Prospective surveillance of antibiotic use in the neonatal intensive care unit: results from the SCOUT study

Predictors of gentamicin therapy failure in neonates with sepsis

Sepsis is a common disease with high morbidity and mortality among newborns in intensive care units world-wide. Gram-negative bacillary bacteria are the major source of infection in neonates. Gentamicin is the most widely used aminoglycoside antibiotic in empiric therapy against early-onset sepsis. However, therapy failure may result due to various factors. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of gentamicin therapy failure in neonates with sepsis. This was a prospective cross-sectional study at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Windhoek Central Hospital over a period of 5 months in 2019. Neonates received intravenous gentamicin 5 mg/kg/24 h in combination with either benzylpenicillin 100 000 IU/kg/12 h or ampicillin 50 mg/kg/8 h. Logistic regression modeling was performed to determine the predictors of treatment outcomes. 36% of the 50 neonates were classified as having gentamicin treatment failure. Increasing treatment duration by 1 day resulted in odds of treatment failure increasing from 1.0 to 2.41. Similarly, one unit increase in CRP increases odds of gentamicin treatment failure by 49%. The 1 kg increase in birthweight reduces the log odds of treatment failure by 6.848, resulting in 99.9% decrease in the odds of treatment failure. One unit increase in WBC reduces odds of gentamicin treatment failure by 27%. Estimates of significant predictors of treatment failure were precise, yielding odds ratios that were within 95% confidence interval. This study identified the following as predictors of gentamicin therapy failure in neonates: prolonged duration of treatment, elevated C-reactive protein, low birthweight, and low white blood cell count.

Antibiotic use among extremely low birth-weight infants from 2009 to 2021: a retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

To assess trends in antibiotic use across a large cohort of extremely low birth-weight (<1000 g; ELBW) infants admitted to academic and community neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across the USA over a 13-year period.

DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional cohort study.

SETTING

Premier Health Database, a comprehensive administrative database of inpatient encounters from academic and community hospitals across the US.

PATIENTS

ELBW inborn infants admitted to NICUs from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

N/A MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute and relative changes in (1) proportion of ELBW infants with antibiotic exposure and (2) days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days, over time. Average annual differences were estimated using generalised linear regression with 95% CI. Disposition trends were also measured.

RESULTS

Among 36 701 infants admitted to 402 NICUs, the proportion exposed to antibiotics was essentially unchanged (89.9% in 2009 to 89.3% in 2021; absolute reduction of -0.6%); generalised linear regression estimated an annual absolute difference of -0.3% (95% CI (-0.6%) to (-0.07%); p=0.01). DOT per 1000 patient days decreased from 337 in 2009 to 210 in 2021, a 37.8% relative difference and annual relative difference of -4.3% ((-5.2%) to (-3.5%); p<0.001). Mortality was unchanged during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a substantial reduction in antibiotic DOT despite no substantive change in the proportion of infants exposed to antibiotics. This suggests the success of stewardship efforts aimed at antibiotic duration and highlight the need for improved approaches to identifying ELBW infants at highest risk of infection.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Neonates: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Neonatal sepsis is a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity; however, the uncontrolled use of antimicrobials is associated with significant adverse effects. Our objective with this article is to review the components of neonatal antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) and their effects on clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and antimicrobial resistance.

METHODS

We selected randomized and nonrandomized trials and observational and quality improvement studies evaluating the impact of ASP with a cutoff date of May 22, 2023. The data sources for these studies included PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and SCOPUS. Details of the ASP components and clinical outcomes were extracted into a predefined form.

RESULTS

Of the 4048 studies retrieved, 70 studies (44 cohort and 26 observational studies) of >350 000 neonates met the inclusion criteria. Moderate-certainty evidence reveals a significant reduction in antimicrobial initiation in NICU (pooled risk difference [RD] 19%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 14% to 24%; 21 studies, 27 075 infants) and combined NICU and postnatal ward settings (pooled RD 8%; 95% CI 6% to 10%; 12 studies, 358 317 infants), duration of antimicrobial agents therapy (pooled RD 20%; 95% CI 10% to 30%; 9 studies, 303 604 infants), length of therapy (pooled RD 1.82 days; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.56 days; 10 studies, 157 553 infants), and use of antimicrobial agents >5 days (pooled RD 9%; 95% CI 3% to 15%; 5 studies, 9412 infants). Low-certainty evidence reveals a reduction in economic burden and drug resistance, favorable sustainability metrices, without an increase in sepsis-related mortality or the reinitiation of antimicrobial agents. Studies had heterogeneity with significant variations in ASP interventions, population settings, and outcome definitions.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate- to low-certainty evidence reveals that neonatal ASP interventions are associated with reduction in the initiation and duration of antimicrobial use, without an increase in adverse events.

Interstate Practice Variation and Factors Associated with Antibiotic Use for Suspected Neonatal Sepsis in the United States

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate national time trends of overall and statewise antibiotic utilization (AU) rates for suspected neonatal sepsis (SNS) in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN

In this cross-sectional study, we used retrospective linked birth cohort and vital records data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research database for the years 2016 to 2020 and analyzed data containing antibiotic use for SNS. The primary outcome was proportional national and state-specific AU rates per 1,000 live births during the birth hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included overall trends and association between maternal education, race, sex, chorioamnionitis, mode of delivery, gestational age at birth, Apgar's scores, and insurance status with antibiotics exposure for SNS among newborns. Contingency tables, two-tailed t-test, and chi-square for independence tests were performed with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

For a birth cohort of >18 million, 2.2% of infants received antibiotics during birth hospitalization nationwide. There were wide variations in AU among U.S. states and territories, whereas overall treatment rates decreased by 16.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.2-17.0; p < 0.001). Compared with White newborns, Black newborns had higher AU rates (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.32-1.34), and Asians had the lowest rates (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95-0.97). There was a significant difference in mean AU rates by race (p < 0.001). Chorioamnionitis at birth significantly increased the odds for AU (OR: 14.5 ;95% CI: 14.4-14.6), although AU rates for chorioamnionitis showed a significant downward trend (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.50-0.53) during the study period.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that there has been a gradual decline in AU for SNS in more than a third of states in last 5 years. While risk-based management approaches achieve widespread implementation, state- and nationwide quality improvement collaborates might have contributed to the relative decline in antibiotic use in newborns. Further studies are warranted to understand factors related to practice variation in the management of SNS in the United States KEY POINTS: · Early and prolonged use of antibiotics can lead to altered gut microbiome and adverse long-term neonatal outcomes.. · There is considerable clinical practice variation in antibiotic-prescribing practices for suspected neonatal sepsis.. · This cross-sectional study reports the differences in neonatal antibiotic usage patterns by region and maternal factors.. · Antibiotic use should be limited to newborns at high risk of infection and proven sepsis.. · Judicious use of antibiotics can be promoted by following evidence-based approaches to sepsis risk assessment..

Decreasing Antibiotic Use in a Community Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative

OBJECTIVE

In view of the excessive use of antibiotics in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we launched a 5-year multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) initiative in our NICU in 2018. We had set our aim of decreasing the antibiotic use rate (AUR) from 22 to 17%.

STUDY DESIGN

The QI initiative was conducted in our 53-bed level 3B NICU. We used the core elements of antibiotic stewardship and focused on improving gaps in knowledge by using updated standards of care and a multidisciplinary approach. Outcome measures included overall AUR in NICU. Statistical control chart (P chart) was used to plot the AUR data quarterly.

RESULTS

The AUR demonstrated a decline at the onset, and at the end of the initiative the AUR demonstrated a sustained decline to 13.18%, a 40% decrease from the baseline AUR of 22%. The changes that were implemented included development of evidence-based guidelines for babies less than and greater than 35 weeks, daily antibiotic stewardship rounds, sepsis risk calculator, antibiotic stop orders (48-hour stop, 36-hour soft stop, and 36-hour hard stop), and periodic reviews.

CONCLUSION

Our multidisciplinary approach using all the core elements of an antibiotic stewardship program significantly decreased AUR in our NICU.

KEY POINTS

· Excessive use of antibiotics may cause harm to the infant's health.. · Indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance.. · Stewardship programs can significantly decrease AUR in NICUs..

