Epidemiological characteristics of neonates born to mothers infected with COVID-19: A single-centre observational study

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 disease can affect women at any stage of pregnancy, and newborns could become infected with SARS-CoV-2 through vertical or horizontal transmission. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates born to mothers with COVID-19. Experts emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of newborns without compromising the benefits of early contact with the mother. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of newborns born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Observational, prospective cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit of the perinatal center (Georgia). Information was collected by reviewing and personal observations of medical histories of newborns born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: The study included 38 newborns with suspected (n = 16; 42.1%) and confirmed (n = 22; 57.9%) COVID-19 infection cases, treated in the neonatal intensive care unit. The study did not reveal the risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and confirmed a fairly large rate of horizontal transmission of infection (n = 25; 66%). Skin-to-skin mother care was performed in 68.7% of newborns, 26.3% received exclusive maternal or donated breast milk during hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Prevention of horizontal transmission of infection in newborns should be a priority. It is recommended skin-to-skin mother care and maternal or donated breast milk during hospital stay, taking into account the health of the mother and the newborn, following the rules of hygiene and use of the mask by the infected mother.

Modern Breastfeeding Options for Preterm Children in Neonatal Hospital

The literature overview on the issue of breastfeeding in neonatal departments, including neonatal intensive care units, is presented. The importance of breastfeeding for newborns with perinatal pathology is justified, as breast milk is vital for these children due to its unique sanogenetic properties. Data on special preventive and therapeutic role of breastfeeding for premature infants is presented. Reasons that complicate the use of breast milk in neonatal hospitals were analyzed (including those related to insufficient bacteriological and virological safety of native breast milk due to methodological errors during its collection and usage). Particular attention was paid to ensuring the breastfeeding safety during new coronavirus infection pandemic. This difficult period has demonstrated and confirmed the expediency of combining two breastfeeding approaches in perinatal centers: use of maternal milk and use of donor breast milk. Another section of review is devoted to modern breast milk processing technologies. Use of electric clinical breast pumps is crucial for promoting and supporting breastfeeding in the perinatal center.

Clinical observation of a patient with hemangiomatosis involving skin, subcutaneous tissue, lung, stomach, intestinal, liver, kidney, spine

Aim. The work demonstrates a clinical case of an extremely rare pathology ‒ hemangiomatosis with damage to the skin, subcutaneous tissue, lungs, stomach, intestinal, liver, kidneys, and spine. Results. Patient L., born in 1994 with multiple hemangiomas. No heredity was observed for vascular tumors. In childhood, several large hemangiomas had to be surgically removed. She resorted to the Amur Regional Perinatal Center about her first pregnancy. There was a high risk of hemorrhagic complications due to damage to internal organs, primarily the lungs. Since there were multiple lesions of the vertebrae, it was decided not to use neuraxial methods of anesthesia. Total intravenous anesthesia and artificial ventilation of the lungs under the control of bronchoscopy were chosen by the method of anesthesia. Hemangiomatosis with lesions of internal organs was the indication for a Cesarean section. The operation took place without complications. The child was born healthy. Conclusion. In most cases, cosmetic defects are a significant problem of hemangiomatosis. However, in a number of situations, for example during pregnancy, there is a high risk of rupture of hemangiomas and the development of bleeding. In this case, the choice of the method of delivery and anesthesia depends on the location of the hemangiomas.

Treatment outcomes of central retinopathy of prematurity with localization in the Moscow regional perinatal center

BACKGROUND: Ranibizumab is widely used in retinopathy of prematurity. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness, the risk of complications, and recurrence of the disease by antiangiogenic therapy. AIM: To demonstrate the experience of using anti-VEGF drugs in the Moscow Regional Perinatal Center and the effectiveness of different approaches to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treatment in the central retinal zone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The case histories of 17 deeply premature infants with threshold ROP stages and localization in the posterior pole were retrospectively analyzed. Children were treated with intravitreal VEGF inhibitor (total 9 children), 5 children underwent laser coagulation of the retina, and 3 children received combined treatment (laser and intravitreal administration of a VEGF inhibitor). RESULTS: The average age of development of threshold stages was 35.2 weeks (range: 30.539 weeks) in our study. The frequency of promising outcomes after using anti-VEGF drugs alone or in conjunction with peripheral laser treatment was 100%. In comparison, the only laser treatment generated a promising result in 70% of the eyes. However, ROP relapses after anti-VEGF therapy developed at 37, 43, 44,5 weeks. In addition, 1 out of 9 children developed a recurrence of ROP and required laser treatment 7 weeks after using anti-VEGF. CONCLUSION: The use of anti-VEGF therapy is an effective method for the treatment of ROP of the posterior pole. However, there is the ambiguity of the available recommendations on the further management of children. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the children who have received antiangiogenic therapy for as long as possible.

