Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) play a critical role in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), facilitating treatment in premature and critically ill neonates. However, achieving optimal PICC placement can present challenges, requiring meticulous monitoring and adjustment. Here, we describe the case of a 52-day-old, 1.9 kg preterm infant in the NICU requiring a central venous catheter for antibiotics and antifungals. Despite initial insertion into the basilic vein of the right forearm, imaging revealed the catheter\'s deviation into the right internal jugular vein. Leveraging the influence of arm position on catheter tip depth, external manipulation of the infant\'s right arm successfully repositioned the catheter tip into the superior vena cava (SVC). This case highlights the significant impact of arm positioning on PICC placement and underscores the efficacy of external extremity manipulation as a simple, non-invasive technique to adjust catheter position. Such innovative strategies offer promising alternatives to invasive interventions, emphasizing the importance of dynamic monitoring and adjustment techniques in neonatal PICC management.

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of avoidable blindness in children, particularly in Latin America, where hyperoxia is a significant risk factor. This study evaluated resource availability and use for administering and monitoring supplemental oxygen in Mexico.
METHODS: In 2011, an observational study in which 32 government neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Mexico were visited. Data collected included occupancy, staffing levels, and equipment to deliver and monitor supplemental oxygen. Preterm infants receiving oxygen were observed. In 2023, 13 NICUs were revisited, and similar data collected. Staffing levels were benchmarked against Argentinian and US recommendations.
RESULTS: In 2011, only 38% of NICUs had adequate medical and staffing levels to meet recommended cot-to-staff ratios for all shifts. Staffing ratios were worse during weekends and at night than during weekdays. Only 25.5% of cots had blenders, and 80.1% had saturation monitors. 153 infants were observed 87% of whom were being monitored. Upper and lower oxygen saturations were ≥ 96% in 53%, and ≤ 89% in 8%, respectively. Alarm settings were inadequate, as 38% and 32% of upper and lower alarms were switched off and 16% and 53% were incorrectly set, respectively. In the 13 NICUs with data from 2011  and 2023, cot-to-staff ratios deteriorated over time, and in 2023 no unit had recommended ratios for all shifts. Equipment provision did not change, with similar proportions of babies in oxygen being monitored (79% 2011; 75% 2023). Rates of hyperoxia decreased slightly from 54% in 2011 to 49% in 2023. More upper alarms were set (46% 2011; 75% 2023), but a higher proportion were incorrectly set (52% 2011; 68% 2023).
CONCLUSIONS: Between 2011 and 2023, cot-to-staff ratios worsened, and equipment for safe oxygen delivery and monitoring remained insufficient. Despite available monitoring equipment, oxygen saturations often exceeded recommended levels, and alarms were frequently not set or incorrectly configured. Urgent improvements are needed in healthcare workforce numbers and practices, along with ensuring adequate equipment for safe oxygen delivery.

Background and Purpose: Family resilience in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a promising avenue for promoting parental mental health, yet no tool is available to assess it. This study aimed to develop a new scale to measure family resilience in French-speaking parents during the NICU hospitalization and evaluate content validation. Methods: This methodological study was conducted in Quebec and included two phases: (a) item development process and (b) content validity evaluation process using successive quantitative and qualitative methods. A total sample of 14 experts evaluated item clarity, relevance, and representativeness on 1-4 rating scales and provided qualitative feedback on scale characteristics. Results: An initial scale of 55 items was developed. Excellent content validity (Scale Content Validity Index > .90) and consensus regarding item selection and scale presentation were achieved. Conclusions: This content-validated 55-item Communication, Organization, and Intrafamilial Beliefs in Neonatology (COCINL) scale should be psychometrically tested in the Quebec NICU parent population.

