TORCH infections classically comprise toxoplasmosis, Treponema pallidum, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpesvirus, hepatitis viruses, human immunodeficiency virus, and other infections, such as varicella, parvovirus B19, and enteroviruses. The epidemiology of these infections varies; in low-income and middle-income countries, TORCH infections are major contributors to prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal morbidity and mortality. Evidence of infection may be seen at birth, in infancy, or years later. For many of these pathogens, treatment or prevention strategies are available. Early recognition, including prenatal screening, is key. This article covers toxoplasmosis, parvovirus B19, syphilis, rubella, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: To assess the epidemiology of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Study Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2000-2007; demographic and clinical characteristics of infected infants and crude mortality were assessed.Results: During the study period, there were 123 infections caused by MSSA and 49 infections caused by MRSA. Although the types of infections caused by MSSA and MRSA were similar, infants with MRSA infections were younger at clinical presentation than infants with MSSA infections (P ¼ 0.03). The overall rate of S. aureus infections was approximately 15-30 per 1000 patient-admissions. The rate of bacteremia and skin and soft tissue infections remained stable over time. Among extremely low birth weight infants (birth weight <1000 g), 4.8 and 1.8% developed an infection caused by MSSA or MRSA, respectively. Infections occurred in a bimodal distribution of birth weight; 53% of infections occurred in extremely low birth weight infants and 27% occurred among term infants birth weight X2500 g, many of whom underwent surgical procedures.Conclusions: MSSA and MRSA remain significant pathogens in the NICU, particularly for extremely premature infants and term infants undergoing surgery. Further work should investigate infection control strategies that effectively target the highest risk groups and determine if vertical transmission of MRSA is responsible for the younger age at presentation of infection.

Objective A recent STS database study showed that low weight (<2.5 kg) at surgery was associated with a high operative mortality (16%). We thought to assess outcomes after cardiac repair in patients <2.5 kg as compared to 2.5-4.5kg in an institution with a dedicated neonatal cardiac program; and to determine the potential role played by prematurity, STAT risk categories, uni/biventricular pathway, and timing of surgery. Methods We analyzed outcomes (hospital mortality, early reintervention, postoperative length of stay (postopLOS), mortality (at last follow-up) in patients <2.5kg at time of surgery (n=146; group1) and 2.5-4.5kg (n=622; group2), who underwent open or closed cardiac repairs from January 2006 to December 2012 at our institution. The statistical analysis was stratified by prematurity, STAT risk categories, uni/biventricular pathway and “usual”/“delayed” timing of surgery. A uni/multivariate risk analysis was performed. Mean follow-up was 21.6±25.6 months. Results Hospital mortality in group 1 was 10.9% (n=16) vs. 4.8% (n=30) in group 2 (p=0.007). PostopLOS and early un-planned reintervention rates were similar between the two groups. Late mortality in group 1 was 0.7% (n=1). In Group 1, early outcomes were independent of STAT risk categories, uni/biventricular pathway or timing of surgery, as opposed to group 2. Lower gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for early mortality in group 1. Conclusions A dedicated multidisciplinary neonatal cardiac program yields good outcomes for neonates and infants <2.5kg independently of STAT risk categories and uni/biventricular pathway. Lower gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality.