Background Research of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) effects on newborns is ongoing. But the research of specific variant’s effects is none. This study analyzed the effects of the Omicron variant on the perinatal outcomes of full-term newborns during the Omicron wave period.  Methods Between December 2021 and April 2022, this study was conducted on all newborns who visited a single center. We investigated due to the Omicron maternal infection maternal pregnancy complications, delivery methods, birth week, Apgar scores, neonatal resuscitation program requirement, whether respiratory support was required until 12 h after childbirth, suspicious infectious status, and mortality depending on maternal Omicron infection. Results A total of 127 neonates were enrolled, and 12 were excluded based on exclusion criteria. Sixteen neonates were born to mothers with a history of Omicron COVID-19, and 99 were born to non-infectious mothers. All infected mothers became infected in the 3rd trimester. Of the 16 mothers, seven were symptomatic, and four met the isolation criteria, according to Korean guidelines. The birth weight of newborns to mothers with a history of COVID and those without was 2.958 ± 0.272 kg and 3.064 ± 0.461 kg (p = 0.049), respectively. The 5-min Apgar score at childbirth was 9.29 ± 0.756 and 9.78 ± 0.460 for neonates born to symptomatic and asymptomatic mothers (p = 0.019), respectively. When compared with or without maternal self-isolation, neonates requiring respiratory support 12 h after birth demonstrated a significant difference (p = 0.014; OR, 10.275). Additionally, the presence or absence of transient tachypnea of the newborn showed a significant value (p = 0.010; OR 11.929). Conclusions Owing to Omicron COVID-19, newborns were born with lower birth weight, low 5-min Apgar scores, and required respiratory support until 12 h after birth.

Purpose: We aimed to determine characteristics of host, causative organisms, and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria in pediatric patients with UTI living in metropolitan area of Korea. Methods: Retrospective investigation was done for the causative organisms of UTI in 683 pediatric cases treated at Ajou University Hospital from 2012 to 2017. Patients were classified into Escherichia coli and nonE. coli group, where E. coli group was subdivided into ESBL(+) and ESBL(-) groups based on whether the bacteria could produce extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). Antibiotic susceptibility of the causative organism was also determined. Results: A total of 683 UTIs occurred in 550 patients, of which 463 (67.8%) were first-time infection and 87 (32.2%) were recurrent ones (2-7 recurrences, 2.52 average), and 64.9% were male and 35.1% were female. The most common causative organism was E. coli (77.2%) and ESBL(+) E. coli was found in 126 cases. The susceptibility of E. coli to 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin was relatively higher than that to ampicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. ESBL(+) E. coli showed higher resistance rate to 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin than ESBL(-) E. coli. Conclusion: New treatment guideline should be considered due to the incidence of ESBL(+) E. coli increased up to one quarter of UTI cases.

Background: Research of coronavirus disease (COVID-190 effects on newborns is ongoing. But the research of specific variant’s effects is none. This study analyzed the effects of the Omicron variant on the perinatal outcome of full-term newborns during the pandemic.Methods: Between December 2021 and April 2022, this study was conducted on all newborns who visited a single center. We investigated due to the Omicron maternal infection maternal pregnancy complications, delivery methods, birth week, Apgar scores, neonatal resuscitation program requirement, whether respiratory support was required until 12 h after childbirth, suspicious infectious status, and mortality depending on maternal Omicron infection.Results: A total of 127 neonates were enrolled, and 12 were excluded based on exclusion criteria. Sixteen neonates were born to mothers with a history of Omicron COVID-19, and 99 were born to non-infectious mothers. All infected mothers became infected in the 3rd trimester. Of the 16 mothers, seven had symptomatic, and four met the isolation criteria, according to Korean guidelines. The birth weight of newborns to mothers with COVID history and those without was 2.958 ± 0.272 kg and 3.064 ± 0.461 kg (p=0.049), respectively. The 5-min Apgar score at childbirth was 9.29 ± 0.756 and 9.78 ± 0.460, for neonates born to symptomatic and asymptomatic mothers (p=0.019), respectively. When compared with or without maternal self-isolation, patients requiring needing respiratory support 12 h after birth demonstrated a significant difference (p=0.014; OR, 10.275). Additionally, the presence or absence of transient tachypnea of the newborn showed a significant value (p=0.010; OR 11.929).Conclusions: Owing to Omicron COVID-19, newborns were born with low birth weight, low 5-min Apgar scores, and required respiratory support until 12 h after birth.

Purpose: This study investigated the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and risk fac tors associated with sedation using chloral hydrate (CH) for brain magnetic reso nance imaging (MRI) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: This was a retrospective study of infants who received CH for brain MRI in the NICU. Among the enrolled infants (n=143), 12.6% (n=18) were included in the AE group and 87.4% (n=125) were in the nonadverse event group (NAE) Results: Gestational age (GA) at birth and corrected GA at sedation were 35 +0 ±7 +2 and 39 +5 ±3 +1 respectively. The rate of AEs was 12.6%, included oxygen desaturation (5.6%), aspiration (4.9%), paradoxical agitation (0.7%), tachycardia or bradycardia (0.7%), and arrest (0.7%). In univariate analysis, the AE group was younger in corrected GA at sedation than the NAE group (37 +2 [range, 36 +0 to 40 +0 ] vs. 40 +1 [range, 38 +2 to 41 +4 ], P= 0.015). There was no significant difference in CH dosage (50.0 [range, 50.0 to 50.0] vs. 50.0 [range, 50.0 to 50.0], P=0.092), cardiopulmonary (33.3% [n=6] vs. 17.6% [n= 22], P=0.209) and central nervous system (61.1% [n=11] vs. 65.6% [n=82], P=0.054) mor bidity. In multivariate analysis, CH dosage was the only significant risk factor for AEs associated with sedation (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.07; P= 0.0186). Conclusion: AEs associated with sedation using CH are not uncommon and should be considered when using high dose CH for diagnostic testing in the NICU.