A Neonatologist-Driven Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Neonatal Tertiary Care Center in Oman

OBJECTIVE

The overuse of antimicrobials in neonates is not uncommon and has resulted in a global health crisis of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to evaluate changes associated with a neonatologist-driven antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in antibiotic usage.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a pre-post retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care hospital in Oman. Neonates admitted in 2014 to 2015 were considered as the pre-ASP cohort. In 2016, a neonatologist-driven ASP was launched in the unit. The program included the optimization and standardization of antibiotic use for early- and late-onset sepsis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "broad principles," an advanced antimicrobial decision-support system to resolve contentious issues, and placed greater emphasis on education and behavior modification. Data from the years 2016 to 2019 were compared with previous data. The outcome of interest included days of therapy (DOT) for antimicrobials. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared using standard statistical measures.

RESULTS

The study included 2,098 neonates in the pre-ASP period and 5,464 neonates in the post-ASP period. There was no difference in baseline characteristics. The antibiotic use decreased from 752 DOT per 1,000 patient-days (PD) in the pre-ASP period to 264 DOT in the post-ASP period (64.8% reduction, p < 0.001). The proportion of neonates who received any antibiotics declined by 46% (pre-ASP = 1,161/2,098, post-ASP = 1,676/5,464). The most statistically significant reduction in DOT per 1,000 PD was observed in the use of cefotaxime (82%), meropenem (74%), and piperacillin-tazobactam (74%). There was no change in mortality, culture-positive microbial profile, or multidrug-resistant organism incidence in the post-ASP period.

CONCLUSION

Empowering frontline neonatologists to drive ASPs was associated with a sustained reduction in antibiotic utilization.

KEY POINTS

· Overuse of antimicrobials is not uncommon in neonatal intensive care units.. · ASPs and infection control and prevention measures may help in decreasing antibiotic consumption and culture-positive sepsis.. · Empowering frontline neonatologists resulted in a sustained decrease in antimicrobial use without extra resources or financial burden..

Antimicrobial exposure during infancy in a longitudinal California cohort

BACKGROUND

To describe temporal and sociodemographic patterns of antimicrobial exposure during the first year of life in a large US cohort.

METHODS

Singleton infants born 1998-2014 enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated health system (n = 345,550) were followed longitudinally via comprehensive electronic health records, capturing all systemic antimicrobial inpatient administrations and outpatient dispensings. Antimicrobial exposure was summarized by maternal and infant characteristics, birth year, inpatient/outpatient status, age in months, and drug class.

RESULTS

Overall, 44% of infants in this cohort received at least one dose of antimicrobials during infancy. Decreases over time were driven by reduced outpatient dispensings specifically in later infancy, primarily for penicillins. Among infants receiving any antimicrobials the median number of exposure-days was 16. Inpatient dispensings peaked in the first 30 days of life and outpatient dispensings peaked at 10-11 months. Birth characteristics (i.e., NICU admission, gestational age) were strong independent predictors of antimicrobial exposure between 0- < 3 months; sociodemographic factors were modest predictors of exposure for 3-12 months.

CONCLUSION

Predictors of antimicrobial exposure in early and late infancy are distinct with early infancy exposures highly correlated to birth characteristics. The cumulative proportion of infants exposed has decreased due to fewer late infancy outpatient dispensings.

IMPACT

Comprehensive antimicrobial exposure histories and the maternal and infant characteristics predicting exposure have not been well described in US populations. This analysis provides estimates of cumulative antimicrobial exposures by sociodemographic factors, delivery characteristics, month of life, inpatient/outpatient status, and antibiotic class among one of the largest US HMOs. Predictors of early infancy antimicrobial exposures differ from those in late infancy, with early exposures strongly correlated to birth characteristics and late infancy exposures modestly related to sociodemographic factors. Antimicrobial exposure among infants decreased over the time period primarily due to reduced outpatient dispensings in later infancy.

Device-associated infections in neonatal care units in a middle-income country, 2016-2018

OBJECTIVE

Describe the device-associated infections in the NICUs in Cali - Colombia, a middle-income country, between August 2016 to December 2018.

METHODS

Observational cross-sectional study evaluating reports of device-associated infections in 10 NICUs in Cali, Colombia, between August 2016 and December 2018. Socio-demographic and microbiological data were obtained from the National Public Health surveillance system, through a specialized notification sheet. The relationship of device-associated infections with several outcomes including birth weight, microorganisms, and mortality was evaluated using OR CI95%, using the logistic regression model. Data processing was performed using the statistical program STATA 16.

RESULTS

226 device-associated infections were reported. The rate of infection with central line-associated bloodstream infections was 2.62 per 1000 days of device use and 2.32 per 1000 days for ventilator-associated pneumonia. This was higher in neonates under 1000 g; 4.59 and 4.10, respectively. 43.4% of the infections were due to gram-negative bacteria and 42.3% were due to gram-positive bacteria. Time from hospitalization to diagnosis of all device-associated infections had a median of 14 days. When compared by weight, infants with a weight lower than 1000 g had a greater chance of death (OR 3.61; 95% CI 1.53-8.49, p = 0.03). Infection by gram-negative bacteria was associated with a greater chance of dying (OR 3.06 CI 95 1.33-7.06, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the need to maintain epidemiological surveillance processes in neonatal intensive care units, especially when medical devices are used.

Short-course antibiotic therapy for pneumonia in the neonatal intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

To determine the adherence and safety outcomes of a 5-day antibiotic course with a "time-out" for treatment of "blood culture-negative" pneumonia in the NICU.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective surveillance of all infants diagnosed with pneumonia at 7 NICUs from 8/2020-12/2021. Safety outcomes were defined a priori by re-initiation of antibiotic therapy within 14 days after discontinuation and overall and sepsis-related mortality.

RESULTS

128 infants were diagnosed with 136 episodes of pneumonia; 88% (n = 119) were treated with 5 days of definitive antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics were restarted within 14 days in 22 (16%) of the 136 pneumonia episodes. However, only 3 (3%) of the 119 episodes of pneumonia treated for 5 days had antibiotics restarted for pneumonia. Mortality was 5% (7/128); 5 of the 7 deaths were assessed as sepsis-related.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to the 5-day definitive antibiotic treatment for "culture-negative" pneumonia was high and the intervention seemed safe.

Old Folks, Bad Boon: Antimicrobial Resistance in the Infant Gut Microbiome

The development of the intestinal microbiome in the neonate starts, mainly, at birth, when the infant receives its founding microbial inoculum from the mother. This microbiome contains genes conferring resistance to antibiotics since these are found in some of the microorganisms present in the intestine. Similarly to microbiota composition, the possession of antibiotic resistance genes is affected by different perinatal factors. Moreover, antibiotics are the most used drugs in early life, and the use of antibiotics in pediatrics covers a wide variety of possibilities and treatment options. The disruption in the early microbiota caused by antibiotics may be of great relevance, not just because it may limit colonization by beneficial microorganisms and increase that of potential pathogens, but also because it may increase the levels of antibiotic resistance genes. The increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is one of the major public health threats that humanity has to face and, therefore, understanding the factors that determine the development of the resistome in early life is of relevance. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies have enabled the study of the microbiota and the resistome at unprecedent levels. These aspects are discussed in this review as well as some potential interventions aimed at reducing the possession of resistance genes.

Antibiotic therapy and necrotizing enterocolitis

Antibiotic therapy remains a cornerstone of treatment of both medical and surgical presentations of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). However, guidelines regarding the administration of antibiotics for the treatment of NEC are lacking and practices vary amongst clinicians. Although the pathogenesis of NEC is unknown, there is consensus that the infant gastrointestinal microbiome contributes to the disease. The presumed connection between dysbiosis and NEC has prompted some to study whether early prophylactic enteral antibiotics can prevent NEC. Yet others have taken an opposing approach, studying whether perinatal antibiotic exposure increases the risk of NEC by inducing a state of dysbiosis. This narrative review summarizes what is known about antibiotics and their association with the infant microbiome and NEC, current antibiotic prescribing practices for infants with medical and surgical NEC, as well as potential strategies to further optimize the use of antibiotics in this population of infants.

