Implementation of a 24-hour empiric antibiotic duration for negative early-onset sepsis evaluations to reduce early antibiotic exposure in premature infants

Antibiotic Stewardship in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Antibiotic stewardship is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to optimize antibiotic use and mitigate development of antibiotic resistance. Neonates have high rates of antibiotic exposure, particularly those born preterm and admitted to the NICU, and mounting evidence describes the adverse consequences of such exposures in the absence of infection. Here, we review the general principles of antibiotic stewardship and how they can be applied in NICUs. The unique characteristics of NICUs and patients cared for in this setting, which warrant unique implementation strategies and special considerations are discussed. We summarize current antibiotic use metrics for assessment of responses to stewardship interventions and changes over time, and review evidence-based infection prevention practices in the NICU. Current recommendations for empiric antibiotic use in the NICU and the utility of infection biomarkers are summarized. Lastly, given the growing global threat of increasing antibiotic resistance, specific threats in the NICU are highlighted.

Umbilical cord blood culture for early onset sepsis in preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Umbilical cord blood culture (UCBC) may have a diagnostic utility for early onset sepsis (EOS) detection in preterm infants. It may prevent sampling the newborn and collect a higher volume of blood for pathogenic identification.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis at a tertiary care center in Canada of preterm infants ≤ 34 0/7 weeks' gestation with UCBC taken at birth.

RESULTS

Of 505 admitted infants, 195 had UCBC. 170 UCBCs were negative; 44 of these had also negative neonatal blood culture (NBC). No infants with negative UCBC showed EOS symptoms in the first week of life. 25 UCBCs were positive: 18 were contaminants (all with negative NBC) and 7 were confirmed as EOS. 18 infants with UCBC contaminants remained asymptomatic. 7 EOS cases were identified, with varying bacteriological profiles; 5 displayed sepsis symptoms while 2 were asymptomatic. Risk of EOS increased with prolonged rupture of membranes.

CONCLUSIONS

UCBC effectively detected EOS establishing it as a method with possibly better diagnostic performance than NBC in high-risk neonates. Further studies are needed to improve UCBC technique and lower contamination rates.

IMPACT

Umbilical cord blood culture has a higher bacterial identification rate than peripheral venous blood culture for the early identification of early-onset sepsis in preterm infants. Umbilical cord blood cultures that showed no growth were reliable predictors of not developing early onset sepsis. Umbilical cord blood culture should be considered as part of the evaluation for early onset sepsis in the preterm infants.

Neonatal nephrotoxic medication exposure and early acute kidney injury: results from the AWAKEN study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to describe nephrotoxic medication exposure and investigate associations between exposure and acute kidney injury (AKI) in the neonatal intensive care unit during the first postnatal week.

DESIGN/METHODS

Secondary analysis of the AWAKEN cohort. We evaluated nephrotoxic medication exposure during the first postnatal week and associations with AKI using time-varying Cox proportional hazard regressions models. Nephrotoxic medication exposure categories were defined as: no nephrotoxic medication, nephrotoxic medications excluding aminoglycosides, aminoglycoside alone, and aminoglycoside and another nephrotoxic medication.

RESULTS

Of 2162 neonates, 1616 (74.7%) received ≥1 nephrotoxic medication. Aminoglycoside receipt was most common (72%). AKI developed in 211(9.8%) neonates and was associated with a nephrotoxic medication exposure (p < 0.01). Nephrotoxic medication exposures including a nephrotoxic medication excluding aminoglycoside (aHR 3.14, 95% CI 1.31-7.55) and aminoglycoside and  another nephrotoxic medication (aHR 4.79, 95% CI 2.19-10.50) were independently associated with AKI and severe AKI (stage 2/3), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Nephrotoxic medication exposure in critically ill infants is common during the first postnatal week. Specific nephrotoxic medication exposure, principally aminoglycosides with another nephrotoxic medication, are independently associated with early AKI.

Early antibiotics and risk for necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants: A narrative review

While prompt initiation of antibiotics at birth due to concerns for early onset sepsis is common, it often leads to many preterm infants being exposed to treatment despite negative blood cultures. Such exposure to early antibiotics can impact the developing gut microbiome putting infants at increased risk of several diseases. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating inflammatory bowel disease that affects preterm infants, is among the most widely studied neonatal disease that has been linked to early antibiotics. While some studies have demonstrated an increased risk of NEC, other studies have demonstrated seemingly contrary findings of decreased NEC with early antibiotics. Studies using animal models have also yielded differing findings of benefit vs. harm of early antibiotic exposure on subsequent NEC susceptibility. We thus sought to conduct this narrative review to help clarify the relationship between early antibiotics exposure and future risk of NEC in preterm infants. Our objectives are to: (1) summarize findings from human and animal studies that investigated the relationship between early antibiotics and NEC, (2) highlight important limitations of these studies, (3) explore potential mechanisms that can explain why early antibiotics may increase or decrease NEC risk, and (4) identify future directions for research.