Varvara Dimopoulou , Kirsten Glaser , Eric Giannoni
{"title":"Central line-associated blood stream infections in newborns: From vulnerability to prevention","authors":"Varvara Dimopoulou , Kirsten Glaser , Eric Giannoni","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Newborns, especially preterm infants, are vulnerable to invasive infections due to their developing immune system and frequent need for central venous catheters. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are among the most common invasive infections in this population and represent the leading cause of neonatal bloodstream infection in many settings. Neonatal CLABSI is associated with substantial mortality, long-term morbidity, and increased healthcare costs. Most importantly, CLABSI is preventable. Bundles centered on rigorous hand hygiene combined with standardized practices for catheter insertion, maintenance and removal have proven effective in reducing infection rates in neonates. Benchmarking and quality improvement initiatives enable neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to track progress and share best practices. While no novel prevention strategies with robust evidence have emerged, sustained declines in CLABSI rates in many NICUs and networks over the past decades highlight the importance of a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to implement and maintain best practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101665"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145228679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Respiratory syncytial virus. What's new in prevention?","authors":"Nestor E. Vain , Paolo Manzoni , Kee Thai Yeo","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants has been limited to general measures and palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody indicated for the highest risk groups. Recently developed RSV vaccines used during pregnancy generate antibodies that cross the placenta. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and real-life monitoring have demonstrated their effectiveness in protecting newborns and infants during the first months of life. Likewise, novel extended half-life monoclonal antibodies, nirsevimab and the recently approved clesrovimab, opened the possibility of large-scale protection targeted to all infants born during the winter season and those <6 months at the beginning of it. Several RCTs and results from populations adopting nirsevimab prophylaxis demonstrated a large decrease in the incidence of RSV-LRTIs and a great impact in infant public health. Deployment of either strategies or in combination as part of immunization programs can be complement each other even as newer immunologic agents are being introduced.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101667"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145245680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicholas D. Embleton , Chris H.P. van den Akker , Belal N. Alshaikh
{"title":"Probiotic supplementation – does it prevent or cause neonatal sepsis?","authors":"Nicholas D. Embleton , Chris H.P. van den Akker , Belal N. Alshaikh","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Probiotic supplementation in preterm infants is one of the most extensively studied interventions in neonatal medicine, with over 50 randomised controlled trials. This paper examines the relationship between probiotic supplementation and late onset sepsis (LOS), considering mechanistic pathways, clinical evidence, and safety profile.</div><div>Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses consistently show that probiotics reduce necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) incidence and all-cause mortality in preterm infants, establishing them as one of the most beneficial interventions in neonatology. Current evidence suggests modest effects on LOS, with Cochrane systematic reviews reporting relative risk 0.89 (95 % CI 0.82–0.97) but with low certainty. Mechanisms supporting LOS reduction include competitive pathogen exclusion, enhanced epithelial barrier function, improved immune responses, and reduced time to full enteral feeding with decreased intravenous access requirements.</div><div>The safety profile of probiotics is reassuring, with serious adverse events being exceptionally rare. Probiotic-induced sepsis probably occurs in less than 0.5 % of treated infants, representing a very low risk that must be weighed against the likely substantial benefits for NEC and mortality reduction. Product contamination and other quality issues exist but appear manageable with appropriate quality control.</div><div>Given the robust evidence for NEC and mortality reduction, probiotics represent a valuable intervention for preterm infants but may have limited, if any impact on sepsis. While their specific role in LOS prevention and impacts on the resistome requires further investigation, the overall benefit-risk profile strongly favors their use. Future research will further refine understanding of optimal strain selection and implementation strategies for maximizing clinical benefits while maintaining safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101668"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yarlini Vipulanandan, Suresh Boppana, Karen B. Fowler, David W. Kimberlin
{"title":"Advancements and potential in the prevention of congenital CMV infection","authors":"Yarlini Vipulanandan, Suresh Boppana, Karen B. Fowler, David W. Kimberlin","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a large contributor to neurodevelopmental delay and non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss, which can often be delayed in onset. While a majority of CMV infections are asymptomatic in healthy children and adults, periconceptual and early in utero infection can cause clinically significant and potentially long-term sequelae. The complex relationship between congenital CMV infection and maternal immunity provides a challenging backdrop for CMV prevention. Increased awareness of the significance of congenital CMV is reflected in the proliferation of prevention strategies over the past 30 years, including education initiatives, behavioral modifications, and maternal antiviral prophylaxis. This review explores different levels of congenital CMV prevention and highlights a variety of prevention strategies, including the potential for development of effective vaccines for CMV.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101662"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145226232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Isabelle Ommert , Caroline-Aleksi Mägi , Siri Lilliesköld , Ylva Thernström Blomqvist , Anna Axelin , Agnes Linnér
