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1.
Intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of neonatal sepsis: A randomised controlled trial
Rizvi MQ, Singh MV, Mishra N, Shrivastava A, Maurya M, Siddiqui SA
Tropical doctor. 2023;:494755221138689
Abstract
Sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in low and middle-income countries. We designed a double-blinded randomised controlled trial in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care teaching hospital to determine the role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in decreasing hospital stay. Eighty neonates with clinical features of sepsis were enrolled in the study and placebo groups to receive 500 mg/kg of IVIG for three consecutive days or a placebo. The primary outcome measure was duration of hospital stay in days. The babies in both groups were comparable in terms of birth weight, gestation and sex distribution. There was no significant difference in duration of hospital stay (days) in the study and placebo groups. We found that treatment with IVIG did not shorten the duration of hospital stay in our setting.
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2.
Pentaglobin (immunoglobulin M-enriched immunoglobulin) as adjuvant therapy for premature and very low-birth-weight neonates with sepsis
Nassir KF, Al-Saddi YI, Abbas HM, Al Khames Aga QA, Al Khames Aga LA, Oudah AA
Indian journal of pharmacology. 2021;53(5):364-370
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of Pentaglobin® as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of sepsis in preterm newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS It was a prospective, observational, randomized study for 272 premature neonates and very low birth weight (VLBW) that were diagnosed with sepsis carried at neonatal intensive care units. The patients randomized into control group who received standard sepsis antibiotic treatments, and an intervention group who received Pentaglobin® 5 ml/kg daily for 3 consecutive days as an adjunct therapy to a standard sepsis antibiotic treatment. RESULTS Multiple organisms that isolated from culture specimens were Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive, and candida (56.25%, 42.28%, and 1.47%, respectively). The disease duration was distinctively longer in patients who were treated by the standard antibiotic protocol (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 30.76 ± 3.97, odds ratio [OR]: 30.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.051, 31.473) comparing to the patients who received Pentaglobin adjuvant therapy (mean ± SD: 26.48 ± 5.55, OR: 26.48, 95% CI: 25.489, 27.477) (P < 0.000). Patients treated by standard antibiotic protocol were associated to a substantially increased risk of death (11.76%, hazard ratio 4.400, 95% CI: 1.432, 13.529, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION Neonatal sepsis is more common in premature and VLBW newborns, and Pentaglobin® management of newborn nosocomial sepsis might be used in addition to other therapies.
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3.
Methylene blue versus vasopressin analog for refractory septic shock in the preterm neonate: A randomized controlled trial
Ismail R, Awad H, Allam R, Youssef O, Ibrahim M, Shehata B
Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine. 2021
Abstract
BACKGROUND Refractory septic shock in neonates is still associated with high mortality, necessitating an alternative therapy, despite all currently available treatments. This study aims to assess the vasopressor effect of methylene blue (MB) in comparison to terlipressin (TP) as adjuvant therapy for refractory septic shock in the preterm neonate. METHODS A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units at Ain Shams University, Egypt. Thirty preterm neonates with refractory septic shock were randomized to receive either MB or TP as an adjuvant to conventional therapy. Both MB and TP were administered as an intravenous loading dose followed by continuous intravenous infusion. The hemodynamic variables, functional echocardiographic variables, and oxidant stress marker were assessed over a 24 h period together with the side effects of MB. RESULTS MB causes significant improvement in mean arterial blood pressure with a significant decrease of the norepinephrine requirements (1.15±0.21μm/kg/min at baseline vs. 0.55±0.15μm/kg/min at 24 h). MB infusion causes an increase of the pulmonary pressure (44.73±8.53 mmHg at baseline vs. 47.27±7.91 mmHg after 24 h) without affecting the cardiac output. Serum malonaldehyde decreased from 5.45±1.30 nmol/mL at baseline to 4.40±0.90 nmol/mL at 24 h in the MB group. CONCLUSION Administration of MB to preterm infants with refractory septic shock showed rapid increases in systemic vascular resistance and arterial blood pressure with minimal side effects.
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4.
