Abstract Background The aim of the study was to determine the rate of cytomegalovirus virolactia in the human milk (HM) of mothers of VLBW infants, compare the CMV infection rates and the changes in CMV DNA viral load and nutrient profile among different HM preparation methods. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study was performed in infants with gestational age < 32 weeks or birth-weight < 1500 g admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Asan Medical Center and Haeundae Paik Hospital who were given mother’s own milk. Enrolled infants were randomized into three groups according to the HM preparation methods: freezing-thawing (FT), FT + low-temperature Holder pasteurization (FT + LP), and FT + high-temperature short-term pasteurization (FT + HP). Urine CMV culture and PCR were obtained at birth and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. HM CMV culture and PCR were obtained at birth and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. Changes in macronutrients in HM was obtained at 4 ~ 6 weeks. Results Of 564 infants, 217 mothers (38.5%) produced CMV PCR positive milk. After exclusion, a total of 125 infants were randomized into the FT (n = 41), FT + LP (n = 42), and FT + HP (n = 42) groups, whose rate of HM-acquired CMV infection was 4.9% (n = 2), 9.5% (n = 4), and 2.4% (n = 1), respectively. Out of seven CMV infected infants, two infants fed with FT + LP HM developed CMV infection- associated symptoms. Ages at diagnoses were earlier (28.5 days after birth) and at younger post conceptional age (< 32 weeks) in comparison to infants with asymptomatic CMV infection. CMV DNA viral load significantly decreased after pasturizations, especially in FT + HP group. Conclusions HM-acquired symptomatic CMV infection rate is low and its impact on clinical course was not serious in our VLBW infants. However, evidences showing poor neurodevelopmental outcome in later life, we need to generate a guideline to protect VLBW infant form HM transmitted CMV infection. Based on our small sized study, we did not find any superiority in pasteurizing HM with frequently used LP in comparison to frozen or HP HM. More research is needed to determine the method and duration of pasteurization to reduce the HM-acquired CMV infection.
Objective: Ureaplasma has been demonstrated the cause of short and long-term morbidities of preterm infants, especially such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study aims to evaluate the influence of Ureaplasma on neonatal morbidities and the effect of macrolide treatment in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of clinical records of VLBW infants born between 2015 and 2016. Their endotracheal aspirate and gastric juice were obtained immediately after birth and tested for Ureaplasma. Therapeutic macrolides were administered according to the clinical judgment, not routinely, in Ureaplasma-positive infants. Neonatal morbidities were compared using individual matching analysis between Ureaplasma-positive and negative groups, and with macrolides administration.
Results: A total of 144 infants with the mean (±standard deviation) gestational age of 28+3 (±3+3) weeks and birth weight of 1,051.9 (±290.0) g were included, and 30 (20.8%) were Ureaplasma-positive. Ureaplasma-positive group was associated with higher incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS, P=0.039) and severe neurologic injury (SNI; intraventricular hemorrhage ≥grade 3 or periventricular leukomalacia, P=0.013). However, Ureaplasma-positive group was not associated with the risk of BPD (P=0.706). In the subgroup analysis for Ureaplasma-positive infants, there was no difference in the incidence of morbidities according to the macrolides administration.
Conclusion: Although Ureaplasma has no independent role in the development of BPD, Ureaplasma- positive VLBW infants were more likely to have RDS and SNI. The macrolides administered in Ureaplasma-positive was not effective to reduce neonatal morbidities.
