence of anastomotic leak, but can prolong the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation in neonates with EA-TEF. Therefore, prolonged use of muscle relaxants is not recommended after surgery.
Child ; Esophageal Atresia/surgery* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Muscles ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage (NPH) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a municipal hospital, and to provide a basis for the early identification and treatment of NPH.

METHODSA total of 112 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of Shaoyang Central Hospital of Hunan Province and diagnosed with NPH were enrolled as the case group. A nested case-control method was used to select, as a control group (n=224), the neonates who underwent the treatment with an assisted mechanical ventilator and did not experience pulmonary hemorrhage. Univariate analysis and unconditional logistic regression analysis were used to identify the high risk factors for NPH.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed that compared with the control group, the case group had significantly higher incidence rates of gestational diabetes and cholestasis in mothers, cesarean delivery, gestational age <34 weeks, 5-minute Apgar score ≤5, birth weight <2 500 g, heart failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) before the development of NPH, partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (oxygenation index, OI) ≤100, and a reduction in mean platelet volume. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DIC, heart failure, and OI ≤100 were independent risk factors for NPH (OR=33.975, 3.975, 1.818 respectively; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHeart failure, OI ≤100, and DIC are risk factors for the development of NPH in the NICU of the municipal hospital.

Female ; Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; Male ; Risk Factors