Outcome of Early Hemostatic Intervention in Children With Sepsis and Nonovert Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Admitted to PICU: A Randomized Controlled Trial
El-Nawawy AA, Elshinawy MI, Khater DM, Moustafa AA, Hassanein NM, Wali YA, Nazir HF
Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. 2020
Abstract
Critically ill children with sepsis may develop catastrophic thrombotic and hemorrhagic syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy as a final common pathway. OBJECTIVES Evaluation of the outcome of early hemostatic management of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock admitted to PICU, before the development of clinically overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. DESIGN Prospective interventional, open label randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING PICU at Alexandria University Children's Hospital. PATIENTS The study included 80 patients with proven severe sepsis/septic shock in nonovert disseminated intravascular coagulopathy stage. They were randomly assigned into two groups (group 1 and group 2). INTERVENTIONS Specific intervention was applied for group 1 (plasma transfusion, low-dose unfractionated heparin, and tranexamic acid). MEASUREMENTS All patients had assessment of Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 score, Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score, inotropic score, routine laboratory, and hemostatic tests including fibrin degradation products and D-dimers. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy risk assessment scores were calculated on daily basis. RESULTS Mortality rate was significantly higher in group 2. Progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was significantly more common among group 2 patients than group 1 (45% and 10%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Disseminated intravascular coagulopathyRisk Assessment Scores were significantly higher on the second and fifth days among group 2 patients. The initial specific hemostatic intervention was the only significant predictor of survival and prevention of progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that early use of a combination of fresh frozen plasma transfusion, low-dose heparin, and tranexamic acid in children with severe sepsis/septic shock in the "window of opportunity" before the development of overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy stage was associated with better outcome for survival and prevention of progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, with no increase in bleeding risk. Larger multicenter studies are needed to further prove this practice.
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5.
Prolonged intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in very low birth weight infants with late onset sepsis
Bancalari Molina A, Munoz Perez T, Martinez Bengoechea P
Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine. 2019
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal infections are a leading cause of morbi-mortality despite advances in antimicrobials and neonatal care. Preterm infants have greater susceptibility to sepsis due to an immature immune system and lower immunoglobulin levels. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have been used in several studies as an adjuvant treatment to improve this physiological immune deficiency, with different outcomes. METHODS Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants who developed sepsis in the neonatal ICU were studied. They were randomly divided in 2 groups: one group was treated with antibiotics (Group I), and the other received antibiotics plus a 500 mg/kg/dav of IVIG during 7 days (Group II). Serum IgG concentration was determined at initiation, during and after treatment Group I, and daily during the 7 days of therapy in Group II. RESULTS The baseline IgG concentration in group II was 486 g/dL, and increased to 852 mg/dL after the first dose of IVIG (p < 0.01). After the seventh day of infusion a mean IgG level of 1898 mg/dL was achieved. A direct correlation (r = 0.94) between IgG concentration and days of treatment was observed. Blood cultures were positive in 70% of the infants in group I and 75.5% in group II. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequent isolated bacteria in blood cultures. The lethality rate was 25.0% in group I and 5.0% in Group II (p < 0.03). We did not observe collateral effects with the administration of IVIG. CONCLUSIONS Therapy with IVIG seems to be safe and effective as an adjuvant treatment in VLBW infants with sepsis.
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6.
Double volume exchange transfusion in severe neonatal sepsis
Aradhya AS, Sundaram V, Kumar P, Ganapathy SM, Jain A, Rawat A
Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2016;83((2)):107-13.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the efficacy and safety of double volume exchange transfusion (DVET) in neonates>1000 g birth weight with severe sepsis. METHODS Eighty-three neonates weighing >1000 g with severe sepsis were randomly assigned to DVET or standard therapy (ST) group. Primary outcome was mortality by 14 d from enrollment. RESULTS A 21 % reduction in mortality, albeit non-significant, by 14 d from enrollment was observed in DVET group in comparison to ST group [RR: 0.79 (95 % C.I 0.45-1.3); p 0.4]. A similar trend in mortality reduction was observed with early mortality and mortality by discharge in DVET group. No difference was observed in normalization of dysfunctional organs by 14 d. Cardiovascular and hematological system benefitted the most, followed by renal dysfunction with DVET. A significant improvement in post DVET IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and base deficit was observed. No serious adverse effects occurred following DVET. CONCLUSIONS In neonates >1000 g with severe sepsis, DVET was associated with a trend towards decrease in mortality by 14 d from enrollment. A significant improvement in immunoglobulin and complement C3 levels and acid base status were observed following DVET. DVET is a safe procedure in severely sick and septic neonates.