Patterns of Infections among Extremely Preterm Infants

Infections remain a leading cause of neonatal death, especially among the extremely preterm infants. To evaluate the incidence, pathogenesis, and in-hospital outcomes associated with sepsis among hospitalized extremely preterm infants born at 24-0/7 to 27-6/7 weeks of gestation, we designed a post hoc analysis of data collected prospectively during the Preterm Epo Neuroprotection (PENUT) Trial, NCT #01378273. We analyzed culture positive infection data, as well as type and duration of antibiotic course and described their association with in-hospital morbidities and mortality. Of 936 included infants, 229 (24%) had at least one positive blood culture during their hospitalization. Early onset sepsis (EOS, ≤3 days after birth) occurred in 6% of the infants, with Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) and Escherichia Coli the most frequent pathogens. Late onset sepsis (LOS, >day 3) occurred in 20% of the infants. Nearly all infants were treated with antibiotics for presumed sepsis at least once during their hospitalization. The risk of confirmed or presumed EOS was lower with increasing birthweight. Confirmed EOS had no significant association with in-hospital outcomes or death while LOS was associated with increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and death. Extremely premature infants with presumed sepsis as compared to culture positive sepsis had lower rates of morbidities. In conclusion, the use of antibiotics for presumed sepsis remains much higher than confirmed infection rates. Ongoing work exploring antibiotic stewardship and presumed, culture-negative sepsis in extremely preterm infants is needed.

The Role of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Biofilms on Late-Onset Sepsis: Current Challenges and Emerging Diagnostics and Therapies

Infections are one of the most significant complications of neonates, especially those born preterm, with sepsis as one of the principal causes of mortality. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), a group of staphylococcal species that naturally inhabit healthy human skin and mucosa, are the most common cause of late-onset sepsis, especially in preterms. One of the risk factors for the development of CoNS infections is the presence of implanted biomedical devices, which are frequently used for medications and/or nutrient delivery, as they serve as a scaffold for biofilm formation. The major concerns related to CoNS infections have to do with the increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics observed among this bacterial group and biofilm cells’ increased tolerance to antibiotics. As such, the treatment of CoNS biofilm-associated infections with antibiotics is increasingly challenging and considering that antibiotics remain the primary form of treatment, this issue will likely persist in upcoming years. For that reason, the development of innovative and efficient therapeutic measures is of utmost importance. This narrative review assesses the current challenges and emerging diagnostic tools and therapies for the treatment of CoNS biofilm-associated infections, with a special focus on late-onset sepsis.

Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Infections in the NICUs and Methods to Combat It

Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. A significant proportion of bacteria causing neonatal sepsis is resistant to multiple antibiotics, not only to the usual empirical first-line regimens, but also to second- and third-line antibiotics in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). NICUs have unique antimicrobial stewardship goals. Apart from antimicrobial resistance, NICUs have to deal with another problem, namely biofilm infections, since neonates often have central and peripheral lines, tracheal tubes and other foreign bodies for a prolonged duration. The aim of this review is to describe traditional and novel ways to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biofilm infections in NICUs. The topics discussed will include prevention and control of the spread of infection in NICUs, as well as the wise use of antimicrobial therapy and ways to fight biofilm infections.

Invasive fungal infection is associated with antibiotic exposure in preterm infants: a multi-centre prospective case-control study

BACKGROUND

Previous antibiotic exposure is an important risk factor for invasive fungal infection (IFI). Antibiotic overexposure is common in lower-income countries; however, multi-centre studies concerning IFI in relation to antibiotic exposure are scarce.

AIM

This prospective, multi-centre matched case-control study explored the correlation of IFI and antibiotic exposure in very preterm infants or very-low-birthweight infants admitted to 23 tertiary hospitals in China between 2018 and 2021.

METHODS

Using a 1:2 matched design for gestational age, birth weight and early-onset sepsis (yes/no), the risk factors between infants diagnosed with IFI and infection-free controls were compared. The antibiotic use rate (AUR) was calculated using calendar days of antibiotic therapy in the 4 weeks preceding IFI onset divided by onset day of IFI.

FINDINGS

In total, 6368 infants were included in the study, of which 90 (1.4%) were diagnosed with IFI. Median AUR, length of antibiotic therapy (LOT) and days of antibiotic therapy (DOT) within the 4 weeks preceding IFI onset were 0.90, 18 days and 30 days, respectively. Multi-variate analysis showed that a 10% increase in AUR, each additional day of DOT and LOT, and each additional day of third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems were notably associated with IFI.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged antibiotic therapy is common before the onset of IFI, and is an important risk factor, especially the use of third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. Antibiotic stewardship should be urgently developed and promoted for preterm infants in order to reduce IFI in lower-income countries such as China.

Evaluation of antibiotic stewardship among near-term and term infants admitted to a neonatal unit

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of evidence-based antibiotic stewardship in a neonatal unit in China. The study period consisted of two phases, one retrospective (the baseline period, January to December 2018, and the transition period, January 2019 to August 2020) and one prospective intervention period (September 2020 to August 2021). During the prospective period, evidence-based antibiotic stewardship was applied to neonates with suspected infections, pneumonia, and culture-negative sepsis. The antibiotic stewardship included the observation form of neonatal infections, antibiotic therapy of no more than 48 h for suspected infections, and 5 days for pneumonia and culture-negative sepsis. The change in antibiotic use measured by days of therapy per 1000 patient-days between the baseline and intervention period was analyzed. Safety outcomes included reinitiation of antibiotics within 14 days, length of stay, occurrence of late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell stage ≥ II), multidrug-resistant organism infections, and mortality. A total of 7705 neonates were enrolled during the baseline (n = 4804) and the intervention periods (n = 2901). The total antibiotic usage during the baseline period was 771 days of therapy per 1000 patient-days, while that was 525 days of therapy per 1000 patient-days during the intervention period, indicating a 32% decrease in antibiotic consumption. No significant difference in safety outcomes was observed between the baseline and intervention period (P > 0.05), whereas the length of stay was longer during the intervention period (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The evidence-based antibiotic stewardship can safely and effectively reduce antibiotic use and shorten the duration of therapy in the neonatal unit.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Overuse of antibiotics has been associated with adverse events in neonates, including necrotizing enterocolitis, multidrug-resistant organism infections, and death. • More clinical effectiveness evidence is needed to support antibiotic stewardship of neonates in China.

WHAT IS NEW

• Using prospective audit, targeted stewardship interventions, this study shows that a 32% reduction in overall antibiotic consumption was achieved safely. • Implementation of evidence-based neonatal antibiotic stewardship, including the observation form of neonatal infections, antibiotic therapy of no more than 48 h for suspected infections, and 5 days for pneumonia and culture-negative sepsis, is safe and effective among newborns in a developing country.

Time to positivity of blood cultures in neonatal late-onset bacteraemia

OBJECTIVE

To determine the time to positivity (TTP) of blood cultures among infants with late-onset bacteraemia and predictors of TTP >36 hours.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

16 birth centres in two healthcare systems.

PATIENTS

Infants with positive blood cultures obtained >72 hours after birth.

OUTCOME

The main outcome was TTP, defined as the time interval from specimen collection to when a neonatal provider was notified of culture growth. TTP analysis was restricted to the first positive culture per infant. Patient-specific and infection-specific factors were analysed for association with TTP >36 hours.

RESULTS

Of 10 235 blood cultures obtained from 3808 infants, 1082 (10.6%) were positive. Restricting to bacterial pathogens and the first positive culture, the median TTP (25th-75th percentile) for 428 cultures was 23.5 hours (18.4-29.9); 364 (85.0%) resulted in 36 hours. Excluding coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), 275 of 294 (93.5%) cultures were flagged positive by 36 hours. In a multivariable model, CoNS isolation and antibiotic pretreatment were significantly associated with increased odds of TTP >36 hours. Projecting a 36-hour empiric duration at one site and assuming that all negative evaluations were associated with an empiric course of antibiotics, we estimated that 1164 doses of antibiotics would be avoided in 629 infants over 10 years, while delaying a subsequent antibiotic dose in 13 infants with bacteraemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Empiric antibiotic administration in late-onset infection evaluations (not targeting CoNS) can be stopped at 36 hours. Longer durations (48 hours) should be considered when there is pretreatment or antibiotic therapy is directed at CoNS.

