Invasive Candida infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), with a particular impact on preterm and low-birth-weight neonates. In addition to prematurity, several predisposing factors for Candida colonization and dissemination during NICU hospitalization have been identified, including prolonged exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, central venous catheters, parenteral nutrition, corticosteroids, H2 antagonist administration, and poor adherence to infection control measures. According to the literature, the implementation of antifungal prophylaxis, mainly fluconazole, in high-risk populations has proven to be an effective strategy in reducing the incidence of fungal infections. This review aims to provide an overview of risk factors for invasive Candida infections and current perspectives regarding antifungal prophylaxis use. Recognizing and reducing people’s exposure to these modifiable risk factors, in conjunction with the administration of antifungal prophylaxis, has been demonstrated to be an effective method for preventing invasive candidiasis in susceptible neonatal populations.

Invasive Candida infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), particularly among preterm and low birth weight neonates. The nonspecific clinical presentation of invasive candidiasis, resembling that of bacterial sepsis with multiorgan involvement, makes the diagnosis challenging. Given the atypical clinical presentation and the potential detrimental effects of delayed treatment, empirical treatment is often initiated in cases with high clinical suspicion. This underscores the need to develop alternative laboratory methods other than cultures, which are known to have low sensitivity and a prolonged detection time, to optimize therapeutic strategies. Serum biomarkers, including mannan antigen/anti-mannan antibody and 1,3-β-D-glucan (BDG), both components of the yeast cell wall, a nano-diagnostic method utilizing T2 magnetic resonance, and Candida DNA detection by PCR-based techniques have been investigated as adjuncts to body fluid cultures and have shown promising results in improving diagnostic efficacy and shortening detection time in neonatal populations. This review aims to provide an overview of the diagnostic tools and the current management strategies for invasive candidiasis in neonates. Timely and accurate diagnosis followed by targeted antifungal treatment can significantly improve the survival and outcome of neonates affected by Candida species.

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. A particular concern is the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains among neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Two novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors have recently been approved for use in neonates with multidrug-resistant infections: ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam. These agents demonstrate efficacy against a range of multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, as well as multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This narrative review aims to summarize the current knowledge concerning the utilization of ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam in the NICU. According to the existing literature, both agents have been shown to be highly effective with a favorable safety profile in the neonatal population.

Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly growing global problem. A significant proportion of the pathogens that commonly cause neonatal sepsis are resistant to multiple antibiotics. Therefore, for the empirical treatment of neonatal sepsis, the repurposing of older antibiotics that are effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens is being investigated. This review aims to provide an overview of current research and experience using the repurposed antibiotics colistin and fosfomycin for the empirical treatment of neonatal sepsis. Based on current knowledge, colistin and fosfomycin may be potentially helpful for the empirical treatment of sepsis in neonates due to their efficacy against a wide range of pathogens and acceptable safety profile.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a common complication of prematurity and continues to represent a considerable threat due to its association with significant short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. Despite the advances in neonatal care, the prevalence of IVH, particularly in the extremely preterm neonates, remains high. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize and implement in clinical practice preventive strategies, non-pharmacological or pharmacological, to reduce IVH effectively. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of novel and debatable preventive measures for IVH that are promising for clinical use and could potentially improve outcomes for very preterm neonates. IVH prevention bundles (IVHPBs) consist of strategies that aim to minimize hemodynamic and cerebral perfusion fluctuations, which are a crucial component of IVH pathogenesis. Early postnatal prophylactic indomethacin, erythropoietin, and insulin-growth factor-1 administration have shown encouraging results on IVH prevention; however, the literature is still inconclusive. Stem-cell-based interventions represent novel and promising techniques with the potential to contribute to the prevention of IVH. The prevention of IVH remains a field of investigation, and there is a requirement for conclusive evidence and recommendations. The necessity for further large-scale prospective studies is therefore evident.

Purpose: To identify clinical predictors of permanent congenital hypothyroidism (PCH) and transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH).Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled neonates with risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism as diagnosed by neonatal screening test or blood testing. Levothyroxine (LT4) dose and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were recorded from birth to 3 years of age.Results: We enrolled 88 neonates, 35 with PCH and 53 with TCH. An LT4 dose > 3.8 μg/kg/day at 6 months (sensitivity 62%, specificity 96%), 3.0 μg/kg/day at 12 months (64%, 97%, respectively), 2.6 μg/kg/day at 2 years (80%, 98%), and 2.5 μg/kg/day at 3 years (89%, 98%) of age could predict PCH. Daily total LT4 doses > 50 µg at any time during the follow-up period were found solely in the PCH group (28% vs 0%, P<0.001). Independent discriminative predictors of PCH and TCH were TSH concentrations at diagnosis (beta=-4.3, P<0.001); daily LT4 dose at 6 (beta=-2.9, P=0.004), 12 (beta=-3.4, P=0.001), and 24 months of age (beta=-3.2, P=0.001); TSH > 5 μIU/mL at any time after treatment initiation (beta=-3.6, P<0.001); and increase in LT4 dose by more than twice (beta=-3.2, P 5 μIU/mL during treatment, LT4 dose, LT4 > 50 µg during treatment, and increasing LT4 dose during treatment.