Introduction. Klebsiella spp. are important bacteria that colonize the human intestine, especially in preterm infants; they can induce local and systemic disease under specific circumstances, including inflammatory bowel disease, necrotizing enterocolitis and colorectal cancer.Hypothesis. Klebsiella spp. colonized in the intestine of the neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may be associated with disease and antibiotic resistance, which will be hazardous to the children.Aim. Our aim was to know about the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genome characteristics of Klebsiella spp. in neonate carriers.Methodology. Genome sequencing and analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were mainly performed in this study.Results. The isolation rates of Klebsiella spp. strains were 3.7% (16/436) in 2014 and 4.3% (18/420) in 2021. Cases with intestinal-colonized Klebsiella spp. were mainly infants with low birth weights or those with pneumonia or hyperbilirubinemia. According to the core-pan genomic analysis, 34 stains showed gene polymorphism and a sequence type (ST) of an emerging high-risk clone (ST11). Eight strains (23.5%) were found to be resistant to 2 or more antibiotics, and 46 genes/gene families along with nine plasmids were identified that conferred resistance to antibiotics. In particular, the two strains were multidrug-resistant. Strain A1256 that is related to Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae was uncommon, carrying two plasmids similar to IncFII and IncX3 that included five antibiotic resistance genes.Conclusion. The prevention and control of neonatal Klebsiella spp. colonization in the NICU should be strengthened by paying increased attention to preventing antimicrobial resistance in neonates.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of a contextualized intervention program on the level of noises in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Konya, Turkey. Background: For the healthy development of preterm infants, NICUs should have noise levels within safe limits. Methods: A single-center, before-and-after study design was employed. Participants included one head nurse, four physicians, 42 nurses, six physician assistants, and 14 other staff members. The contextualized intervention program involved environmental modification, behavioral modification, and resource management. Sound level measurements were recorded at two-hour intervals over a week before the program\'s initiation, after the first cycle, and following the installation of central monitor screens. Data analysis utilized SPSS 25, employing percentile calculations, one-way analysis of variance, and Bonferroni tests. Results: The evaluations in the second level of NICU showed that the noise level recorded on weekday mornings and evenings was significantly lower for the third measurement compared to the first and second measurements. However, at the weekend the noise level recorded in the morning was higher in the second measurement than the first, with no significant difference found for the third measurement. The evaluations in the third level of NICU showed that on weekdays the noise level recorded in the third measurement was significantly lower than in the first and second measurements (p < .05). Conclusion: The implementation of a contextualized noise reduction program in our NICU led to significant improvements in noise levels, particularly during morning and evening shifts.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the maternal and neonatal outcomes based on the presence or absence of a Couvelaire uterus with placental abruption.
METHODS: This single-center retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary perinatal center in Japan, including patients diagnosed with acute placental abruption who delivered live births via cesarean section between 2016 and 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a Couvelaire uterus during surgery: the Couvelaire and normal uterus groups. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were assessed.
RESULTS: This study included 76 patients: 24 in the Couvelaire group and 52 in the normal uterus group. No patients underwent hysterectomies. The Couvelaire group had significantly higher intraoperative blood loss (median 1152 vs 948 g, P = 0.010), blood transfusion rates (58% vs 31%, P = 0.022), fibrinogen administration rates (38% vs 13%, P = 0.038), intensive care unit/high care unit admission rates (29% vs 7.7%, P = 0.013), and disseminated intravascular coagulation complication rates (25% vs 7.7%, P = 0.038). There were no differences in birth weight, gestational age (median 2387 vs 2065 g, P = 0.082), Apgar score <4 at 5 min (4.2% vs 3.9%, P = 0.95), umbilical artery blood pH <7.1 (25% vs 22%, P = 0.82), and neonatal death (4.2% vs 1.9%, P = 0.57).
CONCLUSIONS: A Couvelaire uterus indicated adverse maternal outcomes but not neonatal ones. Its presence necessitates preparation for blood transfusions and/or intensive patient follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a significant disorder affecting prognosis of extremely preterm infants. However, there is still a lack of a consensus on the definition and optimal treatments of PH, and there is also a lack of research comparing these conditions with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN), early PH, and late PH. To investigate PH in extremely preterm infants, this study compared the baseline characteristics, short-term outcomes, and treatment duration, categorized by the timing of requiring PH treatment.
METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed extremely preterm infants admitted to a single tertiary center. Between 2018 and 2022, infants with clinical or echocardiographic diagnosis of PH who required treatment were divided into three groups based on the timing of treatment initiation: initial 3 days (extremely early-period), from day 4 to day 27 (early-period), and after day 28 (late-period). The study compared the outcomes, including mortality rates, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) severity, PH treatment duration, and oxygen therapy duration, among the three groups.
