PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Whit Hall

Publications and source records attributed to R Whit Hall.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Effects of morphine analgesia in ventilated preterm neonates: primary outcomes from the NEOPAIN randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Opioid analgesia is commonly used during neonatal intensive care. We undertook the Neurologic Outcomes and Pre-emptive Analgesia in Neonates (NEOPAIN) trial to investigate whether pre-emptive morphine analgesia decreases the rate of a composite primary outcome of neonatal death, severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) in preterm neonates. METHODS: Ventilated preterm neonates (n=898) from 16 centres were randomly assigned masked placebo (n=449) or morphine (n=449) infusions. After a loading dose (100 microg/kg), morphine infusions (23-26 weeks of gestation 10 microg kg(-1) h(-1); 27-29 weeks 20 microg kg(-1) h(-1); 30-32 weeks 30 microg kg(-1) h(-1)) were continued as long as clinically justified (maximum 14 days). Open-label morphine could be given on clinical judgment (placebo group 242/443 [54.6%], morphine group 202/446 [45.3%]). Analyses were by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Baseline variables were similar in the randomised groups. The placebo and morphine groups had similar rates of the composite outcome (105/408 [26%] vs 115/419 [27%]), neonatal death (47/449 [11%] vs 58/449 [13%]), severe IVH (46/429 [11%] vs 55/411 [13%]), and PVL (34/367 [9%] vs 27/367 [7%]). For neonates who were not given open-label morphine, rates of the composite outcome (53/225 [24%] vs 27/179 [15%], p=0.0338) and severe IVH (19/219 [9%] vs 6/189 [3%], p=0.0209) were higher in the morphine group than the placebo group. Placebo-group neonates receiving open-label morphine had worse rates of the composite outcome than those not receiving open-label morphine (78/228 [34%] vs 27/179 [15%], p<0.0001). Morphine-group neonates receiving open-label morphine were more likely to develop severe IVH (36/190 [19%] vs 19/219 [9%], p=0.0024). INTERPRETATION: Pre-emptive morphine infusions did not reduce the frequency of severe IVH, PVL, or death in ventilated preterm neonates, but intermittent boluses of open-label morphine were associated with an increased rate of the composite outcome. The morphine doses used in this study decrease clinical signs of pain but can cause significant adverse effects in ventilated preterm neonates.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed2004

Use of DNA fingerprinting in decision making for considering closure of neonatal intensive care units because of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infections.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been well-described in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and have resulted in the temporary closure of some nurseries to new admissions. Nosocomial transmission of these infections has been verified by fingerprint analysis of the isolates. We utilized molecular fingerprinting to identify the source of bloodstream infections in an NICU and used this information to apply infection control measures that allowed the nursery to stay open and continue to accept referrals. METHODS: In June 1998 three premature infants transferred to our hospital (Hospital A) from Hospitals B and C had bloodstream infections with P. aeruginosa. Subsequently one additional neonate transferred from Hospital B was colonized with P. aeruginosa. Random amplification of polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) was performed on the four isolates. All transfers from Hospital B were cultured, and surveillance programs were instituted in Hospitals A and B. Targeted infection control measures for all transfers were implemented. RESULTS: The four isolates were the same clone by RAPD. Investigation of the environment in Hospital A did not identify any source of the organism. Surveillance cultures on 49 neonates at Hospital A revealed only one patient colonized at an endotracheal tube. This patient was also a transfer from Hospital B. Results from Hospital B identified 4 of 40 (10%) neonates colonized. All isolates were clones identical with the bloodstream isolates from the neonates with bloodstream infections. Infection control measures for all babies transferred from Hospital B resulted in no new cases of P. aeruginosa bacteremia during the next 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: The use of molecular fingerprinting of isolates of P. aeruginosa allowed for a prompt and directed infection control plan to be implemented in Hospitals A and B. It also allowed the NICU in Hospital A to continue to accept referrals from other hospitals and to implement a targeted infection control plan for patients transferred from Hospital B.

Bacteremia↗