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7.
Anaemia and blood transfusion in African children presenting to hospital with severe febrile illness
Kiguli S, Maitland K, George EC, Olupot-Olupot P, Opoka RO, Engoru C, Akech SO, Nyeko R, Mtove G, Reyburn H, et al
BMC Medicine. 2015;((13):):21.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe anaemia in children is a leading cause of hospital admission and a major cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there are limited published data on blood transfusion in this vulnerable group. METHODS We present data from a large controlled trial of fluid resuscitation (Fluid Expansion As Supportive Therapy (FEAST) trial) on the prevalence, clinical features, and transfusion management of anaemia in children presenting to hospitals in three East African countries with serious febrile illness (predominantly malaria and/or sepsis) and impaired peripheral perfusion. RESULTS Of 3,170 children in the FEAST trial, 3,082 (97%) had baseline haemoglobin (Hb) measurement, 2,346/3,082 (76%) were anaemic (Hb <10 g/dL), and 33% severely anaemic (Hb <5 g/dL). Prevalence of severe anaemia varied from 12% in Kenya to 41% in eastern Uganda. 1,387/3,082 (45%) children were transfused (81% within 8 hours). Adherence to WHO transfusion guidelines was poor. Among severely anaemic children who were not transfused, 52% (54/103) died within 8 hours, and 90% of these deaths occurred within 2.5 hours of randomisation. By 24 hours, 128/1,002 (13%) severely anaemic children had died, compared to 36/501 (7%) and 71/843 (8%) of those with moderate and mild anaemia, respectively. Among children without severe hypotension who were randomised to receive fluid boluses of 0.9% saline or albumin, mortality was increased (10.6% and 10.5%, respectively) compared to controls (7.2%), regardless of admission Hb level. Repeat transfusion varied from <2% in Kenya/Tanzania to 6 to 13% at the four Ugandan centres. Adverse reactions to blood were rare (0.4%). CONCLUSIONS Severe anaemia complicates one third of childhood admissions with serious febrile illness to hospitals in East Africa, and is associated with increased mortality. A high proportion of deaths occurred within 2.5 hours of admission, emphasizing the need for rapid recognition and prompt blood transfusion. Adherence to current WHO transfusion guidelines was poor. The high rates of re-transfusion suggest that 20 mL/kg whole blood or 10 mL/kg packed cells may undertreat a significant proportion of anaemic children. Future evaluation of the impact of a larger volume of transfused blood and optimum transfusion management of children with Hb of <6 g/dL is warranted.
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8.
A randomised controlled trial of plasma filtration in severe paediatric sepsis
Long EJ, Shann F, Pearson G, Buckley D, Butt W
Critical Care & Resuscitation. 2013;15((3):):198-204.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether plasma filtration improves 28-day survival in infants and children with severe sepsis. DESIGN A multicentre randomised controlled trial. SETTING Paediatric intensive care units in teaching hospitals. PATIENTS Forty-eight infants and children with severe sepsis. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to receive plasma filtration (n = 25) or standard therapy (n = 23) for the treatment of septic shock. The primary outcome measure was 28-day survival. Secondary outcome measures included the number of failed organ systems on Day 7, a requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and the modified Glasgow outcome score (MGOS) at 6 months (where 1 is normal and 6 is dead). RESULTS The trial was stopped early due to poor recruitment. Patients in the plasma filtration group had higher initial disease severity as measured by serum lactate level, inotrope score and MGOS. Ten (40%) children died in the plasma filtration group and 4 (17%) died in the control group. With intention-to-treat analysis and adjustment for lactate level, ventilation index, inotrope score and MGOS at admission using logistic regression, the odds ratio for death with plasma filtration was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.23-6.20; P = 0.82). The median number of failing organ systems at 7 days was 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-4) in the plasma filtration group versus 2 (IQR, 1-3) in the control group. Two children in the plasma filtration group required ECMO for 2.5 and 123 hours, and one child in the control group required ECMO for 45 hours. The median MGOS at 6 months was 4 (IQR, 2-6) in the plasma filtration group and 2 (IQR, 1-4) in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Our study did not recruit enough patients to test the hypothesis that addition of plasma filtration to our standard care protocol reduces 28-day mortality in children with severe sepsis. However, mortality in the treatment and control groups was not significantly different after adjustment for severity of illness at the time of randomisation.