Due to increases in the number of infants born with younger gestational age (GA) and lower birth weight, the incidence of neonatal sepsis is increasing.We investigated the changes in the prevalence of bacterial pathogens, their antimicrobial susceptibility, and sepsis-related mortality during 20 years at a neonatal intensive care unit.The study period was divided into two 10-year phases (1998-2007 vs. 2008-2017). Medical records were reviewed to gather data on demographics, causative microbial pathogens, incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms, antimicrobial susceptibility, and rates of sepsis-related mortality.In both study phases, the most common pathogens for neonatal sepsis were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (28.6%) and Enterobacter cloacae (16.1%) for early-onset sepsis (EOS, ≤72 hours after birth) and CoNS (54.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12.9%) for late-onset sepsis (LOS, >72 hours after birth). CoNS and S. aureus showed 100% sensitivity to vancomycin in both phases. The susceptibility of S. aureus to oxacillin increased from 19.2% to 57.9% in phase II than phase I. K. pneumonia and E. cloacae showed increases in its susceptibility to gentamicin, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone in phase II than phase I. In both phases, the most common pathogens that caused sepsis-related death were K. pneumoniae (18.2%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.6%). Sepsis-related mortality rate was higher in infants with GA <37 weeks than those with GA over 37 weeks (P=0.016). In addition, the mortality rate of neonatal sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria was significantly higher than that caused by gram-positive bacteria (P<0.001).CoNS was the most common pathogen for EOS and LOS. While we found significant changes in antimicrobial sensitivities over time. GA below 37 weeks and gram-negative organisms are associated with mortality rate.
This study aimed to provide morbidity and mortality information on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with congenital heart disease (CHD-VLBWs).The study used a 10-year cohort of VLBW infants from a single institution. CHD was classified according to International Classification of Diseases, Version 9, Clinical Modification. Mortality and neonatal outcomes were assessed by comparing the CHD-VLBWs with gestational age- and birth weight-matched controls.The prevalence of CHD-VLBWs was 7.5% (79/1,050), mean gestational age was 31.1±3.2 weeks, and mean birth weight was 1,126.2±268.3 g; 50.6% of the infants were small for the gestational age. The CHD-VLBWs more commonly had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and the longer they were exposed to oxygen, the more frequently they developed BPD. Those with cyanotic heart disease developed severe BPD more frequently. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurred frequently in the CHD-VLBWs and was not associated with their feeding patterns. CHD-VLBWs had a higher mortality rate; prematurity-related diseases were the leading cause of death before surgery, while heart-related problems were the leading cause of death after surgery. We found no significant difference in mortality from prematurity-related disease between the CHD-VLBWs and controls. In the subgroup analysis of CHD, the cyanotic CHD group had a higher incidence of BPD and higher mortality rate than the acyanotic CHD group.CHD-VLBWs showed higher BPD, NEC, and mortality rates than those without CHD. There was also a higher incidence of BPD and mortality in VLBW infants with cyanotic CHD than in those with acyanotic CHD.
There are limited data on the clinical characteristics and the vertical transmission rate of pregnant women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and their neonates in Korea.Pregnant women who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were retrospectively reviewed in Asan Medical Center from September 1, 2020, to April 26, 2022. All neonates and infected women underwent a polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 within 24 hours of birth and at 48-hour interval if they stayed in the hospital.A total of 60 pregnant women gave birth by cesarean section (n = 40, 66.7%) or vaginal delivery (n = 20, 33.3%). Among them, 3 women gave birth to twins. Delivery occurred, on average, at 38+2 weeks (± 2+0) of gestational age, and 9 patients (15.0%) had underlying diseases. Of these 60 patients, 9 (15.0%) received coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations. Pneumonia was confirmed by a chest radiograph in 7 patients (11.7%), and 2 patients (3.3%) required supplemental oxygen therapy, both of whom eventually recovered. The mean birthweight of the neonates was 3,137 g (± 557.6). Further, 8 neonates (12.7%) were of low-birth weight (< 2,500 g), and 11 neonates (17.5%) were preterm (<37 weeks of gestation). Apgar score was median 8 (8 - 9) at 1 minute and 9 (9 - 9.5) at 5 minutes. Four neonates (6.3%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. All neonates had negative SARS-CoV-2 test results. Therefore, there was no vertical transmission in 63 of the neonates (0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0 - 6).Pregnant Korean women with SARS-CoV-2-infection had favorable obstetric outcomes, and the risk of vertical transmission to their neonates was low. Managing the infection risks of pregnant women and their neonates during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic are required.