{"title":"The role of parents to prevent infections in the neonatal intensive care unit","authors":"Isabelle Ommert , Caroline-Aleksi Mägi , Siri Lilliesköld , Ylva Thernström Blomqvist , Anna Axelin , Agnes Linnér","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Late onset sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit, and it is frequently acquired from the environment. Infant- and family-centered developmental care, which involves skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and continuous parental participation in the care, is an effective infection prevention strategy. Kangaroo mother care, including skin-to-skin contact supports the development of a diverse skin microbiome, distinct from that of the hospital environment. Breastmilk further contributes to infection prevention and immune system development through multiple mechanisms. Parental involvement may improve the safety and quality of care delivery by hospital staff. In summary, parents play an important role in infection prevention in the neonatal intensive care unit. The risks of not including parents in the care of their infants should be further considered both in research and clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101669"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antibiotic stewardship in the neonatal intensive care unit and prevention of antimicrobial resistance","authors":"Ashraf Kharrat , Najla Tabbara , Prakesh S. Shah","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial resistance is an evolving threat to infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Antibiotic-resistant organisms may colonize infants, cause infections, or contribute to nosocomial outbreaks, and are associated with infant morbidity and mortality. As microorganisms continue to acquire resistance to available antimicrobials, infants become at risk of therapeutic failure. One key strategy to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance is through antimicrobial stewardship to optimize antimicrobial use. This review starts with an overview of neonatal sepsis and drivers of antimicrobial resistance. It subsequently discusses strategies to address and minimize the burden and transmission of antibiotic-resistance organisms as well as implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in the neonatal intensive care unit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101666"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145214186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kia Hee Schultz Dungu , Emma Louise Malchau Carlsen , Olav Bjørn Petersen , Nadja Hawwa Vissing , Ulrikka Nygaard
{"title":"Herpes simplex virus – state of the art of prevention and treatment","authors":"Kia Hee Schultz Dungu , Emma Louise Malchau Carlsen , Olav Bjørn Petersen , Nadja Hawwa Vissing , Ulrikka Nygaard","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection remains a life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in diagnostics and therapy. Transmission occurs predominantly during delivery and the three main clinical phenotypes; skin-eye-mouth disease, central nervous system disease, and disseminated disease, carry distinct prognoses. This state-of-the-art review focuses on prevention and consideration of empirical treatment. Maternal antiviral prophylaxis in late pregnancy has shown to reduce the frequency of active HSV outbreaks at delivery. Decisions on empirical acyclovir therapy must balance early recognition against overtreatment, guided by the number needed to treat, which in European settings among term and near-term infants ranges from over 1,000 for early-onset sepsis to ∼150 for late-onset sepsis. Ongoing research focuses on preventive strategies, including vaccine development and novel biomarkers on dried blood spot samples to improve outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101664"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neonatal skin: barrier, immunity and infection prevention in the NICU","authors":"Tobias Strunk , Jakob Steer , Andrew Currie","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The neonatal skin is central to early survival and immune development. Far from being a passive mechanical barrier, it integrates physical, chemical, and microbial defences that together protect the infant in the immediate postnatal period. In preterm infants, structural immaturity, reduced antimicrobial capacity, and altered microbial colonisation confer heightened vulnerability to infection and inflammation. At the same time, the neonatal period represents a critical window during which skin–microbe interactions shape tolerance and long-term immune trajectories. This review summarises recent advances in understanding the development of the skin barrier, antimicrobial and innate immune defences, and the role of commensals in immune programming. Translational opportunities for neonatal care are discussed, including skin protective practices, antisepsis, and emollient use that may reduce infection risk in the neonatal intensive care unit. Finally, we consider future directions in microbiome-informed and skin-centred strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101681"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145423489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antifungal prophylaxis-Where are we today?","authors":"David A. Kaufman","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the past decades more infants of lower gestational ages (GAs) have developed invasive <em>Candida</em> infection (ICI) from nonmodifiable risk factors of immature immunity and underdeveloped immune barriers (skin, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts). Rates of ICI vary secondary to modifiable clinical practices, resuscitation practices and the nonmodifiable factor of the number of infants cared for at the lowest GAs of 22–24 weeks. Standardization of ICI definitions and reporting by each GA are needed to optimally elucidate actual rates, outcomes and differences across units, countries and regions. In extremely low birth weight (ELBW, <1000 g at birth) infants with ICI, mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) have remained high despite appropriate antifungal therapy and (if candidemia) prompt removal of central venous catheters (CVC). Targeted fluconazole prophylaxis (3 or 6 mg/kg) twice a week in high-risk ELBW infants has been shown to be effective in preventing ICI and is safe without the emergence of azole resistance. Compared to nystatin, fluconazole prophylaxis for ELBW infants is more effective in preventing ICI and since it can be given intravenously, it is not dependent on enteral feeding status. Risk factors (e.g., receiving treatment with antibiotics or parenteral nutrition, presence of a CVC, vaginal delivery) can be used to both identify high-risk patients and define the time period when antifungal prophylaxis is beneficial. Independently of GA, high-risk infants also include those receiving third and fourth generation cephalosporins or carbapenems and those with complex gastrointestinal conditions (e.g. necrotizing enterocolitis, bowel perforation, gastroschisis).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 4","pages":"Article 101682"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145483410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}