Antibiotic knowledge, attitudes and reported practice during pregnancy and six months after birth: a follow- up study in Lao PDR

Background

Antibiotics are important medicines to prevent maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Women’s knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use influence their practice. When they become mothers, this may be mirrored in the use of antibiotics for their newborn children. The current study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and reported practice of pregnant women regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance as well as their approach towards antibiotic use for their newborn babies.

Methods

This was a follow-up study with data collected via structured interviews between September 2019 and August 2020 in Feuang (rural) and Vangvieng (urban) districts in Vientiane province, Lao PDR. We identified and invited all women attending antenatal care in their third trimester of pregnancy in the selected areas. Using a structured questionnaire at third trimester of pregnancy we captured data on knowledge regarding antibiotic use and resistance. We collected information on attitudes and reported practice at two time points: (i) at third trimester of pregnancy and (ii) 6 months after birth. Univariate analysis and frequency distributions were used to study pattern of responses. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables respectively. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

We surveyed 539 women with a mean age of 25 years. Two oral antibiotics, i) ampicillin and ii) amoxicillin were correctly identified by 68 and 47% of participants respectively. Only 24% of women (19% in Feuang and 29% in Vangvieng) answered correctly that antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections. The most prevalent response was “I don’t know” suggesting the questions were challenging. Significantly less women would use antibiotics from a previous illness for their child than for themselves (16% vs 29%), however they would be more willing to use antibiotics for their baby even in case of mild symptoms (29% vs 17% while pregnant). The majority of antibiotics were prescribed by healthcare providers and 46% of children with the common cold received antibiotics.

Conclusions

Women’s knowledge was sub-optimal, still, they manifested appropriate attitudes towards antibiotic use during pregnancy and for their child. Nearly half of children received antibiotics for the common cold. There is a need for context adapted programs aiming at improving women’s knowledge, as well as healthcare providers, emphasising rational antibiotic prescribing during pregnancy and for children.

Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Antimicrobial Stewardship Target That Deserves Attention!

OBJECTIVE

Previous analyses of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) antimicrobial stewardship programs have identified key contributors to overall antibiotic use, including prolonged empiric therapy >48 hours for early-onset sepsis (EOS). However, most were performed in mixed NICU settings with onsite birthing units, resulting in a high proportion of inborn patient admissions. The study aimed to describe and analyze the most common reasons for antimicrobial use in an outborn tertiary care NICU.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a 10-month review of all antimicrobial doses prescribed in a 20-bed level III NICU. The primary outcome was the total days of therapy (DOT) and length of therapy (LOT) for each clinical indication. Secondary outcomes included total DOT for each antimicrobial and appropriateness of antimicrobial courses.

RESULTS

Of 235 antibiotic courses and 1,899 DOT (519 DOT/1,000 patient days) prescribed in 173 infants during the study period, the most common indications were suspected EOS, followed by prophylaxis. Among the 85 DOT/1,000 patient days (PD; 38 courses) prescribed for prophylaxis, 52.5 DOT/1,000 PD (25 courses; 62%) were for surgical prophylaxis. Of 17 postoperative antibiotic courses, 15 (88.2%) were deemed to be inappropriate mostly due to a duration greater than 24 hours postoperatively (n = 13; median LOT = 3 days).

CONCLUSION

Surgical prophylaxis is a common reason for antimicrobial misuse in outborn NICU. NICU-based prospective audit and feedback between neonatologists and antimicrobial stewardship teams alone may not be impactful in this setting. Partnerships with neonatologists and surgeons will be key to achieving the target of less than 24 hours of postoperative antimicrobials.

KEY POINTS

· Surgical prophylaxis is a common reason for antimicrobial misuse in the NICU.. · Antimicrobial prophylaxis duration of less than 24 hours postoperatively should be encouraged.. · NICU-based prospective audit and feedback may not be impactful unless surgeons are involved..

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

See Bonus NeoBriefs videos and downloadable teaching slides Intubated infants in the NICU are at risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a common type of health care-associated infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed guidelines for diagnosing VAP in patients younger than 1 year, which include worsening gas exchange, radiographic findings, and at least 3 defined clinical signs of pneumonia. VAP in infants is treated with empiric antibiotics selected based on local resistance patterns and individualized patient data. Many NICUs have implemented prevention bundles in an effort to decrease VAP by ensuring the cleanest environment for intubated neonates (hand hygiene, sterile handling of equipment), positioning of infants to prevent gastric reflux, and constantly reevaluating for extubation readiness. Although these prevention bundle elements are intuitive and generally low risk, none are based on strong research support. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of VAP in NICU patients, focusing on recent evidence, highlighting areas of emerging research, and identifying persistent knowledge gaps.

The resistance within: Antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome and resistome dynamics in infancy

Intestinal host-microbiota interactions during the first year of life are critical for infant development. Early-life antibiotic exposures disrupt stereotypical gut microbiota maturation and adversely affect childhood health. Furthermore, antibiotics increase the abundance of resistant bacteria and enrich the resistome-the compendium of antibiotic resistance genes-within the gut microbiota. Here, we discuss acute and persistent impacts of antibiotic exposure during infancy on pediatric health, the gut microbiome, and, particularly, the resistome. Reviewing our current understanding of antibiotic resistance acquisition and dissemination within and between microbiomes, we highlight open questions, which are imperative to resolve in the face of rising bacterial resistance.

Excessively Prolonged Early Antibiotic Duration in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study in a Developing Country

Purpose

Significant antibiotic overuse due to prolonged antibiotic duration has not draw enough attention in developing countries with high antibiotic consumption. We aimed to describe the current status of prolonged early antibiotic duration in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in a large regional multicenter cohort in China.

Patients and Methods

Institution-based prospective cohort study was conducted in all VLBW infants admitted to 16 Grade A tertiary hospitals between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Early antibiotic use was defined as antibiotic initiation within the first 3 days of life. Prolonged early antibiotic course was defined as early antibiotic initiation for more than 7 days in infants with early-onset sepsis (EOS) or more than 3 days in infants with unlikely EOS. Antibiotic use was described as days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days (PD).

Results

Among 1684 eligible VLBW infants, 1544 (91.7%) infants were prescribed with prolonged early antibiotic course, including 618 infants with EOS and 926 infants with unlikely EOS. The median duration of early antibiotic course was 13 (IQR 8;20) days, with 78.0% of courses >7 days and 43.6% of courses >14 days. Total early antibiotic use was 408.3DOT/1000Pd, of which prolonged antibiotic courses accounted for 98.2% of all antibiotic use days. More than three antibiotics used, escalation antibiotic therapy, antibiotics for special use and the use of third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems were significantly common in prolonged courses compared to short courses in both infants with EOS and unlikely EOS group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

A large proportion of VLBW infants had excessively prolonged early antibiotic durations in the regional multicenter in China. Timely discontinuation of antibiotics in VLBW infants according to standardized guidelines and limit on the use of third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems may be key drivers in reducing the antibiotic overuse in developing countries like ours.

Potential benefit from the implementation of the Kaiser Permanente neonatal early-onset sepsis calculator on clinical management of neonates with presumed sepsis

To assess the potential benefit from the implementation of the Kaiser Permanente early-onset sepsis calculator (EOS-C), in terms of antibiotic use and requested laboratory tests, in a network of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Greece, and to determine the incidence of early-onset sepsis (EOS) in Greek NICUs, a prospective surveillance study was conducted in 7 NICUs between April 2018 and June 2019. Data were collected for all newborns ≥ 34 weeks' gestation receiving empiric antibiotic therapy within the first 3 days of life. The number of live births and positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultures within the first 3 days of life were used for calculation of EOS incidence. Evaluation of possible impact of implementing the calculator was done by comparing the clinicians' recorded management to the calculator's suggested course of action. The unit-specific incidence of culture-proven EOS ranged between 0 and 2.99/1000 live births. The weighted incidence rate for all 7 units was 1.8/1000 live births. Management of EOS guided by the calculator could lead to a reduction of empiric antibiotic initiation up to 100% for the group of "well-appearing" neonates and 86% for "equivocal," lowering exposure to antibiotics by 4.2 and 3.8 days per neonate, respectively. Laboratory tests for blood cultures drawn could be reduced by up to 100% and 68%, respectively. Sensitivity of the EOS-C in identifying neonates with positive blood cultures was high.Conclusion: Management strategies based on the Kaiser Permanente neonatal sepsis calculator may significantly reduce antibiotic exposure, invasive diagnostic procedures, and hospitalizations in late preterm and term neonates. What is Known: • Neonates are frequently exposed to antibiotics for presumed EOS. • The Kaiser Permanente sepsis calculator can reduce antibiotic exposure in neonates.. What is New: • EOS calculator can be an effective antibiotic stewardship tool in a high prescribing country and can reduce invasive diagnostic procedures and mother-baby separation. • Incidence of EOS in Greece is higher compared to other European countries.