RESULTS: Among the 157 infants, 67 (42.7%) were treated for PH during their stay. Of these, 39 (57.3%) were treatment in extremely early, 21 (31.3%) in early, and seven (11.4%) in late periods. No significant differences were observed in maternal factors, neonatal factors, or morbidity between the three groups. However, infants who received extremely early-period treatment had a higher mortality rate, but shorter duration of noninvasive respiratory support, oxygen therapy, and PH medication use. On the other hand, the late-period treatment group received longer durations of respiratory support and treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed differences in mortality rates, respiratory outcomes, and treatment duration between the three groups, suggesting varying pathophysiologies over time in extremely preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between total bilirubin and acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
METHODS: All data utilized were extracted from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III (MIMIC-III) in this retrospective cohort study. The primary outcome was the occurrence of AKI during hospitalization in the NICU, and the exposure was the initial measurement of total bilirubin levels within 24 h of neonatal admission to the NICU. The relationship between serum total bilirubin and AKI was evaluated by employing univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted based on birth weight, sepsis, and mechanical ventilation.
RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included a population of 1,726 neonates, and 95 neonates developed AKI. Total bilirubin, as a continuous variable, was linked with decreased AKI risk among neonates admitted to the NICU [odds ratio (OR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-0.92]. Similarly, when total bilirubin levels were categorized by tertiles, tertiles 3 showed a significant association with decreased AKI risk (OR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.19-0.83). The relationship of total bilirubin level and AKI was also existent among neonates admitted to the NICU who were underweight, had not sepsis, and received mechanical ventilation.
CONCLUSIONS: Total bilirubin level may be a protective factor for the risk of developing AKI.

Examining the privacy experiences of mothers in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can play a crucial role in bolstering patient privacy safeguards and elevating the overall quality of health care. However, our understanding of mothers\' experiences regarding privacy issues they may face after their infants\' hospitalization in the NICU is limited.
This study aimed to investigate the experiences of mothers concerning privacy within NICUs to contribute valuable insights for improving infant care and privacy protection.
A qualitative content analysis using a conventional approach was conducted. A total of 18 participants, with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds, were interviewed using open-ended questions. Qualitative content analysis was undertaken for data analysis.
The study was conducted in the NICU of an urban teaching hospital in Iran.
The study identified four main themes: \'understanding of privacy\', \'fluctuating respect for privacy\', \'efforts to maintain privacy\' and \'privacy barriers\'. Participants viewed privacy as multidimensional, influenced by cultural and religious factors. Respect for privacy varied, with instances of both adherence and violation. Mothers employed strategies to preserve privacy, emphasizing the importance of their infants\' privacy. Privacy barriers included hospital attire, the physical space of the NICU, inhomogeneous human resources and insufficient supervision and training.
This study, the first of its kind in the NICU context, provides valuable insights into maternal experiences of privacy. Integrating these insights into practice and future research can contribute to creating more empathetic and privacy-respecting NICU environments.
Health care providers can use these findings to enhance support for mothers, potentially reshaping physical spaces and communication practices within NICUs.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the most effective non-pharmacological measures for pain control in preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
METHODS: A Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish from April 2020 to December 2023. The data sources used were MedLine via PubMed, LILACS, EMBASE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Pedro. We performed the risk of bias analysis with Rob 2 and the certainty of the evidence and strength of the recommendation using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. We assessed heterogeneity using the Higgins and Thompson I2 test, the classification of interventions using the P-score, and inconsistencies using the Direct Evidence Plot.
RESULTS: From 210 publications identified, we utilized 12 studies in analysis with 961 preterm infants, and we combined ten studies in network meta-analysis with 716 preterm infants, and 12 combinations of non-pharmacological measures. With moderate confidence, sensory saturation, sugars, non-nutritive sucking, maternal heart sound, lullaby, breast milk odor/taste, magnetic acupuncture, skin-to-skin contact, and facilitated tucking have been shown to reduce pain in preterm infants when compared to no intervention, placebo, proparacaine or standard NICU routine: sensory saturation [SMD 5,25 IC 95%: -8,98; -1,53], sugars [SMD 2,32 IC 95%: -3,86; -0,79], pacifier [SMD 3,74 IC 95%: -7,30; 0,19], and sugars and pacifier SMD [3,88 IC 95% -7,72; -0,04].
CONCLUSIONS: Non-pharmacological measures are strongly recommended for pain management in preterm infants in the NICU.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study have important implications for policy and practice. This is the only systematic review that compared the effectiveness of non-pharmacological measures, thus making it possible to identify which measure presents the best results and could be the first choice in clinical decision making.