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Research

The CoolCot trial: active methods of therapeutic hypothermia for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy during neonatal transport: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Impaired oxygen delivery or blood flow to the brain around the time of birth can cause injury. Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy is a leading cause of death and disability in term and near-term infants.

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Proposed Core Outcomes After Neonatal Sepsis: A Consensus Statement

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality. There is heterogeneity in the outcomes measured and reported in studies of neonatal sepsis. To address this challenge, a core outcome set (COS) for research on neonatal sepsis was needed.

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Epidemiology of Viral Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Western Australia: A Retrospective Study From 2016 to 2021 Including the COVID-19 Pandemic

Viral infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in neonates. The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in viral epidemiology in Western Australia. The impact on patients in neonatal intensive care is uncertain.

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Amplitude-Integrated EEG in Infants at Risk of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Feasibility Study in Road and Air Transport in Western Australia

Infants at risk of HIE require early identification and initiation of therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Earlier treatment with TH is associated with better outcomes. aEEG is frequently used when making the decision whether to commence TH. As this is often limited to tertiary centers, TH may be delayed if the infant requires transport to a center that provides it.

Research

Effects of a live versus heat-inactivated probiotic Bifidobacterium spp in preterm infants: a randomised clinical trial

Heat-inactivated probiotics (HPs) may provide an effective alternative to live probiotics by avoiding their risks (eg, probiotic sepsis) while retaining the benefits. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a HP in very preterm (VP: gestation <32 weeks) infants.  

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Plasma cytokine profiles in very preterm infants with late-onset sepsis

Very preterm infants have a marked innate inflammatory response at the time of late-onset sepsis

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Wait a Minute or More (WAMM): a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomised implementation trial assessing the effect of a quality improvement programme

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is an evidence-based intervention that reduces mortality, anaemia and disability in infants born <37 weeks' gestation who do not require immediate resuscitation. However, it is neither reliably recorded nor routinely implemented in Australia. The Wait a Minute or More study aims to reduce this gap between the evidence and practice by integrating timely sharing of cord clamping data with Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality methods to increase the proportion of preterm infants receiving DCC for 60s or longer (DCC60).

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Microplastics Versus Microbiome: The Infantile Gut’s Battle for Health

Gut microbiota play a critical role in long-term health by supporting metabolism, immune function, inflammation regulation, and neurological development via the gut–brain axis. Beneficial bacteria enhance gut integrity through short-chain fatty acid production, pathogen inhibition, and mucosal barrier support.

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Psychomotor Vigilance Testing on Neonatal Transport: A Western Australian Experience

This study aimed to assess whether undertaking retrieval was associated with fatigue independent of sleep and circadian disruption. It also aimed to assess the feasibility of routinely measuring the psychomotor vigilance test on neonatal transport. Fatigue is associated with impaired clinician performance and safety.

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Association between Congenital Anomalies and Late-Onset Bacterial Infections in Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Australia and New Zealand

Compromised neonatal intensive care unit neonates are at risk of acquiring late-onset infections (late-onset sepsis [LOS]). Neonates born with congenital anomalies could have an additional LOS risk.