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infectious in a new born
INFECTION
The newborn infant is more vulnerable than the older child to certain infections. The preterm baby is even less able to withstand infection and more liable to suffer serious complications.
Defence Mechanisms
 Specific factors:
 Humoral antibodies
 IgG is transferred across the placenta especially in the last trimester, and protects the baby against specific infections to which the mother has been immunized, e.g. measles, mumps, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid.
 This passive immunity wanes after four to six months, but may persist to 9 months e.g. measles.
 Neither IgM nor IgA cross the placenta. They are normally only produced by the infant after birth. (Note: the fetus can produce IgM in response to an intra-uterine infection e.g. congenital syphilis)
 Cell-mediated immunity:
 Lymphocytes are involved in the killing of bacteria
 The lymphocytes have not been exposed previously to antigens
 Inflammatory reaction:
 In the newborn the inflammatory response is poor and phagocytosis of bacteria by leucocytes is inefficient (due to reduced opsonins and delayed chemotaxis)
 General Factors:
 Antenatal:
 The placenta filters out most organisms but not rubella virus, HIV, Toxoplasma, CMV and Treponema pallidum
 amniotic fluid contains lysozymes and other antibacterial agents to reduce the risk of infection
 Postnatal:
 Breast feeding:
 breast milk has IgG, IgM, IgA, macrophages and lysozymes
 lactoferrin and transferrin protect against gram negative organisms
 breast feeding promotes growth of Lactobacilli and inhibits E.coli
 Nursery care:
 Infection may be prevented by hand-washing, bathing baby and cord and eye care.
Sources:
 Antenatal:
 Syphilis, HIV, rubella, CMV, varicella and bacterial chorioamnionitis
 Natal:
 Herpes, Streptococci, Gonococci, Candida, Chlamydia (increased risk with prolonged labour)
 Postnatal:
 Cross-infection: hands, feeds, inhalation.
Presentation:
 Antenatal :
 Stillbirth, fetal anomalies (e.g. rubella), congenital infections (e.g. syphilis, amniotic fluid infection syndrome with pneumonia).
 Postnatal :
 Common: conjunctivitis, oral thrush.
Less common: cord infection, skin sepsis.
Uncommon: urinary infection, pneumonia, septicaemia, meningitis.
Diagnosis:
 Clinical:
 superficial infection: usually obvious
 generalised infections: may present with poor feeding, lethargy, failure to gain weight, jaundice, anaemia, rash, hepatosplenomegaly, diarrhoea, vomiting, etc
 The temperature may be raised but is more often normal or sub-normal.
  Laboratory diagnosis:
 Viral infections:
 isolate the virus, or demonstrate a rise in antibody titre
  Spirochaetal infections:
 total or specific IgM levels
  Fungal infections:
 demonstrate organism, e.g. Candida, on slide using Gram stain, or culture on special agar
  Bacterial infections:
 obtain cultures from mother
 gastric aspirate M/C/S
 white blood count (normal 5000 to 20 000)
 immature/total neutrophil ratio (normal 0-12%)
 C reactive protein
 pus, urine, CSF, blood culture
  Other investigations:
 x-rays of chest or bones
 ECG (? myocarditis)
CHORIOAMNIONITIS
 Chorioamnionitis (amniontic fluid infection syndrome or AFIS) is caused by the ascending spread of bacteria from the mother's vagina and cervix to the peripheral membranes, and then into the amniotic fluid resulting in the .
 This acute bacterial invasion may occur even if the membranes are intact.
 The mother develops inflammation of the peripheral membranes and chorionic plate of the placenta (chorioamnionitis) while the fetus later develops a perivascular infiltrate of polymorphs around the umbilical and chorionic vessels.
 Pus cells are found in the amniotic fluid together with bacteria once the infection spreads through the membranes.
 Colinisation of the membranes stimulates the synthesis of prostaglandins. It is believed that chorioamnionitis may precipitate the onset of labour or premature rupture of the membranes
 . Prolonged rupture of the membranes increases the likelihood of chorioamnionitis especially after repeated vaginal examinations.
 Chorioamnionitis is normally asymptomatic in the mother.
 The diagnosis is made by demonstrating pus cells and bacteria in the infant's gastric aspirate at delivery.
 The gastric aspirate of all preterm infants should therefore be examined.
 All infants that smell offensive should be suspected of having infected liquor. Uninfected meconium does not have an offensive smell.
 Bacteria in the gastric aspirate indicates an infected intrauterine environment but does not always imply an infected baby.
 The fetus can inhale infected amniotic fluid and be born with a congenital pneumonia.
