rome and Infant--Premature--Diseases

Fifty-nine children were enrolled in the Outpatient Health Care Package (OHCP) from 01/06/2008 to 31/03/2010. All children, except two, attended entirely the follow-up appointments; a satisfactory result, considering also that 30% of family were living outside the urban area and more than a third of the families was originated in a foreign country. At 3 months corrected age(CA) Haemoglobin mean values of 47 infants, all in iron treatment, were: 12.26 (10.1-14-1) g/dL; 25% had values between 10.1 and 12 g/dL. Mean values for Calcium were 10.75 (9.50-15.26) mg/dL Mean values for ALP were 393 (179-1075) UI/L, values >1000 UI/L were found in two infants who suspended Vitamin D treatment. At 3 months CA 50 infants performed ABR, 12 of these showing abnormalities. To date 9 infants repeated ABR at 6-9 months CA, 4 of these showed again abnormal results. Overall were found 4 ABR abnormalities among 47 children (8.5%). Outcome of 23 children at 12 months CA: no moderate or severe neurologic abnormalities were found, 4 children (17.4%) presented mild abnormalities, 2 were referred for rehabilitation. No QSM <80% was found (mean QSM 93.7%) in 10 children evaluated. One child presented growth retardation <5 degrees; 2 underwent laser treatment for ROP with normal vision, 7 (30.4%)had sistolic BP > or = 95 degrees; 6 (26%) were rehospitalized. This experience was positive: OHCP promoted a better compliance and standardization of follow-up. It would be desirable to prolong OHCP until school-age, including renal and cardiac functions monitoring.

Topics: Aftercare; Ambulatory Care; Anemia; Congenital Abnormalities; Follow-Up Studies; Growth Disorders; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Hospital Departments; Hospitals, University; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Intensive Care, Neonatal; International Cooperation; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Patient Compliance; Pediatrics; Retinopathy of Prematurity; Rome

We describe an outbreak of Candida albicans systemic infection involving five premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. Molecular and epidemiologic characterization of all C. albicans isolates was performed by DNA fingerprinting with the 27A probe. This genotypic analysis demonstrated that the isolates were identical, providing evidence for the circulation of a unique C. albicans strain.

Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Fungal; Genotype; Hospitals, Religious; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Molecular Epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Rome

Topics: Feces; Gastroenteritis; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Rome; Rotavirus; Rotavirus Infections