Introduction: The long-term effects of prenatal COVID-19 infection on the fetal brain are mostly unknown at this time however, there is increasing evidence being published. Case Report: Two cases of severe ventriculomegaly, neurological dysfunction, and seizures were found in neonates with prenatal exposure to COVID-19 infection during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Conclusion: Inflammation during the prenatal and neonatal period may be associated with neurological disorders or injury. Despite the presumed lack of vertical transmission, post COVID-19 syndrome and its associated inflammation may have an impact on the unborn fetus. Hyper-vigilance and dissemination of adverse findings is of significant importance as we navigate through this evolving pandemic and its effects.

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the validity of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements at three sites in premature infants born at 230/7 to 346/7 weeks' gestational age (GA) compared with total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurements. Study Design A prospective study was conducted at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, where informed consent was obtained from the infant's parent or legally authorized representative. Cohort A was comprised of infants 230/7 to 286/7 weeks' GA and Cohort B contained subjects 290/7 to 346/7 weeks' GA. Baseline TSB measurements were collected at approximately 24 hours of life, as the standard of care and the TcB measurements were obtained from the sternum, interscapular, and buttock areas at approximately ± 30 minutes from collection of the TSB. Statistical analysis of measurements including sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values, and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) were performed. Results A total of 166 infants were included in the study population. Cohort A consisted of 41 subjects and Cohort B contained 125 subjects. The results showed that baseline TcB measurements from the interscapular area were the most sensitive and specific with TSB levels >5.0 mg/dL in Cohort A. Baseline TcB measurements from the sternum demonstrated greatest sensitivity and specificity when the TSB level was >8.0 mg/dL in Cohort B. In general, each of the three sites in both cohorts demonstrated excellent AUROCs and negative predictive values. Conclusion The use of a TcB meter in preterm infants can be a reliable noninvasive screening tool for hyperbilirubinemia, and it may be beneficial in decreasing painful stimuli and iatrogenic blood loss when used as an adjunct to TSB monitoring. Key Points

Context.— Automated analyzers have advanced the field of clinical hematology, mandating updated complete blood count (CBC) reference intervals (RIs) to be clinically useful. Contemporary newborn CBC RI publications are mostly retrospective, which some authors have cited as one of their cardinal limitations and recommended future prospective studies. Objective.— To prospectively establish accurate hematologic RIs for normal healthy term newborns at 24 hours of life given the limitations of the current medical literature. Design.— This prospective study was conducted at an academic tertiary care center, and hematology samples were collected from 120 participants deemed to be normal healthy term newborns. Distributions were assessed for normality and tested for outliers. Reference intervals were values between the 2.5th percentile and 97.5th percentile. Results.— The novel RIs obtained for this study population are as follows: absolute immature granulocyte count, 80/μL to 1700/μL; immature granulocyte percentage, 0.6% to 6.1%; reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent, 31.7 to 38.4 pg; immature reticulocyte fraction, 35.9% to 52.8%; immature platelet count, 4.73 × 103/μL to 19.72 × 103/μL; and immature platelet fraction, 1.7% to 9.8%. Conclusions.— This prospective study has defined hematologic RIs for this newborn population, including new advanced clinical parameters from the Sysmex XN-1000 Automated Hematology Analyzer. These RIs are proposed as the new standard and can serve as a strong foundation for continued research to further explore their value in diagnosing and managing morbidities such as sepsis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a single dose of prophylactic vancomycin prior to the removal of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in decreasing sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and antibiotic usage in neonates. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted from December 1, 2015, through November 30, 2019, to evaluate outcomes of sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and antibiotic usage in neonates not receiving prophylactic vancomycin prior to the discontinuation of a PICC as compared with those receiving prophylaxis vancomycin in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). RESULTS Of the 138 neonates enrolled in the study, 82 did not receive vancomycin prophylaxis (Cohort 1), and 56 did (Cohort 2). Both cohorts were similar in sex distribution, gestational age, and PICC days. The frequency of sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and the need for antibiotics was not found to be significant (p = 0.404, 0.703, 0.808) (Table 2). CONCLUSIONS The results did not show a statistically significant improvement in the incidence of sepsis in neonates who received prophylactic vancomycin prior to PICC discontinuation. However, there were lower percentages of sepsis evaluations, positive cultures, and antibiotics administered in the Cohort 2 patients. Although the advantage of implementing this antibiotic policy is uncertain based on this study, further research across multiple centers including a larger number of subjects may provide more conclusive results.

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of human milk protein fortifier (HMPF) versus bovine milk protein fortifier (BMPF) on feeding tolerance defined as the time to reach full feeds and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Study Design A retrospective review using the BabySteps Database included 493 infants born ≤33 weeks of gestational age and ≤1,250 g (g) birth weight. A total of 218 infants fed a human milk diet (HMD) with BMPF were compared with 275 infants fed an HMD with HMPF. Results Full feeds were reached significantly sooner in the HMPF group (median: 14 vs. 16 days, p = 0.04). Weight at full feeds was significantly lower in the HMPF group (1,060 vs. 1110 g, p = 0.03). Conclusion Using HMPF to provide an exclusively HMD allowed VLBW infants to achieve full feeds sooner, but did not affect rate of NEC compared with using a BMPF with an HMD. Key Points