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9.
Biomarker response to drotrecogin alfa (activated) in children with severe sepsis: results from the RESOLVE clinical trial*
Dalton HJ, Carcillo JA, Woodward DB, Short MA, Williams MD
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 2012;13((6):):639-45.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE REsearching severe Sepsis and Organ dysfunction in children: A gLobal perspective (RESOLVE), a phase III trial of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in pediatric severe sepsis, examined biomarker changes in inflammation and coagulation. This report describes biomarker profiles in early severe sepsis and the pharmacodynamic assessment of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in RESOLVE. DESIGN Serial measurements of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, tissue necrosis factor-, procalcitonin, D-dimer, and thrombin-antithrombin complex were performed at baseline and daily over the first five study days. Protein C levels were performed at baseline and at the end of the 96-hr study drug infusion. Analysis of variance-based log-transformed data compared the treatment groups for each measured variable. SETTING : One hundred four pediatric intensive care units in 18 countries. PATIENTS Four hundred seventy-seven children between 38 wks corrected gestational age and 17 yrs with sepsis-induced cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunction. INTERVENTIONS Drotrecogin alfa (activated). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pharmacodynamic activity of drotrecogin alfa (activated) compared with placebo was observed with reduction of D-dimer on day 1 (p < .01) and thrombin-antithrombin complex on days 1-4 (p < .05). There were no significant changes by treatment in multiple cytokines or procalcitonin. In the overall population, a median protein C difference was not observed (p > .05) with drotrecogin alfa (activated) administration compared with placebo, although a difference (median percentage change from baseline) in favor of drotrecogin alfa (activated) was observed in patients >1 yr old (p = .0449). CONCLUSIONS While children in the RESOLVE trial were similar to adults in that they showed a relationship between severity of coagulation and inflammation abnormalities and mortality, their pharmacodynamic response to drotrecogin alfa (activated) differed with respect to changes in protein C activity and systemic inflammation.
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10.
Treatment of neonatal sepsis with intravenous immune globulin
Brocklehurst P, Farrell B, King A, Juszczak E, Darlow B, Haque K, Salt A, Stenson B, Tarnow-Mordi W
The New England Journal of Medicine. 2011;365((13):):1201-11.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of death and complications despite antibiotic treatment. Effective adjunctive treatments are needed. Newborn infants are relatively deficient in endogenous immunoglobulin. Meta-analyses of trials of intravenous immune globulin for suspected or proven neonatal sepsis suggest a reduced rate of death from any cause, but the trials have been small and have varied in quality. METHODS At 113 hospitals in nine countries, we enrolled 3493 infants receiving antibiotics for suspected or proven serious infection and randomly assigned them to receive two infusions of either polyvalent IgG immune globulin (at a dose of 500 mg per kilogram of body weight) or matching placebo 48 hours apart. The primary outcome was death or major disability at the age of 2 years. RESULTS There was no significant between-group difference in the rates of the primary outcome, which occurred in 686 of 1759 infants (39.0%) who received intravenous immune globulin and in 677 of 1734 infants (39.0%) who received placebo (relative risk, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.08). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the rates of secondary outcomes, including the incidence of subsequent sepsis episodes. In follow-up of 2-year-old infants, there were no significant differences in the rates of major or nonmajor disability or of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Therapy with intravenous immune globulin had no effect on the outcomes of suspected or proven neonatal sepsis.