 Infants with clinical signs of infection or respiratory distress should be treated with a full course of antibiotics.
 Preterm infants below 1 500 g, who are particularly at risk from infection if exposed to colonised amniotic fluid, should probably also be treated with 48 hours prophylactic antibiotics if the gastric aspirate suggests chorioamnionitis.
 Prophylactic treatment is also recommended if the gastric aspirate suggests Group B Streptococcus.
SYPHILIS
 All pregnant women must be screened for syphilis at their booking visit.
 A positive VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory) or RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test, irrespective of the titre, suggests syphilis.
 A titre of 1:16 or above is highly suggestive.
 The diagnosis is confirmed by a positive TPHA (Treponoma pallidum haemagglutination assay) or FTA (fluorescent treponoma antibody) test.
 Spirochaetes may affect the placenta and fetus resulting in a first trimester abortion, stillbirth, clinically infected infant at birth, or an apparently normal infant who develops signs of syphilis weeks after delivery. Infected mothers should be treated with three weekly doses of 2,4 million units of benzathine penicillin intramuscularly.
Clinical signs of syphilis:
 hepatosplenomegaly
 blisters or peeling on palms and soles
 jaundice, pallor or purpura
 oedema
 respiratory distress
 preterm or underweight for gestational age
 large pale placenta
 X-ray examination of the long bones usually shows a generalised metaphyseal dysplasia.
 The infant's VDRL and TPHA are positive as the maternal antibodies cross the placenta.
 An elevated total IgM (above 40 units) in the first 72 hours after delivery, or positive rheumatoid factor or specific IgM suggests that the infant has congenital syphilis.
 A normal result makes the diagnosis unlikely.
 However both false positive and negative results may occur.
 The IgM tests depend on the fetus producing IgM as this larger molecule does not cross the placenta.
 Treatment of infants with clinical or radiological signs of syphilis consists of general care plus procaine penicillin 100,000 units IM daily for 10 days. If the mother has untreated syphilis and the infant is clinically normal it is recommended that the infant be treated with 300,000 units benzathine penicillin IM.
 This treatment should also be given to the infant if the mother has not received full treatment, if her treatment was only completed in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, or if she was treated with erythromycin.
ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)
 If a pregnant woman has clinical AIDS or is asymptomatically infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the fetus has a 25 to 50% risk of infection during pregnancy, during labour or during breast feeding.
 The relative risk of each remains uncertain. Infants infected with HIV appear normal at birth.
 However, between 3 months and 3 years most stop thriving and develop severe infections e.g. pneumonia.
 Many will die before the age of 5 years. At present no treatment is effective.
 The diagnosis of HIV infection in a newborn infant is difficult and depends on the detection of viral protein (P24) or DNA in the blood.
 The presence of HIV antibodies after 18 months also indicates HIV infection.
 HIV positive women should be informed of the risk of viral transmission during breast feeding. In poor communities it is advised that these mothers breast feed, but the decision remains contraversial in women who can afford or have free access to formula milk.
 Staff must be made aware of the dangers of infection following a "sharps injury". Routine care should be given to infants born to HIV positive women.
COMMON MINOR INFECTIONS
Conjunctivitis:
 Gonococcal conjunctivitis is a serious acute inflammation which may damage the cornea leading to blindness.
 The onset is often rapid with red swollen mucus membranes and a copious purulent discharge.
 The diagnosis can be made quickly with a Gram stain on a smear of pus (Gram negative diplococci in leucocytes).
 Treatment involves the instillation of Penicillin eyedrops (20,000 units/ml), frequently enough to keep eye free of pus.
 Repeated irrigation of the eye with saline can be used if penicillin drops are not available.
 It is essential to give an additional 100,000 units of intramuscular procaine penicillin daily for 3 days in severe gonococcal conjunctivitis. Don't forget to also treat the mother and have her VDRL checked.
 Gonococcal conjunctivitis can be prevented by putting chloromycetin eye ointment into both eyes routinely after delivery.
Non-Gonococcal Conjunctivitis:
 Chloramphenicol ointment or drops applied 8 hourly for a week is usually sufficient for most infections aquired after delivery.
 Use tetracycline or erythromycin ointment if Chlamydia infection is suspected or if inflammation recurs after chloramphenicol therapy.
 Proven Chlamydia infections should also be treated with oral erythromycin for 10 days.
Thrush:
 Moniliasis is caused by the fungus Candida albicans and commonly affects the mouth or the nappy area.
 The source is usually mother's vagina or nipples, or contaminated hands, bottles, etc.
 Small white patches are found on the tongue and may spread to the inside of the cheeks and lips.