Experience in the diagnosis of group B Streptococcus infections in pregnant women and newborns in a perinatal center

Serogroup B streptococci (Streptococcus agalactiae) are one of the main etiological agents responsible for the occurrence of severe perinatal infections in both postpartum women and newborns. The experience of microbiological diagnostics of infections caused by streptococcus serogroup B (GBS) according to the data of the microbiological laboratory of the perinatal center is generalized. In the study of biomaterial from patients, the proportion of positive cultures of Streptococcus agalactiae was 2.2% in cervical samples, 8.8% in vaginal contents, 6.6%; 2.8% and 0.7% in amniotic fluid, placenta and urine, respectively. In 57% of cases, GBS was released at a concentration of more than 5 lg / ml and in 73% of cases as part of polymicrobial associations with other opportunistic microorganisms. In the biomaterial from newborns, GBS was found in 2.5% of positive findings in blood samples, 4.6% in tracheobronchial lavages and 2.7% in detachable skin of the armpit when taking material immediately after childbirth and 1, 1% and 0.7%, respectively, during examination in the second stage of nursing. 5 cases of GBS isolation in newborns ended in early neonatal mortality with definitive diagnoses of congenital pneumonia and IUI of newborns, while there was only partial coincidence of the results of microbiological studies of the genital tract of the mother and biomaterials from the newborn. Relatively frequent findings of GBS in newborns of the high-risk group in intensive care unit indicate intrauterine infection with this pathogen. The examination of smears from the cervical canal is not informative in relation toGBS infection in comparison with the examination of the vaginal contents and recto-vaginal smears. The results of the introduction of microbiological screening and its effectiveness in real practice to prevent the development of early and late forms of GBS infections in newborns require further analysis.

SCENARIOS OF THE COURSE OF BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA IN PREMATURE INFANTS WITH PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS IN FOLLOW-UP TO 3 YEARS

Summary. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common long-term complications associated with preterm birth. The severity of BPD is associated with immaturity of a child's body, perinatal infections, and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).The aim of the study was to identify the features of BPD in the 1st year of life of a child and in the follow- up to 3 years, depending on the condition of the ductus arteriosus.Material and methods. The observations of 146 premature infants with BPD, who were divided into groups depending on the state of the ductus arteriosus, were analyzed: Group I consisted of 58 children with BPD whose ductus arteriosus closed spontaneously in the early neonatal period; II group – 60 children with hemodynamically insignificant PDA, which remained open for 6-12 months; III group – 28 children with hemodynamically significant (HS) PDA, which required surgical closure during the stay of a child in the perinatal center. Results. There were significantly more cases of severe BPD among children of group II compared to group I: 23.3 vs. 8.6 % (p <0.01) and, accordingly, fewer cases of moderate course: 41.7 vs. 58.6 % (p <0.05) at the stage of children treatment in the perinatal center. At the age of 3 years, there were significantly more healthy children who underwent BPD in group I compared to group III: 62.5 vs. 25.9 % (p <0.01), and severe course was significantly more common in both groups II and III compared to group I: 6.8 and 7.4 % vs. 0 % (p <0.01). No significant differences in the severity of BPD at the age of 2-3 months and in the follow-up to 1 year from the date of surgical closure of HS PDA were detected. Conclusions. Sexual dimorphism was found, namely the prevalence of males among preterm infants with delayed closure of the ductus arteriosus. The presence of hemodynamic disorders connected with PDA is associated with a more severe course of BPD at the age of 3 years compared to children whose ductus arteriosus closed on its own in the early neonatal period. At the average term of surgical closure of PDA 21.5 ± 1.6 days of life, significant differences in the severity of BPD from the term of surgical closure of PDA weren`t detected.

Improved Less Invasive Surfactant Administration Success in Preterm Infants after Procedure Standardization

Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) has been introduced at our tertiary Level IV perinatal center since 2016 with an unsatisfactory success rate, which we attributed to an inconsistent, non-standardized approach and ambiguous patient inclusion criteria. This study aimed to improve the LISA success rate to at least 75% within 12 months by implementing a highly standardized LISA approach combined with team training. The Plan Do Study Act method of quality improvement was used for this initiative. Baseline assessment included a review of patient medical records 12 months before the intervention regarding patient characteristics, method success rate, respiratory, and adverse outcomes. A multi-professional team developed a standardized LISA approach and a training program including an educational film, checklists, pocket cards, and team briefings. Twenty-one preterm infants received LISA before and 24 after the intervention. The mean LISA success rate improved from 62% before the intervention to 92% (p = 0.029) after the intervention. Implementing a highly standardized LISA approach and multi-professional team training significantly improved the methods’ success rate.

Pericallosal lipoma in an infant with fetal alcohol syndrome: a case report

In this article we report a case of pericallosal lipoma in a newborn with fetal alcohol syndrome, brain malformation (agenesis of the corpus callosum), and intrauterine infection (meningitis) diagnosed in a perinatal center.