LOS occurred in 30% of Israeli VLBW infants. Six strong independent predictors for LOS were identified. Recognition and awareness of the epidemiologic, clinical, and microbiologic characteristics of LOS remain the keystones for management of this nosocomial infection.

Background. The method of skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care [KC]) has shown physiologic, cognitive, and emotional gains for preterm infants; however, KC has not been studied adequately in term newborns. Aims. To evaluate the effect of KC, used shortly after delivery, on the neurobehavioral responses of the healthy newborn. Study Design. A randomized, controlled trial using a table of random numbers. After consent, the mothers were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: KC shortly after delivery or a no-treatment standard care (control group). Subjects. Included were 47 healthy mother-infant pairs. KC began at 15 to 20 minutes after delivery and lasted for 1 hour. Control infants and KC infants were brought to the nursery 15 to 20 and 75 to 80 minutes after birth, respectively. Results. During a 1-hour-long observation, starting at 4 hours postnatally, the KC infants slept longer, were mostly in a quiet sleep state, exhibited more flexor movements and postures, and showed less extensor movements. Conclusions. KC seems to influence state organization and motor system modulation of the newborn infant shortly after delivery. The significance of our findings for supportive transition from the womb to the extrauterine environment is discussed. Medical and nursing staff may be well advised to provide this kind of care shortly after birth.

Objective: Hemivertebra is a rare congenital spinal anomaly where only one side of the vertebral body develops, resulting in deformation of the spine, such as scoliosis, lordosis, or kyphosis. We aimed to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of hemivertebra. Patients and Methods: We present three fetuses with a prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of hemivertebra at 15–22 weeks’ gestation, and we determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of hemivertebra among 78,500 live-born infants at a tertiary medical center in Israel. Results: There were 26 cases of hemivertebra (0.33/1,000 live-born infants): male/female ratio 1/1, Jewish/Arab ratio 10/16, and ratio of single/multiple type of hemivertebrae 17/9. Twenty-three out of 26 infants (88.5%) with hemivertebra had additional congenital anomalies (cranial, cardiac, renal, intestinal, and skeletal). Conclusions: Hemivertebra is not an infrequent finding in fetuses and live-born infants. Comprehensive ultrasonographic screening of the fetus allows early prenatal diagnosis of hemivertebra, and provides parents with helpful information for their decision regarding the fate of pregnancy.

No abstract

First, non-albicans Candida have become more frequent in neonatal AFS. Second, mechanical ventilation and antibacterial agents are significant risk factors for AFS. Third, hyperthermia is a frequent presenting sign of AFS. Fourth, a normal white blood cell count does not rule out AFS. Fifth, meningeal involvement in neonatal AFS should be ruled out before initiation of antifungal therapy. Sixth, the policy of empiric antifungal therapy for AFS should be considered on an individual NICU basis.newborn infant, fungal sepsis, clinical signs, risk factors.

Klebsiella sepsis and Pseudomonas sepsis were associated with a 6.3-fold and 12.3-fold increased risk of early mortality, respectively, and accounted for 41.9% of all early deaths associated with LOS. Considering the aggressive nature of sepsis caused by these pathogens, empiric antibiotic therapy active against these organisms is worth consideration for VLBW infants with presumed LOS.

Background: Lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) is sometimes detected on routine brain ultrasonography in neonates, and is often associated with various perinatal and neonatal abnormalities. However, most reports on LSV are retrospective with no controls. Objectives: To compare the perinatal and neonatal clinical characteristics of neonates with LSV with matched controls and to summarise all published reports of LSV. Design: A prospective study that summarises the clinical, laboratory, and neurosonographic data of neonates with LSV. Methods: Of 1184 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during a three year period, 857 had a routine head ultrasound examination. Twenty one had LSV, and were compared with 42 matched controls with regard to gestational, perinatal, neonatal, laboratory, and neurosonographic characteristics. Results: LSV was detected in 21 of the 857 (2.45%) neonates. It was bilateral in 10 of the 21 cases and located in the thalamus (n = 14) and basal ganglia (n = 7). Infants with LSV were not significantly different from matched controls in most tested variables. However, compared with the control group, the LSV group included significantly more multiple births and more disturbances in amniotic fluid volume, but less meconial amniotic fluid. In addition, the patients with LSV required fewer blood transfusions and less phototherapy. Conclusions: Except for more multiple births, neonates with LSV did not display more adverse findings than their matched controls.

Neonatal medical teams and parents should be aware of the burden of iatrogenesis, which occurs at a significant rate.