Objectives: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization among pregnant women is the leading cause of neonatal infection. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is the most effective method to reduce the incidents of neonatal sepsis. We describe compliance with GBS management and the implementation of IAP in the context of the long-term effect of antibiotics. Material and methods: The study was conducted among 249 childbearing women hospitalized between January 2022 and February 2022 at University Clinical Center in Gdansk, Poland. The data were obtained from the questionnaire and medical records. We analyzed maternal colonization with GBS, compliance with GBS screening and treatment guidelines, risk factors contributing to GBS colonization, IAP administration, and neonatal congenital infection occurrence. Results: Of all patients, 240 (96.4%) were screened for GBS, 215 (89.6%) between 35–37 weeks of gestation. Fifty (20%) were GBS-positive, 184 (74%) negative, 15 (6%) had unknown GBS status. There were no significant differences between the GBS-positive and GBS-negative groups in maternal age, mode of delivery, gestational age at birth, maternal comorbidities, parity, GBS status in previous pregnancies, and the development of infection among infants of both groups, regardless of IAP administration. Of all the studied women, 158 (63.5%) received antibiotics, 91 (36.5%) did not. The study showed the low positive and the high negative predictive value of the antenatal GBS screening test. Conclusions: We found that compliance with the universal GBS screening is widespread. The management of women with absent or only partial screening test requires assessing the risk factors before administering IAP. Objectives: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization among pregnant women is the leading cause of neonatal infection. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is the most effective method to reduce the incidents of neonatal sepsis. We describe compliance with GBS management and the implementation of IAP in the context of the long-term effect of antibiotics. Material and methods: The study was conducted among 249 childbearing women hospitalized between January 2022 and February 2022 at University Clinical Center in Gdansk, Poland. The data were obtained from the questionnaire and medical records. We analyzed maternal colonization with GBS, compliance with GBS screening and treatment guidelines, risk factors contributing to GBS colonization, IAP administration, and neonatal congenital infection occurrence. Results: Of all patients, 240 (96.4%) were screened for GBS, 215 (89.6%) between 35–37 weeks of gestation. Fifty (20%) were GBS-positive, 184 (74%) negative, 15 (6%) had unknown GBS status. There were no significant differences between the GBS-positive and GBS-negative groups in maternal age, mode of delivery, gestational age at birth, maternal comorbidities, parity, GBS status in previous pregnancies, and the development of infection among infants of both groups, regardless of IAP administration. Of all the studied women, 158 (63.5%) received antibiotics, 91 (36.5%) did not. The study showed the low positive and the high negative predictive value of the antenatal GBS screening test. Conclusions: We found that compliance with the universal GBS screening is widespread. The management of women with absent or only partial screening test requires assessing the risk factors before administering IAP.

Determining the concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), ethyl sulfate (EtS), and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is crucial for establishing the true scale of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and enabling early diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This study primarily aimed to compare two detection methods: retrospective maternal alcohol consumption surveys and chromatographic analysis of newborn meconium. Among 478 mothers, parallel survey data and meconium samples were collected. Nine FAEEs were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and EtG and EtS by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The study also aimed to establish marker cut-offs and evaluate their clinical utility. While only 4% (approximately) of mothers reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the biomarker analysis suggested a significant underestimation of the actual PAE scale, highlighting the limitations of self-reported data. Analysis using the cumulative biomarker index for two biomarkers with a threshold of ≥5 indicated that alcohol consumption affected approximately 3% of the studied population, further demonstrating the low reliability of maternal self-reports. Ultimately, this study confirms that the combined EtG and EtS measurements provide the most reliable diagnostic information for PAE and underscores the necessity of objective meconium screening in clinical practice.

Respiratory complications are among the most common problems addressed in neonatology in the first hours after birth, whereas the risk of any cancer in the neonatal period is 28 per million. Sarcomas, malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, account for about 8% of all neoplasms in the neonatal period. We report on a male neonate born at 36 + 4/7 weeks of gestation, diagnosed with retropharyngeal synovial carcinoma. Ineffective respiratory movements and generalized cyanosis were the first symptoms to be noted. On the ultrasound examination of the neck, a tumor of the retropharyngeal space was exposed, then visualized by an MRI of the head and neck. The biopsy analysis revealed the diagnosis of an extremely rare tumor in a neonate. The location of its growth was atypical, contributing to a diagnostic challenge. The neoplasm was treated solely with chemotherapy concordantly with the CWS protocol, individually customized for our patient. Preterm birth, as in our case, 36 + 4/7 weeks of gestation, may imply a possible need for resuscitation or support in the transition period. Aggressive high-grade tumors of the head and neck region are locally invasive and prone to metastasize. However, prognosis in infants is hard to estimate, therefore both individualized treatment and multidisciplinary care should be tailored to the needs of the patient.

Determining the concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), ethyl sulfate (EtS), and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is crucial for establishing the actual scale of prenatal alcohol ex-posure (PAE) and the early diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The study’s main objective was to compare two methods of detecting PAE: retrospective sur-veys of maternal alcohol consumption and chromatographic analysis of newborn meco-nium for these alcohol biomarkers. The study involved 478 mothers from the Pomeranian Province, with parallel samples of newborn meconium collected for analysis. Biomarker analysis involved determining the concentration of 9 FAEEs by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and EtG and EtS by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The study also aimed to determine the cut-off concentrations and usefulness of these PAE markers. Only approximately 4% of mothers reported drink-ing alcohol during pregnancy, suggesting a significant underestimation of the actual PAE scale compared to objective biomarker analysis. The use of the cumulative biomarker in-dex (CBI2) ≥ 5 suggests that alcohol consumption during pregnancy affected approximate-ly 3% of the studied population, highlighting the low reliability of maternal self-declarations. The most reliable information about PAE was provided by a combination of EtG and EtS biomarkers. The study confirms the difficulty in obtaining a reliable history of alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccination adherence and identify the factors associated with vaccine uptake among pregnant women in Poland during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Given the high risk of severe COVID-19 complications, including acute respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, and maternal and neonatal mortality, understanding the factors that influence adherence to immunization guidelines is critical for optimizing maternal–fetal public health strategies. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 675 questionnaires collected from women hospitalized in the Department of Neonatology at the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk between November 2021 and February 2022. The analysis evaluated associations between vaccination status and vaccine type and demographic characteristics, place of residence, and obstetric history, including fertility disorders and prior miscarriages. Results: Data revealed that more than 50% of respondents received the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Multivariable analyses showed that lower educational attainment was the most consistent factor associated with lower odds of vaccination. Older age and residence in a large city were associated with higher odds of receving the vaccine in selected models, whereas obstetric history was not significantly associated with vaccination status. Conclusion: While vaccine uptake was moderate, the findings highlight a significant demographic divide. These findings suggest that tailored, evidence-based vaccine communication during antenatal care is particularly relevant for women with lower educational attainment.