American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for detecting neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and preventing kernicterus

Evaluation of community health worker's performance at home-based newborn assessment supported by mHealth in rural Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

In low to middle-income countries where home births are common and neonatal postnatal care is limited, community health worker (CHW) home visits can extend the capability of health systems to reach vulnerable newborns in the postnatal period. CHW assessment of newborn danger signs supported by mHealth have the potential to improve the quality of danger sign assessments and reduce CHW training requirements. We aim to estimate the validity (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value) of CHW assessment of newborn infants aided by mHealth compared to physician assessment.

METHODS

In this prospective study, ten CHWs received five days of theoretical and hands-on training on the physical assessment of newborns including ten danger signs. CHWs assessed 273 newborn infants for danger signs within 48 h of birth and then consecutively for three days. A physician repeated 20% (n = 148) of the assessments conducted by CHWs. Both CHWs and the physician evaluated newborns for ten danger signs and decided on referral. We used the physician's danger sign identification and referral decision as the gold standard to validate CHWs' identification of danger signs and referral decisions.

RESULTS

The referrals made by the CHWs had high sensitivity (93.3%), specificity (96.2%), and almost perfect agreement (K = 0.80) with the referrals made by the physician. CHW identification of all the danger signs except hypothermia showed moderate to high sensitivity (66.7-100%) compared to physician assessments. All the danger signs assessments except hypothermia showed moderate to high positive predictive value (PPV) (50-100%) and excellent negative predictive value (NPV) (99-100%). Specificity was high (99-100%) for all ten danger signs.

CONCLUSION

CHW's identification of neonatal danger signs aided by mHealth showed moderate to high validity in comparison to physician assessments. mHealth platforms may reduce CHW training requirements and while maintaining quality CHW physical assessment performance extending the ability of health systems to provide neonatal postnatal care in low-resource communities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov NCT03933423 , January 05, 2019.

Acute bilirubin encephalopathy and its associated risk factors in a tertiary care hospital, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) and its risk factors in neonates presenting with hyperbilirubinemia in a tertiary care children hospital.

METHODS

This descriptive observational study was conducted from June 2018 to June 2019. A total of 300 infants who were admitted in neonatal ICU with diagnosis of hyperbilirubinemia in The Children's Hospital & The Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan were included in this period. Incidence of ABE was noted. ABE was divided into two categories on the basis of severity of symptoms; mild ABE and moderate to severe ABE. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) in all neonates was measured in all patients in hospital laboratory using colorimetric method. ABO incompatibility and Rh factor incompatibility was also noted for each neonate.

RESULTS

Out of 300 neonates who presented with hyperbilirubinemia, ABE was diagnosed in only 42 (14.0%) neonates (mild ABE in 17 (5.7%) and moderate in 25 (8.3%). Out of 42 neonates of ABE, total serum bilirubin levels were 20-29.9 mg/dL in 24 (40.5%) neonates, and >30 mg/dL in 18 (42.8%) neonates. Pre-term birth was a significant risk factor of ABE; 23.8% in ABE and 10.70% in non-ABE (p-value 0.01). During treatment, 02 (4.76%) neonates expired due to ABE.

CONCLUSION

In present study, ABE was diagnosed in 14.0% neonates who presented with hyperbilirubinemia. We found pre-term delivery as a significant risk factor of ABE.

Relationship research between auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder and exchange transfusion in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of exchange transfusion on auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia (SH).

METHODS

The clinical data of 2216 SH neonates who met the standard of exchange transfusion and 732 non severe-hyperbilirubinemia (NSH) neonates in the same period who did not require exchange transfusion in the neonatology department of Childrens' Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2010 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. In addition, the SH neonates were further divided into the exchange transfusion group and photography group. Hearing screening was conducted on all neonates using transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and auto auditory brainstem response (AABR), and neonates who failed the above screening were performed diagnostic hearing test. And then neonates diagnosed with hearing disorder were followed up for 2-5 years.