Look Who's Talking: Host and Pathogen Drivers of Staphylococcus epidermidis Virulence in Neonatal Sepsis

Preterm infants are at increased risk for invasive neonatal bacterial infections. S. epidermidis, a ubiquitous skin commensal, is a major cause of late-onset neonatal sepsis, particularly in high-resource settings. The vulnerability of preterm infants to serious bacterial infections is commonly attributed to their distinct and developing immune system. While developmentally immature immune defences play a large role in facilitating bacterial invasion, this fails to explain why only a subset of infants develop infections with low-virulence organisms when exposed to similar risk factors in the neonatal ICU. Experimental research has explored potential virulence mechanisms contributing to the pathogenic shift of commensal S. epidermidis strains. Furthermore, comparative genomics studies have yielded insights into the emergence and spread of nosocomial S. epidermidis strains, and their genetic and functional characteristics implicated in invasive disease in neonates. These studies have highlighted the multifactorial nature of S. epidermidis traits relating to pathogenicity and commensalism. In this review, we discuss the known host and pathogen drivers of S. epidermidis virulence in neonatal sepsis and provide future perspectives to close the gap in our understanding of S. epidermidis as a cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Noninfectious influencers of early-onset sepsis biomarkers

Diagnostic tests for sepsis aim to either detect the infectious agent (such as microbiological cultures) or detect host markers that commonly change in response to an infection (such as C-reactive protein). The latter category of tests has advantages compared to culture-based methods, including a quick turnaround time and in some cases lower requirements for blood samples. They also provide information on the immune response of the host, a critical determinant of clinical outcome. However, they do not always differentiate nonspecific host inflammation from true infection and can inadvertently lead to antibiotic overuse. Multiple noninfectious conditions unique to neonates in the first days after birth can lead to inflammatory marker profiles that mimic those seen among infected infants. Our goal was to review noninfectious conditions and patient characteristics that alter host inflammatory markers commonly used for the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis. Recognizing these conditions can focus the use of biomarkers on patients most likely to benefit while avoiding scenarios that promote false positives. We highlight approaches that may improve biomarker performance and emphasize the need to use patient outcomes, in addition to conventional diagnostic performance analysis, to establish clinical utility.

Antibiotic Use in Term and Near-Term Newborns

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to study whether national and local antibiotic stewardship projects have reduced the antibiotic use in newborns and to monitor potential changes in adverse outcomes.

METHODS

In a nationwide, population-based study from Norway, we included all hospital live births from 34 weeks' gestation (n = 282 046) during 2015 to 2019. The primary outcome was the proportion of newborns treated with antibiotics from 0 to 28 days after birth. The secondary outcomes were the overall duration of antibiotic treatment and by categories: culture-positive sepsis, clinical sepsis, and no sepsis.

RESULTS

A total of 7365 (2.6%) newborns received intravenous antibiotics during the period, with a reduction from 3.1% in 2015 to 2.2% in 2019 (30% decrease; P < .001). Hospitals with antibiotic stewardship projects experienced the largest reduction (48% vs 23%; P < .001). We found a small decrease in the median duration of antibiotic treatment in newborns without sepsis from 2.93 to 2.66 days (P = .011), and geographical variation was reduced during the study period. The overall number of days with antibiotic treatments was reduced by 37% from 2015 to 2019 (119.1 of 1000 vs 75.6 of 1000; P < .001). Sepsis was confirmed by blood culture in 206 newborns (incidence rate: 0.73 cases per 1000 live births). We found no increase in sepsis with treatment onset >72 hours of life, and sepsis-attributable deaths remained at a low level.

CONCLUSIONS

During the study period, a substantial decrease in the proportion of newborns treated with antibiotics was observed together with a decline in treatment duration for newborns without culture-positive sepsis.

Antibiotic Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in China: A Multicenter Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To provide national-level antibiotic use data from Chinese neonatal intensive care units to inform future antimicrobial stewardship using a large contemporary cohort of preterm infants in China.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study enrolled all infants less than 34^0/7 weeks of gestation admitted to 25 tertiary neonatal intensive care units across China between May 1, 2015, and April 30, 2018. The antibiotic use rate (AUR) was defined as the number of days an infant was prescribed with 1 or more antibiotics divided by the total length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

Among 24 597 eligible infants, 21 736 (88.4%) infants received antibiotics. The median AUR was 441 per 1000 patient-days (IQR, 242-692 per 1000 patient-days). The median duration of each antibiotic course was 9 days (IQR, 6-14 days). Overall, 64.6% infants received broad-spectrum antibiotics, with a median broad-spectrum AUR of 250 per 1000 patient-days (IQR, 0-500 per 1000 patient-days), accounting for 70.7% of all antibiotic use days. Overall, 68.7% of all antibiotic use occurred among infants without infection-related morbidities, with a median duration of 8 days (IQR, 6-13 days) for each course. Only 22.9% episodes of culture-negative sepsis were prescribed with antibiotics for 7 or fewer days, and 34.7% were treated with antibiotics for more than 14 days. For early antibiotic use, the median duration of antibiotic therapy within 7 days after birth was 7 days (IQR, 4-7 days).

CONCLUSIONS

A high AUR among infants without infections, prolonged antibiotic durations, and excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics were the main problems of antibiotic use in Chinese neonatal intensive care units and should be high-impact focuses for future stewardship interventions.

Neonatal blood culture inoculant volume: feasibility and challenges

BACKGROUND

Clinicians often express concerns about poor sensitivity of blood cultures in neonates resulting from inadequate inoculant volumes. Our objective was to determine the inoculant volume sent for neonatal sepsis evaluations and identify areas of improvement.

METHODS

Single-center prospective observational study of infants undergoing sepsis evaluation. Blood volume was determined by clinician documentation over 21 months, and additionally by weighing culture bottles during 12 months. Adequate volume was defined as ≥1 mL total inoculant per evaluation. For first-time evaluations, local guidelines recommend sending an aerobic-anaerobic pair with 1 mL inoculant in each.

RESULTS

There were 987 evaluations in 788 infants. Clinicians reported ≥1 mL total inoculant in 96.9% evaluations. Among 544 evaluations where bottles were weighed, 93.4% had ≥1 mL total inoculant. Very low birth weight infants undergoing evaluations >7 days after birth had the highest proportion of inadequate inoculants (14.4%). Only 3/544 evaluations and 26/1011 bottles had total inoculant <0.5 mL. Ninety evaluations had <1 mL in both aerobic and anaerobic bottles despite a total inoculant volume that allowed inoculation of ≥1 mL in one of the bottles.

CONCLUSIONS

Obtaining recommended inoculant volumes is feasible in majority of neonates. Measuring inoculant volumes can focus improvement efforts and improve test reliability.

IMPACT

Clinicians express concern about the unreliability of neonatal blood cultures because of inadequate inoculant volume. We investigated over 900 evaluations and found >90% of evaluations have ≥1 mL inoculant. Monitoring adequacy of blood culture technique can identify areas of improvement and may allay concerns about blood culture reliability. Current recommendations for adequate inoculant volume for blood cultures are met in a majority of neonates. Areas of improvement include preterm late-onset sepsis evaluations and distribution techniques during inoculation.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of neonates with polymicrobial ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by more than one microorganisms is not uncommon and may be potentially challenging, but the relevant data is scarce in ventilated neonates. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of polymicrobial VAP in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS

All neonates with definite diagnosis of VAP from a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Taiwan between October 2017 and September 2020 were prospectively observed and enrolled for analyses. All clinical features, therapeutic interventions and outcomes were compared between the polymicrobial VAP and monomicrobial VAP episodes. Multivariate regression analyses were used to find the independent risk factors for treatment failure.

