Clinical Research Directory

Optimizing PreTerm Infant Ampicillin Dosing

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if preterm infants who are prescribed antibiotics shortly after birth can safely receive a shorter course of antibiotics (24 to 36 hours instead of 48 hours). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does short-course ampicillin provide high enough levels of ampicillin at 48 hours? * Is short-course ampicillin safe for preterm infants to receive? Preterm infants who are being prescribed ampicillin by their doctor and enroll in the study will stop ampicillin after a shorter than typical course, and researchers will collect blood samples to measure their ampicillin levels and follow them clinically to see how they do after receiving short-course ampicillin. Participants will: * stop ampicillin earlier than 48 hours (between 24 to 36 hours, depending on how premature they are and the dosing of ampicillin their doctor has prescribed) * have one or more blood samples collected, including one around 48 hours from when they started ampicillin * have their data collected until 30 days after they receive short-course ampicillin, or until hospital discharge, whichever is sooner

Crochet Octopus in Reducing Procedural Pain During Heel Lance in Preterm Neonates

Neonates, particularly those hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), are subjected to numerous painful procedures essential for their diagnosis and monitoring. Heel lance, performed for routine blood sampling, stands as one of the most frequently encountered painful experiences for these vulnerable infants, as robust neurobiological evidence confirms that even preterm infants possess the anatomical and functional capacity to perceive pain, manifesting measurable physiological, hormonal, and behavioral responses. The daily average of acute painful events can reach up to 10-15 procedures in the NICU, and repeated exposure to inadequately managed procedural pain has been associated with immediate physiological instability as well as longer-term alterations in stress regulation, somatosensory processing, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. These vulnerabilities are further compounded in preterm and low birth weight infants who require prolonged hospitalization and specialized care.

Polyethylene Bag: a Way of Preventing Hypothermia During Central Venous Catheter Placement in Preterm Neonates?

Particular attention is paid to thermal management of preterm neonates in neonatal intensive care units because of the major risk of morbidity associated with hypothermia. Percutaneous central venous catheter placement is essential to ensure adequate caloric intake and intravenous administration of treatments, but this procedure can cause major body temperature variations, responsible for complications in these neonates, as convection incubator function is impaired during opening of the incubator, which can be prolonged (30 minutes to 2 hours) depending on the technical difficulties encountered during catheter placement. In parallel, the use of a polyethylene bag or sheet in the delivery room and for neonatal transport is now clearly defined and ensures stability or even a considerable temperature gain during transfer immediately after birth. In the light of several clinical cases, the use of a polyethylene bag during central venous catheter placement appears to be effective to prevent body temperature loss in preterm neonates. No data are currently available concerning the value of this method of prevention of hypothermia during this type of procedure. Preliminary studies conducted by our team on a dummy suggest that a polyethylene bag or sheet could be useful during this procedure by significantly reducing heat loss caused by convection and evaporation. However, compensation phenomena such as generalized vasoconstriction to cold in preterm infants are very poorly described, but can induce a functional conflict between mechanisms ensuring maintenance of homeostasis and those involved in maintenance of blood pressure.

The Peripheral(-Muscle) Oxygenation and Perfusion Score as a New Non-invasive Tool to Predict Elevations in C-reactive Protein Levels in Neonates

This is a prospective, single-center Phase II observational study investigating the predictive value of the "Peripheral(-muscle) Oxygenation and Perfusion Score" (POP-Score), a novel non-invasive composite index, for early detection of infection/inflammation in neonates. The POP-Score combines peripheral muscle oxygenation measured via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with routinely monitored clinical parameters (heart rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, and subcutaneous fat thickness). The study aims to determine the optimal cut-off value of the POP-Score measured within the first 6 hours after birth to predict elevated C-reactive protein (CRP ≥20 mg/L) within 48 hours. Additionally, multi-site NIRS measurements (cerebral, peripheral muscle, intestinal, and flank) will be evaluated to assess their association with inflammation. The study includes term and moderate-to-late preterm neonates (birth weight ≥2000g) with respiratory distress, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Medical University of Graz.

The Effect of Caffeine Therapy in Cardiovascular Stability in Preterm Neonates at Assiut University Children Hospital NICU

Preterm neonates younger than 37 weeks gestational age receiving caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity in a NICU setting.

Endocan and Copeptin Serum Levels in Preterm Neonates With Respiratory Distress Syndrome

This work aims to investigate and compare the levels of serum endocan and serum copeptin on the first day of life and correlate their levels to the severity of respiratory distress in preterm neonates suffering from respiratory distress syndrome.