Background and Method: The genetic cause of infantile-onset cardiomyopathy is rarely investigated. Here, we conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing in eight patients with infantile-onset cardiomyopathy to identify genetic variations. Result: Among these patients, two (25%) had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP), two (25%) had left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), and four (50%) had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP). Except four patients identified prenatally, the remaining patients presented at a median age of 85.5 days. WES identified genetic variants in a total of seven (87.5%) patients and mtDNA sequencing in the other case. TPM1 and MYH7 variants were identified in the two patients with DCMP; MYH11 and MYLK2 variants in the two patients with LVNC; HRAS, BRAF, and MYH7 variants in three patients with HCMP; and MT-ND1 variant in one patient with HCMP having high blood lactic acid levels. Among the eight variants, four were classified as pathogenic or likely-pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines, and the remaining were identified as variants of unknown significance (VUSs). Three pathogenic mutations were de novo, whereas four (likely-pathogenic or VUSs) were inherited from a respective parent, excluding one variant where parental testing was unavailable, questioning whether these inherited variants are disease-causing. Three patients died before 3 months of age. Conclusion: Genomic studies, such as WES with additional mtDNA sequencing, can identify a genetic variant in high proportions of patients with infantile-onset cardiomyopathy. The clinical implication of the parentally inherited variant needs to be assessed in a larger patient and family cohort with a longitudinal follow-up.
Human breast milk is essential and provides irreplaceable nutrients for early humans. However, breastfeeding is not easy for various reasons in medical institution environments. Therefore, in order to improve the breastfeeding environment, we investigated the difficult reality of breastfeeding through questionnaire responses from medical institution workers.A survey was conducted among 179 medical institution workers with experience in childbirth within the last five years. The survey results of 175 people were analyzed, with incoherent answers excluded.Of the 175 people surveyed, a total of 108 people (61.7%) worked during the day, and 33 people (18.9%) worked in three shifts. Among 133 mothers who stayed with their babies in the same nursing room, 111 (93.3%) kept breastfeeding for more than a month, but among those who stayed apart, only 10 (71.4%) continued breastfeeding for more than a month (P = 0.024). Ninety-five (88.0%) of daytime workers, 32 (94.1%) two-shift workers, and 33 (100%) three-shift workers continued breastfeeding for more than a month (P = 0.026). Workers in general hospitals tended to breastfeed for significantly longer than those that worked in tertiary hospitals (P = 0.003). A difference was also noted between occupation categories (P = 0.019), but a more significant difference was found in the comparison between nurses and doctors (P = 0.012). Longer breastfeeding periods were noted when mothers worked three shifts (P = 0.037). Depending on the period planned for breastfeeding prior to childbirth, the actual breastfeeding maintenance period after birth showed a significant difference (P = 0.002). Of 112 mothers who responded to the question regarding difficulties in breastfeeding after returning to work, 87 (77.7%) mentioned a lack of time caused by being busy at work, 82 (73.2%) mentioned the need for places and appropriate circumstances.In medical institutions, it is recommended that environmental improvements in medical institutions, the implementation of supporting policies, and the provision of specialized education on breastfeeding are necessary to promote breastfeeding.
'%3e%3cg id='b'%3e%3cpath id='a' stroke='%23000' stroke-width='2' d='M-6-25H6m-12 3H6m-12 3H6'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' y='44'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0 17v10'/%3e%3ccircle r='12' fill='%23cd2e3a'/%3e%3cpath fill='%230047a0' d='M0-12A6 6 0 0 0 0 0a6 6 0 0 1 0 12 12 12 0 0 1 0-24z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg transform='rotate(-123.69)'%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0-23.5v3M0 17v3.5m0 3v3'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