RESULTS

Among 236 episodes of neonatal VAP, 60 (25.4%) were caused by more than one microorganisms. Polymicrobial VAP episodes were more likely to be associated with multidrug-resistant pathogens (53.3% versus 34.7%, P = 0.014), more often occurred in later days of life and in neonates with prolonged intubation and underlying bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Otherwise most clinical characteristics of polymicrobial VAP were similar to those of monomicrobial VAP. The therapeutic responses and treatment outcomes were also comparable between these two groups, although modification of therapeutic antibiotics were significantly more common in polymicrobial VAP episodes than monomicrobial VAP episodes (63.3% versus 46.2%; P < 0.001). None of any specific pathogens was significantly associated with worse outcomes. Instead, it is the severity of illness, including presence of concurrent bacteremia, septic shock, and requirement of high-frequency oscillatory ventilator and underlying neurological sequelae that are independently associated with treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Polymicrobial VAP accounted for 25.4% of all neonatal VAP in the NICU, and frequently occurred in neonates with prolonged intubation and underlying bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In our cohort, most clinical features, therapeutic responses and final outcomes of neonates with monomicrobial and polymicrobial VAP did not differ significantly.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes following neonatal late-onset sepsis and blood culture-negative conditions

OBJECTIVE

Determine risk of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in infants with late-onset sepsis (LOS) versus late-onset, antibiotic-treated, blood culture-negative conditions (LOCNC).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

24 neonatal centres.

PATIENTS

Infants born 1/1/2006-31/12/2014, at 22-26 weeks gestation, with birth weight 401-1000 g and surviving >7 days were included. Infants with early-onset sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis, intestinal perforation or both LOS and LOCNC were excluded.

EXPOSURES

LOS and LOCNC were defined as antibiotic administration for ≥5 days with and without a positive blood/cerebrospinal fluid culture, respectively. Infants with these diagnoses were also compared with infants with neither condition.

OUTCOMES

Death or NDI was assessed at 18-26 months corrected age follow-up. Modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risks adjusting for covariates occurring ≤7 days of age.

RESULTS

Of 7354 eligible infants, 3940 met inclusion criteria: 786 (20%) with LOS, 1601 (41%) with LOCNC and 1553 (39%) with neither. Infants with LOS had higher adjusted relative risk (95% CI) for death/NDI (1.14 (1.05 to 1.25)) and death before follow-up (1.71 (1.44 to 2.03)) than those with LOCNC. Among survivors, risk for NDI did not differ between the two groups (0.99 (0.86 to 1.13)) but was higher for LOCNC infants (1.17 (1.04 to 1.31)) compared with unaffected infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with LOS had higher risk of death, but not NDI, compared with infants with LOCNC. Surviving infants with LOCNC had higher risk of NDI compared with unaffected infants. Improving outcomes for infants with LOCNC requires study of the underlying conditions and the potential impact of antibiotic exposure.

Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention in neonatal intensive care: Recommendations and implementation

AIM

To (i) determine the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and (ii) assess the impact of a collaborative antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) intervention on prescribing practices.

METHODS

The intervention was a weekly AMS audit-feedback joint ward round (6-month period) of Neonatology and Infectious Diseases clinicians in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Melbourne, Australia. Antibiotic prescriptions were audited and recommendations delivered in real time. The proportion of recommendations implemented was used to assess acceptability of the intervention.

RESULTS

During the study period, there were 23 AMS rounds, during which 249 patients were reviewed at 627 separate episodes. Of these, 233 (37%) episodes were for patients receiving antimicrobials. Of these, 147 (63%) received empirical antimicrobial treatment, 43 (18%) targeted antimicrobial treatment and 43 (18%) antimicrobial prophylaxis. There were 58 (25%) of 233 episodes of inappropriate antibiotic use, and 62 recommendations for improvement. Most common recommendations were to narrow (33/62, 53%) or stop (12/62, 19%) antimicrobials. The majority (45, 73%) of recommendations were accepted, resulting in significant improvement in the proportion of the 233 episodes that had completely appropriate antibiotic prescribing: 175 (75%) to 217 (93%) (relative risk 1.2, 95% confidence intervals 1.1-1.3, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A collaborative audit-feedback AMS intervention was effective in identifying inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions and impacted positively on treatment plans. Ancillary benefits were improved communication between departments and the revision of antimicrobial prescribing guidelines.

The road to zero nosocomial infections in neonates-a narrative review

Aim

Nosocomial infections (NI) in neonates are associated with prolonged hospitalisation, adverse neurodevelopmental outcome and high mortality. Over the past decade, numerous prevention strategies have resulted in significant reductions in NI rates. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of current NI rates from large, geographically defined cohorts.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched for evidence regarding epidemiology and prevention of NI in neonates. Extracted studies were synthesised in a narrative form with experiential reflection.

Results

Despite the abundance of geographically defined incidence proportions, an epidemiological overview of NI is difficult to provide, given the lack of consensus definition for neonatal NI and different baseline populations being compared. Successful prevention efforts have focused on implementing evidence‐based practices while eliminating outdated strategies. The most promising model for reduction in infection rates is based on quality improvement (QI) collaboratives and benchmarking, involving identification and implementation of best practices, selection of measurable outcomes and fostering a sense of community and transparency.

Conclusion

The preventative rather than curative approach forms the new paradigm for reducing the burden of neonatal infections. Despite progress achieved, continued work towards improved prevention practices is required in the strive towards zero NIs.

Cost savings from use of a neonatal sepsis calculator in Australia: A modelled economic analysis

AIM

To estimate the change in average cost and length of stay (LOS) for the neonatal birth admission resulting from use of the neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) calculator compared to guideline-based management, in an Australian perinatal health-care setting.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model (decision tree) was constructed to assess admission cost and LOS with EOS calculator use compared to guideline-based management. Probabilities of clinical sepsis-related outcomes were obtained via review of published literature. Costs and average LOS were obtained from Australia's Independent Hospital Pricing Authority.

RESULTS

EOS calculator use was associated with a reduction in costs of AUD$25806 and in average LOS of 25.4 days per 1000 babies born. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated greater net benefits could be expected for services where there is a higher baseline rate of antibiotic use.

CONCLUSION

This model demonstrates a significant cost reduction for the neonatal birth admission, associated with use of the EOS calculator as compared to existing guidelines. The net benefit may be greater in Australia, where rates of empiric antibiotic use are reportedly high, compared to some European countries and the United States. Future research opportunities include prospective collection of economic data alongside the introduction of the EOS calculator.

Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates and is challenging to diagnose. Infants manifest nonspecific clinical signs in response to sepsis; these signs may be caused by noninfectious conditions. Time to antibiotics affects neonatal sepsis outcome, so clinicians need to identify and treat neonates with sepsis expeditiously. Clinicians use serum biomarkers to measure inflammation and infection and assess the infant's risk of sepsis. However, current biomarkers lack sufficient sensitivity or specificity to be consider useful diagnostic tools. Continued research to identify novel biomarkers as well as novel ways of measuring them is sorely needed.

Microbial Contamination in Hospital Environment Has the Potential to Colonize Preterm Newborns' Nasal Cavities

Infants born before 28 weeks are at risk of contracting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which could be caused by pathogens residing on contaminated hospital surfaces. In this longitudinal study, we characterized by NGS the bacterial composition of nasal swabs of preterm newborns, at the time of birth and after admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), comparing it with that of the environmental wards at the time of delivery and during the hospitalization. We characterized the resistome on the samples too. The results showed that environmental microorganisms responsible for HAIs, in particular Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Escherichia-Shigella spp., and K. pneumoniae, were detected in higher percentages in the noses of the babies after 13 days of hospitalization, in terms of the number of colonized patients, microorganism amount, and relative abundance. The analysis of nasal bacteria resistome evidenced the absence of resistance genes at the time of birth, some of which appeared and increased after the admission in the NICU. These data suggest that hospital surface microbiota might be transported to respiratory mucosae or other profound tissues. Our study highlights the importance of a screening that allows characterizing the microbial profile of the environment to assess the risk of colonization of the newborn.

