Meconium for drug testing

Article Abstract:

Determining drug levels in the mother and infant may be necessary for the effects of maternal drug abuse upon the infant to be identified and treated appropriately. This often requires laboratory testing of urine or other samples, because maternal reports of drug abuse often are unreliable. However, urine collection in newborns may be difficult. Testing of meconium (the first feces of newborns) has been suggested as an alternative method of determining an infant's exposure to drugs. The results of testing meconium from 28 newborns, along with urine samples from newborns and mothers, are described. Drugs of abuse tested for included cocaine, morphine, codeine, and cannabinol (active compound in marijuana). In 21 cases, results from meconium and urine testing agreed 86 percent of the time. Meconium testing predicted a positive urine result in 82 percent of cases, and a negative urine test in 91 percent of cases. Although the ideal way of detecting maternal substance abuse is by repeated testing and inquiries during pregnancy, meconium maternal testing after delivery appears to be a practical and reliable method of identifying drug exposure in newborns. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Methods, Analysis, Children, Infants (Newborn), Newborn infants, Identification and classification, Drug abusers, Mandatory drug testing, Drug testing, Children of drug addicts, Drug abuse in pregnancy, Meconium

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Effects of maternal hypertension in very-low-birth-weight infants

Article Abstract:

The degree of maternal hypertension may affect outcomes among very-low-birth-weight infants. Researchers compared outcomes for infants with birth weights less than or equal to 1,250 grams, of whom 11 infants' mothers had mild hypertension, 28 infants' mothers had severe hypertension, and 78 infants' mothers ahd normal blood pressure. The infants of hypertensive mothers tended to weigh less and were more likely to be small for gestational age. However, infants in the mild hypertension group had fewer breathing complications than infants in either of the other two groups. Infants in the severe hypertension group fared the worst.

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Birth weight, Low, Low birth weight, Hypertension in pregnancy, Gestational hypertension

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Attitudes about sibling visitation in the neonatal intensive care unit

Article Abstract:

Implementing sibling visitation in a neonatal intensive care unit may achieve general staff approval provided staff concerns are addressed. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, and unit clerks responded to a survey before and after implementation of a sibling visitation program. The staff concurred during both time periods about the parameters of such a program. However, after the program had run for a year, greater consensus was achieved about the appropriateness of sibling visitation, the average success rating was 6 on a scale of 7, and fears about interference with care and infection were lessened.

Social aspects, Neonatal intensive care, Visiting the sick

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