To investigate the usefulness of indices of complement activation in the diagnosis of infections in the neonatal period, activation products C4d, Ba, and C3d were measured in 42 babies with a putative diagnosis of infection based on clinical/laboratory criteria, and compared with conventional clinical and haematological criteria of infection and with C reactive protein. The diagnosis of sepsis ...

Seventy infants with suspected bacterial infection in the first 48 hours of life were treated either with piperacillin and flucloxacillin or with penicillin and gentamicin. Infection was confirmed and successfully eradicated in 6 of the 35 infants receiving piperacillin and flucloxacillin. Four infants treated with penicillin and gentamicin had confirmed infection and one deteriorated initially...

Pneumonia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in infants particularly following lower respiratory tract viral infections such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). However, the mechanisms by which co-infection of infants by MRSA and RSV cause increased lung pathology are unknown. Because the infant immune system is qualitat...

OBJECTIVE: To review the current medical literature on neonatal nosocomial infections, emphasizing aspects of neonatal colonization, immune system and infection mechanisms, modes of transmission, epidemiology, surveillance and prevention of these infections, in addition to assessing peculiarities about etiologic agents and prophylactic recommendations. SOURCES: Electronic search in the Medline ...

Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections may be caused by either herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2). In the United States, HSV-2 is responsible for 75% of genital and neonatal infections, while HSV-1 causes the rest. HSV-1 more commonly affects the oropharynx, the eyes and the central nervous system.1,2 It is estimated that 20 to 30% of sexually act...

Umbilical cord nonseverance (UCNS) is the practice of leaving umbilical attached to placenta after delivery. Limited case reports exist revealing adverse outcomes UCNS. We report a neonatal omphalitis associated with Escherichia coli bacteremia and urinary tract infection

INTRODUCTION Neonatal infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Neonatal infection surveillance networks are necessary for defining the epidemiology of infections and monitoring changes over time. DESIGN Prospective multicentre surveillance using a web-based database. SETTING 12 English neonatal units. PARTICIPANTS Newborns admitted in 2006-2008, with positive blood, cer...

RATIONALE Chlamydial lung infection has been associated with asthma in children and adults. However, how chlamydial infection influences the development of immune responses that promote asthma remains unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of chlamydial infection at various ages on the development of allergic airway disease (AAD). METHODS Mouse models of chlamydial lung infection and o...

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a newly discovered infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, which can readily spread in the healthcare setting. A recent community outbreak in Hong Kong infected a significant number of pregnant women who subsequently required emergency caesarean section for deteriorating maternal condition and respiratory failure. As no neonatal clinicia...