Antibiotic regimens for early-onset neonatal sepsis

BACKGROUND

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the third leading cause of neonatal mortality globally constituting 13% of overall neonatal mortality. Despite the high burden of neonatal sepsis, high-quality evidence in diagnosis and treatment is scarce. Possibly due to the diagnostic challenges of sepsis and the relative immunosuppression of the newborn, many neonates receive antibiotics for suspected sepsis. Antibiotics have become the most used therapeutics in neonatal intensive care units. The last Cochrane Review was updated in 2004. Given the clinical importance, an updated systematic review assessing the effects of different antibiotic regimens for early-onset neonatal sepsis is needed.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of different antibiotic regimens for early-onset neonatal sepsis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following electronic databases: CENTRAL (2020, Issue 8); Ovid MEDLINE; Embase Ovid; CINAHL; LILACS; Science Citation Index EXPANDED and Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science on 12 March 2021. We searched clinical trials databases and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs comparing different antibiotic regimens for early-onset neonatal sepsis. We included participants from birth to 72 hours of life at randomisation.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Our primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and our secondary outcomes were: serious adverse events, respiratory support, circulatory support, nephrotoxicity, neurological developmental impairment, necrotising enterocolitis, and ototoxicity. Our primary time point of interest was at maximum follow-up.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five RCTs (865 participants). All trials were at high risk of bias. The certainty of the evidence according to GRADE was very low. The included trials assessed five different comparisons of antibiotics. We did not conduct any meta-analyses due to lack of relevant data. Of the five included trials one trial compared ampicillin plus gentamicin with benzylpenicillin plus gentamicin; one trial compared piperacillin plus tazobactam with amikacin; one trial compared ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid with piperacillin plus gentamicin; one trial compared piperacillin with ampicillin plus amikacin; and one trial compared ceftazidime with benzylpenicillin plus gentamicin. None of the five comparisons found any evidence of a difference when assessing all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, circulatory support, nephrotoxicity, neurological developmental impairment, or necrotising enterocolitis; however, none of the trials were near an information size that could contribute significantly to the evidence of the comparative benefits and risks of any particular antibiotic regimen. None of the trials assessed respiratory support or ototoxicity. The benefits and harms of different antibiotic regimens remain unclear due to the lack of well-powered trials and the high risk of systematic errors.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence is insufficient to support any antibiotic regimen being superior to another. Large RCTs assessing different antibiotic regimens in early-onset neonatal sepsis with low risk of bias are warranted.

Dose Optimization of Gentamicin in Critically Ill Neonates

BACKGROUND

Appropriate dosing of gentamicin in critically ill neonates is still debated.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the peak concentration (Cmax) and area-under-the-time-concentration curve (AUC0-24) of gentamicin and to simulate the recommended doses using the Monte Carlo method.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study on critically ill neonates carried over a one-year period. The demographic characteristics, dosage regimen and gentamicin concentrations were recorded for each neonate. Using Bayesian pharmacokinetic modeling, Cmax and AUC0-24 were predicted. Dose recommendations for the target Cmax (μg/ml) of 12 were obtained, and Monte Carlo simulation (100,000 iterations) was used for predicting the pharmacokinetic parameters and recommended doses for various birth weight categories.

RESULTS

Eighty-two critically ill neonates (with an average gestational age of 33.7 weeks; and birth weight of 2.1 kg) were recruited. Higher Cmax and AUC0-24 values were predicted in premature neonates, with greater cumulative AUCs in extremely preterm neonates. The average administered dose was 4 mg/kg/day and 75% of the participants had Cmax greater than 12 μg/ml following a single dose, and 85% were found to be at steady state. On the contrary, only 25% of the study population had the recommended AUC0-24 (above 125 μg-hr/ml). Simulation tests indicate that 90% of the critically ill neonates would achieve recommended Cmax with doses ranging between 5 and 6 mg/kg/day.

CONCLUSION

Currently used dose of 4 mg/kg/day is adequate to maintain Cmax in a large majority of the study population, with one-fourth population reporting the recommended AUC0-24. Increasing the dose to 5-6 mg/kg/day will more likely help to achieve both the recommended Cmax and AUC0-24 values.

Antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis

BACKGROUND

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the third leading cause of neonatal mortality globally constituting 13% of overall neonatal mortality. Despite the high burden of neonatal sepsis, high-quality evidence in diagnosis and treatment is scarce. Due to the diagnostic challenges of sepsis and the relative immunosuppression of the newborn, many neonates receive antibiotics for suspected sepsis. Antibiotics have become the most used therapeutics in neonatal intensive care units, and observational studies in high-income countries suggest that 83% to 94% of newborns treated with antibiotics for suspected sepsis have negative blood cultures. The last Cochrane Review was updated in 2005. There is a need for an updated systematic review assessing the effects of different antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of different antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following electronic databases: CENTRAL (2021, Issue 3); Ovid MEDLINE; Embase Ovid; CINAHL; LILACS; Science Citation Index EXPANDED and Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science on 12 March 2021. We also searched clinical trials databases and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs comparing different antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis. We included participants older than 72 hours of life at randomisation, suspected or diagnosed with neonatal sepsis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, or necrotising enterocolitis. We excluded trials that assessed treatment of fungal infections.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Our primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and our secondary outcomes were: serious adverse events, respiratory support, circulatory support, nephrotoxicity, neurological developmental impairment, necrotising enterocolitis, and ototoxicity. Our primary time point of interest was at maximum follow-up.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five RCTs (580 participants). All trials were at high risk of bias, and had very low-certainty evidence. The five included trials assessed five different comparisons of antibiotics. We did not conduct a meta-analysis due to lack of relevant data. Of the five included trials one trial compared cefazolin plus amikacin with vancomycin plus amikacin; one trial compared ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid with flucloxacillin plus gentamicin; one trial compared cloxacillin plus amikacin with cefotaxime plus gentamicin; one trial compared meropenem with standard care (ampicillin plus gentamicin or cefotaxime plus gentamicin); and one trial compared vancomycin plus gentamicin with vancomycin plus aztreonam. None of the five comparisons found any evidence of a difference when assessing all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, circulatory support, nephrotoxicity, neurological developmental impairment, or necrotising enterocolitis; however, none of the trials were near an information size that could contribute significantly to the evidence of the comparative benefits and risks of any particular antibiotic regimen. None of the trials assessed respiratory support or ototoxicity. The benefits and harms of different antibiotic regimens remain unclear due to the lack of well-powered trials and the high risk of systematic errors.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence is insufficient to support any antibiotic regimen being superior to another. RCTs assessing different antibiotic regimens in late-onset neonatal sepsis with low risks of bias are warranted.

Multidrug-Resistant Healthcare-Associated Infections in Neonates with Severe Respiratory Failure and the Impacts of Inappropriate Initial Antibiotic Therap

Background: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens have emerged as an important issue in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), especially in critically ill neonates with severe respiratory failure. We aimed to investigate neonatal healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by MDR pathogens and the impacts of inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy on the outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all cases of HAIs in neonates with severe respiratory failure in a tertiary-level NICU in Taiwan between January 2014 and May 2020. All clinical features, microbiology, therapeutic interventions, and outcomes were compared between the MDR-HAI and non-MDR HAI groups. Multivariate regression analyses were used to investigate independent risk factors for sepsis-attributable mortality. Results: A total of 275 critically ill neonates with severe respiratory failure who had HAIs were enrolled. Ninety-five cases (34.5%) were caused by MDR pathogens, and 141 (51.3%) cases had positive bacterial cultures from multiple sterile sites. In this cohort, the MDR-HAI group was more likely to receive inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy (51.0% versus 4.7%, respectively; p < 0.001) and exhibit delayed control of the infectious focus (52.6% versus 37.8%, respectively; p = 0.021) compared with the non-MDR HAI group. The sepsis-attributable and final in-hospital rates were 21.8% and 37.1%, respectively, and they were comparable between the MDR-HAI and non-MDR HAI groups. Empirically broad-spectrum antibiotics were prescribed in 76.7% of cases, and inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment was not significantly associated with worse outcomes. Independent risk factors for sepsis-attributable mortality in neonates with severe respiratory failure included the presence of septic shock (OR: 3.61; 95% CI: 1.54–8.46; p = 0.003), higher illness severity (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.04–1.72; p = 0.026), and neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.47–6.09; p = 0.003). Conclusions: MDR pathogens accounted for 34.5% of all neonatal HAIs in the NICU, but neither MDR pathogens nor inappropriate initial antibiotics were associated with final adverse outcomes. Because the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics has emerged as an important issue in critically ill neonates, the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials is urgently needed.

