Publications (8) View all
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Article: Soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST) presepsin in critically ill preterm newborns: preliminary reference ranges.
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ABSTRACT: Soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST), also named presepsin, is a 13 kDa truncated form of soluble CD14 (sCD14), consisting of 64 amino acid residues. Systemic inflammation and sepsis are characterized by an early, significant increase in sCD14-ST presepsin blood concentration and thus, this small polypeptide has been proposed as a novel, reliable biomarker for the management of sepsis. We enrolled twenty-six consecutive non-septic preterm newborns with gestational age (GA) between 26 and 36 weeks) admitted to NICU after the first day of life for various severe diseases. sCD14-ST presepsin was measure on whole blood samples by a rapid commercial available chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) based on a non-competitive CLEIA. The mean sCD14-ST presepsin blood level in 26 preterm newborns was 643.1 ng/L, with a standard deviation (SD) of 303.8 ng/L; the median value was 578 ng/L. Our results clearly suggest no correlation between GA and sCD14-ST presepsin blood level between 26 and 36 weeks and thus it is reasonable to adopt a unique reference range for preterm newborns.The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 10/2012; 25(Suppl 5):51-3. · 1.36 Impact Factor -
Article: Changes in neonatal transfusion practice after dissemination of neonatal recommendations.
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the change in neonatal transfusion practices after the introduction of national recommendations for transfusion of blood products to neonates in 2006. A questionnaire-based survey on neonatal transfusion practice of 79 Italian NICUs was completed in 2008. Results were compared with those obtained from a previous national Italian neonatal transfusion-practice survey performed in 2001. Responses were received from 62 of 79 (78.5%) neonatal units. Prophylaxis for transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infection in 2001 and 2008 had been performed in 96.8% and 98.4% of NICUs, respectively. Filter leukoreduction of red blood cell donor units was preferred over cytomegalovirus antibody testing to obtain cytomegalovirus-safe blood components. Prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease increased from being performed at 61.3% of neonatal units in 2001 to 77.4% in 2008 (P = .08, Pearson chi(2)), whereas usage of dedicated red blood cell donor units (paedipack system), permitting multiple transfusions from the same unit, improved from 53.2% to 82.2% (P = .001, Pearson chi(2)). The 2008 survey documented a continuation of wide variability in transfusion practice for fresh-frozen plasma and platelet concentrates. This nation-wide Italian self-report survey highlighted improvements in NICU transfusion practice after the neonatal recommendations issued in 2006. Prophylaxis for transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infection continued with nearly total adherence to national recommendations, and both prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease and paedipack-system usage suggested a trend of improvement of adherence rates. The continuing wide diversity observed among neonatal units in fresh-frozen plasma and platelet-concentrate transfusion practice may indicate a lack of acceptable criteria for the administration of these blood products.PEDIATRICS 03/2010; 125(4):e810-7. · 4.47 Impact Factor -
Article: Serratia marcescens infections and outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units.
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ABSTRACT: Serratia marcescens is an important cause of hospital-acquired infections, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This review analyzes clinical signs, risk factors, biotyping and sources of infection in newborns exhibited by this bacteria as well as the therapy which is commonly used and management. This review examines the reported cases of outbreaks of S. marcescens in NICUs published in pubmed over the last 10 years (key words: Serratia marcescens infections, outbreaks, Neonatal intensive Care Units). This report highlights the different prevention and control strategies employed in order to eradicate Serratia outbreaks in NICUs, including all healthcare procedures such as hand washing, introduction of alcohol-based antiseptic gel, enhanced cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment and wards, use of single-patient medical instruments, cohorting of colonized and infected infants, periodic screening cultures, earliest discharge of the infants.Journal of chemotherapy (Florence, Italy) 11/2009; 21(5):493-9. · 1.08 Impact Factor -
Article: Reliability of procalcitonin in neonatology. Experience in 59 preterm newborns.
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ABSTRACT: Procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as an interesting marker in the diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment of patient with neonatal sepsis. Fifty-nine neonates (34 males and 25 females) with a mean gestational age of approximately 31 weeks and a mean weight of about 1750 g admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Cagliari (Italy) were evaluated in controls and in infected neonates, before and after 48 h of life. From our experience it emerges that PCT is a marker of early and late neonatal sepsis which is reliable in preterm neonates. A cut-off of 0.5 ng/ml starting from the third day of life appears to be capable of ensuring good test sensitivity and specificity.The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 01/2009; 22 Suppl 3:96-101. · 1.36 Impact Factor -
Article: Therapeutic drug monitoring of gentamicin in neonatal intensive care unit: experience in 68 newborns.
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ABSTRACT: A proper dosing regimen is fundamental when antibiotics with a low therapeutic index, as aminoglycosides (AMG), are used. AMG pharmacokinetics present a strong interindividual and intraindividual variability in neonates; in the premature neonate AMG clearance is reduced and the half-life is longer, leading to higher serum trough concentrations. Neonates may require therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and a "tailored" therapeutic regimen. The aim of this work is to present our personal experience wtih TDM of gentamicin in 68 newborns and to compare it with data available in the literature.Journal of chemotherapy (Florence, Italy) 11/2007; 19 Suppl 2:39-41. · 1.08 Impact Factor