RESULTS

The pass rates of hearing screening were 80.58%, 79.71% and 87.84% in the phototherapy group, exchange transfusion group and NSH group respectively, with a significant difference(P < 0.05). Hearing loss was diagnosed in 10.15%, 12.39% and 8.54% of neonates in the phototherapy group, exchange transfusion group and NSH group. After follow-up, ultimate incidence rates of ANSD were 11.96%, 11.57% and 2.4% respectively in the 3 groups, with a significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

SH is one of risk factors for ANSD. SH neonates have a lower incidence of ANSD in the exchange transfusion group than in the phototherapy group. Neonates who meet the standards of exchange transfusion adopt this therapy in early stage, which can quickly decrease bilirubin level and ultimately reduce incidence of ANSD.

Turkish Neonatal Society guideline to the approach, follow-up, and treatment of neonatal jaundice

Jaundice is one of the most common problems in the newborn. It is generally accepted as a physiologic condition; most cases are benign and transient. However, in a small portion of jaundiced newborn infants, serum bilirubin concentrations increase to a level at which irreversible brain damage can occur. The timely diagnosis and management of severe hyperbilirubinemia is essential to prevent acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus. Kernicterus still occurs although it is almost always preventable. The focus of this guideline is to reduce the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia and bilirubin encephalopathy. Therefore, a system-based approach using the recommendations of this guideline should be implemented in all birthing facilities and continued in ambulatory care of the newborn infants.

Hearing and neurological impairment in children with history of exchange transfusion for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

The objective was to determine frequency of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), identified by abnormal threshold in evoked potentials, absence of otoacoustic emissions and behavioral responses, auditory neuropathy (AN) (absence of evoked potentials, with preservation of otoacoustic emissions), and neurological comorbidity in infants with hyperbilirubinemia (HB) treated with exchange-transfusion (ET). From a total of 7,219 infants, ET was performed on 336 (4.6%). Inclusion criteria were fulfilled in 102; 234 children did not meet criteria (182 outside of the study period, 34 did not have complete audiological evaluation, and 18 rejected the followup). Thirty-five children (34%) were born at-term and 67 (66%) were preterm. Children had a mean age of 5.5 ± 3.9 years. Main causes of ET were Rh isoimmunization in 48 (47%), ABO incompatibility in 28 (27.5%), and multifactorial causes in 26 (25.5%). Fifteen (15%) children presented with SNHL. Preterm newborns presented more often with SNHL. Indirect bilirubin level was higher in children with SNHL (22.2 versus 18.7 mg/dL, P = 0.02). No cases of AN were documented. An increased risk of neurologic sequelae was observed in children with SNHL. In conclusion, we disclosed a high frequency of SNHL in children with neonatal HB and ET and neurological alterations. No cases of AN were observed.

Severe neonatal jaundice: is it a rare event in Australia?

Hyperbilirubinaemia is common in the newborn period, and while the vast majority of babies are unaffected, significant neurological impairment remains a risk associated with extremely high levels of bilirubin. There is concern internationally that the number of babies affected by severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia may be increasing. This review describes the most current published data pertaining to the incidence and causes of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in order to determine whether concern regarding the possible re-emergence of kernicterus in Australia is warranted. Seven incidence studies conducted internationally between 1988 and 2005 identify an estimated incidence of severe neonatal jaundice of between 7.1 and 45 per 100,000 births and of kernicterus at 0.4-2.7. Major pathophysiological causes or associations include ABO and other blood group incompatibility, glucose-6-phoshate-dehydrogenase deficiency, infection and haemolysis of other causes including spherocytosis. Other factors associated with poor outcomes include prematurity, male gender, ethnicity, breastfeeding and early hospital discharge. The management of severe neonatal jaundice requires multifaceted risk quantification in addition to the availability of adequate surveillance, particularly in the context of early hospital discharge. It is of concern that currently there is a paucity of incidence data in Australia relating to this potentially devastating yet generally preventable condition. Therefore, a surveillance study has been initiated through the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit. It is anticipated that these data will accurately define the incidence in Australia and hopefully guide strategies to prevent a condition that we may have prematurely considered to be of historical interest only.

Overhead is superior to underneath light-emitting diode phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal jaundice: a comparative study

AIM

To compare the efficacy of overhead and underneath light-emitting diode (LED) devices in the treatment of neonatal jaundice.