 These white plaques resemble curds of milk but are difficult to dislodge.
 The underlying mucosa is inflammed and sucking is often painful.
 The diagnosis is proved by the identification of spores and hyphae on microscopy. In the nappy area, the insides of skin folds (groin) are affected.
 Treatment:
 Mycostatin suspension (Nystatin) 1 ml (100,000 units) after each feed for 7-10 days. If mother is breast feeding, mycostatin should be applied to the nipples while vaginal infection should be eradicated. Dummies, teats and bottle must be boiled.
Skin Infections:
 Mostly due to Staph. aureus and may present as one or more pustules, infected vesicles, abscesses, etc.
 The diagnosis is made on Gram stain and culture, the results of which will determine the form of treatment. Mild superficial infection may be treated with chlorhexidine (Hibiscrub).
 Abscesses need incision and drainage. More severe infections, e.g. cellulitis require systemic antibiotic therapy.
 NOTE: Judicious use of chlorhexidine liquid soap is of great benefit in preventing skin sepsis in nurseries.
 Use 5 ml liquid soap over the whole body and wash off with water.
Umbilical Infection (Omphalitis):
 This is usually due to Staphylococci or Coliforms and is potentially serious as it may result in septicaemia.
 With mild infections the cord is moist and smells offensive, and a red flare may extend onto the abdominal wall.
 A purulent or bloody discharge may be present.
 Severe infections have redness and oedema of the anterior abdominal wall in addition.
 After a swab is taken for Gram stain and culture, the cord is dried using 90% alcohol (or surgical spirits) every 3 hours. In severe cases systemic antibotics should be given for 7 to 10 days (choice depends on sensitivities).
 Tetanus may complicate omphalitis. Infection can be largely prevented by routinely cleaning all cords with 90% alcohol twice a day. Immunize all pregnant women against tetanus if they have not previously been immunized.
SEPTICEMIA
 Infection may arise before or after birth. Common organisms include the Gram-negative organisms (especially E.coli) and group B haemolytic Streptococci.
 Clinical signs: non-specific e.g. poor feeding, poor weight gain, lethargy, hypothermia, jaundice, pallor, tachycardia, abdominal distension.
 Diagnosis: suggested by leucopenia, raised immature to total neutrophil ratio and confirmed on blood culture.
 Complications: meningitis, pneumonia, metabolic disturbances including acidosis, hypoglycaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation.
 Treatment: suitable antibiotics to cover both Gram positive and negative organisms e.g. penicillin and gentamicin, cefotaxime or ceftriaxone.
NECROTISING ENTEROLOCITIS
Necrosis of the bowel wall may complicate bowel ischaemia after asphyxia, infection or shock in newborn infants.
 Clinical signs:
 abdominal distension, ileus, vomiting, blood in stools signs of septicaemia
 Diagnosis:
 X-ray shows bowel wall thickening and bubbles of air in bowel wall occult blood positive in stool
 Complications:
 perforation, later - stenosis
 Treatment:
 nasogastric drainage
 total parenteral nutrition
 penicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole IV
 may need bowel resection
Usually presents as in septicaemia. Later may show local signs e.g. full tense fontanelle, squint, convulsions, etc. Neck stiffness is unusual.
 Diagnosis:
 confirmed by lumbar puncture
 Treatment:
 suitable antibiotics given intravenously for 3 weeks e.g. Cefotaxime or Ceftriaxone or combination of ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION:
Infection usually blood-borne. Commonest pathogen E.coli. Predisposed to by urinary tract anomalies e.g. pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction, vesico-ureteric reflux. Signs of infection are usually non-specific. The kidneys may be enlarged.
 Diagnosis:
 made by obtaining a pure growth of more than 105 orgs/ml ("clean catch" specimen), suprapubic aspiration is useful when the diagnosis is in doubt.
 Treatment:
 Cefotaxime or Ceftriaxone or an aminoglycoside. Modify once sensitivities are known.
Frequent follow-up urine examinations are advisable. An ultrasound examination and micturating cystogram should be considered at a later stage to exclude an underlying abnormality.
HEPATITIS B
 The hepatitis B virus does not cross the placenta but may infect the infant at delivery.
 If the mother is hepatitis B surface antigen positive at delivery, give the infant hyperimmune gammaglobulin 0.5 ml intramuscularly within 72 hours of birth.
 Also immunise the infant with hepatitis vaccine 0.5 ml IM at 1 week, 1 and 2 months.
 Infected infants usually become chronic hepatitis carriers and may later develop cirrhosis or hepatoma.
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