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Antibiotic exposure in culture-negative preterm infants: a 10-year single-centre studyAntibiotic exposure in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) is high. This study describes antibiotic use in very preterm infants and examines the association between duration of exposure and outcomes in blood culture negative (CN) infants.
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Characterising commensal and pathogenic staphylococcal interactions with neonatal and adult bloodThe abundant skin commensal, Staphylococcus epidermidis, is the leading cause of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants but rarely causes infections in term infants and adults. Staphylococcal virulence mechanisms and the role of the preterm immune responses in driving these life-threatening infections remain poorly understood.
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Neonatal skin: barrier, immunity and infection prevention in the NICUThe neonatal skin is central to early survival and immune development. Far from being a passive mechanical barrier, it integrates physical, chemical, and microbial defences that together protect the infant in the immediate postnatal period. In preterm infants, structural immaturity, reduced antimicrobial capacity, and altered microbial colonisation confer heightened vulnerability to infection and inflammation.
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The CoolCot trial: active methods of therapeutic hypothermia for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy during neonatal transport: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trialImpaired oxygen delivery or blood flow to the brain around the time of birth can cause injury. Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy is a leading cause of death and disability in term and near-term infants.
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Routine Emollient Therapy with Coconut Oil in Preterm Infants and Allergic Sensitization at 1-Year Corrected AgeSkin care for very and extremely preterm infant is an important and previously underappreciated topic. Coconut oil skin care for preterm infants is a promising option, but several important questions remain including the theoretical potential for allergic sensitization.
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Epidemiology of Viral Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Western Australia: A Retrospective Study From 2016 to 2021 Including the COVID-19 PandemicViral infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in neonates. The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in viral epidemiology in Western Australia. The impact on patients in neonatal intensive care is uncertain.
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Proposed Core Outcomes After Neonatal Sepsis: A Consensus StatementSepsis is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality. There is heterogeneity in the outcomes measured and reported in studies of neonatal sepsis. To address this challenge, a core outcome set (COS) for research on neonatal sepsis was needed.
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Compatibility of pentoxifylline injection with syringe and inline filtersTobias Strunk MD, PhD, FRACP Head, Neonatal Health tobias.strunk@thekids.org.au Head, Neonatal Health Clinical Professor Tobias Strunk is a
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Effects of a live versus heat-inactivated probiotic Bifidobacterium spp in preterm infants: a randomised clinical trialHeat-inactivated probiotics (HPs) may provide an effective alternative to live probiotics by avoiding their risks (eg, probiotic sepsis) while retaining the benefits. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a HP in very preterm (VP: gestation <32 weeks) infants.
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Amplitude-Integrated EEG in Infants at Risk of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Feasibility Study in Road and Air Transport in Western AustraliaInfants at risk of HIE require early identification and initiation of therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Earlier treatment with TH is associated with better outcomes. aEEG is frequently used when making the decision whether to commence TH. As this is often limited to tertiary centers, TH may be delayed if the infant requires transport to a center that provides it.