METHODS

We compared two LED phototherapy devices: the neoBLUE device, which provides overhead illumination, and the neoBLUE cozy device, which provides illumination from underneath the infant. The models we used had similar LED sources and provided similar light intensities (30 microW/cm(2)/nm). Infants with hyperbilirubinemia were assigned to one of two groups according to the phototherapy device used (group 1, overhead illumination, 181 infants; group 2, underneath illumination, 61 infants). Recorded variables included birthweight, gender, family history, aetiology of jaundice, total duration of phototherapy and total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration at the initiation of phototherapy, at 12-hour intervals and just before the cessation of phototherapy. The rates of decrease in TSB concentration were calculated.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the mean duration of phototherapy and in the rate of decrease in TSB concentration between the two groups. The mean duration of phototherapy in group 2 was higher than in group 1 (P= 0.037). The rate of decrease in TSB in group 1 was higher than in group 2 (P= 0.01).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that when phototherapy is used in the treatment of neonatal jaundice, the direction from which the light is applied should be considered in addition to light source intensity.

Children with chronic non-progressive encephalopathy: hearing evaluation and hearing aids

AIM

to assess the auditory abilities of children with non-progressive chronic encephalopathy (NPCE), independently of the presence or not of hearing loss, and of the etiology of the encephalopathy; to characterize the benefit of hearing aids in children with NPCE and hearing loss.

METHOD

neurologic, otorhinolaryngologic and auditory assessments. Application of the Parent's Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) protocol.

RESULTS

out of the 46 assessed children, 22 (48%) presented no hearing loss and 24 (52%) presented some level of sensorineural hearing loss. Regarding the encephalopathy etiology, most of the participants presented ischemic hypoxic encephalopathy followed by infectious process and kernicterus. The results also indicate that 16 (35%) parents suspected that their child had hearing loss; out of this total, 56% had the hearing loss confirmed. Thirty parents (65%) did not have any hearing complaints about their children. For these children the auditory evaluation indicated that 50% presented some level of hearing loss. The PEACH protocol proved to be effective to assess the benefit of hearing aids.

CONCLUSION

the results indicate that over half of participants presented hearing loss. No correlation was observed between etiology and complaints of hearing loss. This means that it is not possible to predict hearing loss based on complaints. All children who presented hearing loss benefited from the use of hearing aids.

Neonatal jaundice: a critical review of the role and practice of bilirubin analysis

Neonatal jaundice is common, and usually harmless, because of physiological jaundice or breast-feeding. In some neonates unconjugated bilirubin concentration, coupled with other risk factors, is sufficient to allow free bilirubin to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause kernicterus. Another subgroup of infants is jaundiced because of elevated conjugated bilirubin; a marker for a number of pathological conditions. Bilirubin measurement must identify those infants at risk. Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement is increasingly used in healthy infants, especially before early discharge or at home, to assess the need for laboratory bilirubin measurement. Transcutaneous measurements are not covered by laboratory quality assessment schemes. Guidelines on management of neonatal jaundice utilize age in hours and other risk factors to define bilirubin action thresholds, which may be as low as 100 μmol/L for sick premature infants, whereas early discharged babies may only present after bilirubin concentrations are extremely high. Hence, there is a requirement for accurate total bilirubin measurement from <100 to >500 μmol/L, with sufficient precision to assess the rate of bilirubin change with time. Babies presenting with late jaundice always require conjugated bilirubin measurement. It is of concern that many total and direct bilirubin automated kit methods suffer from haemolysis interference, while use of in-house methods or modification of commercial methods has virtually disappeared. External quality assessment has a vital role in providing data on different methods' performance, including accuracy, precision and susceptibility to interference. Laboratories should consider whether their adult bilirubin methods are suitable for neonates.

Israel guidelines for the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and prevention of kernicterus

Despite publication of guidelines for the prevention and management of hyperbilirubinemia in term and late-preterm newborn infants, kernicterus, although rare, continues to occur. Guidelines written for use in one country may not always be universally appropriate. Bearing this in mind, a committee appointed by the Israel Neonatal Society has formulated a set of guidelines, based on those of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2004), but adapted to the realities of the Israeli scene. The guidelines include methods of surveillance of jaundice, prediction of jaundice, assessment of risk factors, discharge planning and post-discharge follow-up, in addition to therapeutic guidelines including indications for phototherapy, exchange transfusion and the use of intravenous immune globulin. Availability of these guidelines to the international community may offer direction to physicians of other countries who may be setting up guidelines for use in their own communities.