A global point prevalence survey of antimicrobial use in neonatal intensive care units: The no-more-antibiotics and resistance (NO-MAS-R) study

BACKGROUND

Global assessment of antimicrobial agents prescribed to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

METHODS

We conducted a one-day global point prevalence study of all antimicrobials provided to NICU infants. Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were obtained including NICU level, census, birth weight, gestational/chronologic age, diagnoses, antimicrobial therapy (reason for use; length of therapy), antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), and 30-day in-hospital mortality.

FINDINGS

On July 1, 2019, 26% of infants (580/2,265; range, 0-100%; median gestational age, 33 weeks; median birth weight, 1800 g) in 84 NICUs (51, high-income; 33, low-to-middle income) from 29 countries (14, high-income; 15, low-to-middle income) in five continents received ≥1 antimicrobial agent (92%, antibacterial; 19%, antifungal; 4%, antiviral). The most common reasons for antibiotic therapy were "rule-out" sepsis (32%) and "culture-negative" sepsis (16%) with ampicillin (40%), gentamicin (35%), amikacin (19%), vancomycin (15%), and meropenem (9%) used most frequently. For definitive treatment of presumed/confirmed infection, vancomycin (26%), amikacin (20%), and meropenem (16%) were the most prescribed agents. Length of therapy for culture-positive and "culture-negative" infections was 12 days (median; IQR, 8-14) and 7 days (median; IQR, 5-10), respectively. Mortality was 6% (42%, infection-related). An NICU ASP was associated with lower rate of antibiotic utilization (p = 0·02).

INTERPRETATION

Global NICU antibiotic use was frequent and prolonged regardless of culture results. NICU-specific ASPs were associated with lower antibiotic utilization rates, suggesting the need for their implementation worldwide.

FUNDING

Merck & Co.; The Ohio State University College of Medicine Barnes Medical Student Research Scholarship.

Antibiotic exposure and growth patterns in preterm, very low birth weight infants

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic exposure in term infants has been associated with later obesity. Premature, very-low-birth-weight (birth weight ≤ 1500 g) infants in the neonatal intensive care unit frequently are exposed to antibiotics. Our hypothesis was that in preterm infants, there is a positive linear and dose-dependent relationship between antibiotic exposure and growth from birth through 12 months' corrected age.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all antibiotic use among inborn, preterm (≤32 weeks' gestation), very-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital and followed in the Low Birth Weight Clinic at Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX. Antibiotic use was quantified by days of therapy which was compared with weight and length parameters at birth, 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, and 2, 4, 6, and 12 months' corrected age. The change in weight and length z-scores from birth to all subsequent age points was calculated. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of weight, length, and weight-for-length delta z-scores from birth to each subsequent age point.

RESULTS

During the 18-month study, 161 infants received a median of 11 (IQR, 5.5-19.5) antibiotic days of therapy which was not associated with weight or length delta z-scores from birth through 12 months' corrected age.

CONCLUSION

Association of prolonged antibiotic use and neonatal morbidities and mortality may override the potential association with increased weight gain in the NICU and beyond.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates: the role of point of care lung ultrasound

No consensus exists regarding the definition of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in neonates and reliability of chest X-ray (CXR) is low. Lung ultrasound (LU) is a potential alternative diagnostic tool. The aim was to define characteristics of VAP in our patient population and propose a multiparameter score, incorporating LU, for VAP diagnosis. Between March 25, 2018, and May 25, 2019, infants with VAP were identified. Clinical, laboratory and microbiology data were collected. CXRs and LU scans were reviewed. A multiparameter VAP score, including LU, was calculated on Day 1 and Day 3 for infants with VAP and for a control group and compared with CXR. VAP incidence was 10.47 episodes/1000 ventilator days. LU and CXR were available for 31 episodes in 21 infants with VAP, and for six episodes in five patients without VAP. On Day 1, a VAP score of > 4, and on Day 3 a score of > 5 showed sensitivity of 0.94, and area under the curve of 0.91 and 0.97, respectively. AUC for clinical information only was 0.88 and for clinical and CXR 0.85.Conclusion: The multiparameter VAP score including LU could be useful in diagnosing VAP in neonates with underlying lung pathology. What is Known: • Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is common in infants on the neonatal unit and is associated with increased use of antibiotics, prolonged ventilation and higher incidence of chronic lung disease. • Commonly used definitions of VAP are difficult to apply in neonates and interpretation of chest X-ray is challenging with poor inter-rater agreement in patients with underlying chronic lung disease. What is New: • The multiparameter VAP score combining clinical, microbiology and lung ultrasound (LU) data is predictive for VAP diagnosis in preterm infants with chronic lung disease. • LU findings of VAP in neonates showed high inter-rater agreement and included consolidated lung areas, dynamic bronchograms and pleural effusion.

C-reactive protein in early-onset neonatal sepsis - a cutoff point for CRP value as a predictor of early-onset neonatal sepsis in term and late preterm infants early after birth?

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether the first plasma C-reactive protein values taken 6-8 h postpartum are predictive of the clinical early-onset neonatal sepsis (cEONS).

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively analyzed C-reactive protein (CRP) values of 400 neonates, including 28 with cEONS, who underwent plasma CRP measurements as part of sepsis work-up. To determine whether the first CRP measurement is predictive of cEONS, logistic regression was used with CRP as an independent variable and cEONS (yes/no) as a dependent variable.

RESULT

A moderate predictive ability of the first CRP measurement (odds ratio 1.4, CI: [1.13, 1.76], p=.003) was revealed, at a 5.3 mg/L threshold. However, it resulted in poor sensitivity of 50%, and a false positive rate of 30%. Increasing the sensitivity to 75% or 90% lead to increased false-positive rates of 55% and 75%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the first CRP value taken in neonates is a weak predictor of cEONS.

Infection, Sepsis and the Inflammatory Response: Mechanisms and Therapy

Sepsis secondary to bacterial infection remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Recent decades have seen the evolution of international collaborations to improve care for these patients and identify areas for research. In this article we discuss the pathophysiology underlying the condition, review the current recommended management strategies, discuss areas of controversy, and highlight the need for ongoing research, particularly in diagnostics.

Infection control and other stewardship strategies in late onset sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and localized infection in the neonatal intensive care unit

Suspected or proven late onset sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, urinary tract infections, and ventilator associated pneumonia occurring after the first postnatal days contribute significantly to the total antibiotic exposures in neonatal intensive care units. The variability in definitions and diagnostic criteria in these conditions lead to unnecessary antibiotic use. The length of treatment and choice of antimicrobial agents for presumed and proven episodes also vary among centers due to a lack of supportive evidence and guidelines. Implementation of robust antibiotic stewardship programs can encourage compliance with appropriate dosages and narrow-spectrum regimens.

Metrics of neonatal antibiotic use

Responsible use of antibiotics is critical to preserve their effectiveness and to minimize adverse outcomes associated with overuse and misuse. Newborn infants are a unique population with high rates of antibiotic exposure. In order to improve neonatal antibiotic use, accurate and meaningful metrics are required. In this review, we highlight and compare existing antibiotic use metrics in detail, including definitions, current applications, advantages, and limitations of each metric, with a focus on applicability to neonatal populations. We explore future directions for identification of accurate and meaningful metrics that will allow hospitals and stakeholders to pinpoint antibiotic utilization practices that should be emulated or avoided, and ultimately improve the safety and quality of neonatal care.