Most Moms Knew About Safe Sleep for Infants, But Still Engaged in Unsafe Practices
Despite knowledge of and intention to follow safe sleep guidelines for infants, mothers often engaged in non-recommended sleep practices, a series of small focus groups and surveys showed. Among 25 mothers, 80% reported holding or rocking their infant to sleep, and 76% reported feeding their infant to sleep, Lara McKenzie, PhD, MA, of Nationwide Children’s […]
Published Data Show Why GSK Bailed on Its Maternal RSV Vaccine
GSK’s abandoned maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine protected infants from severe RSV, final results of a phase III trial indicated, but those positive outcomes came at the expense of an unexplained higher risk for preterm birth. For newborns up to 6 months of age, efficacy with the RSV prefusion F protein-based vaccine (RSVPreF3-Mat) during […]
Nirsevimab Reduced Hospitalizations for Infants With RSV
The monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus) reduced hospitalizations among infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory tract infection, the randomized, pragmatic HARMONIE trial showed. In over 8,000 infants included in the study, 0.3% who received nirsevimab were hospitalized for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection compared with 1.5% of those who received standard care, which corresponded […]
Emicizumab Safe, Effective, in Infants With Hemophilia A
SAN DIEGO — Administering emicizumab (Hemlibra) to previously untreated or minimally treated infants with severe hemophilia A without factor VIII inhibitors is effective and safe, according to results from research presented here. The phase III HAVEN-7 study showed that at a median follow-up of 101.9 weeks, the annualized treated bleeding rate was 0.4 (95% CI […]
CDC Backs Hepatitis C Screening for Kids Exposed in the Womb
The CDC released new recommendations for hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening among perinatally exposed infants and children. The four new recommendations detailed in the MMWR Recommendations and Reports are as follows: All perinatally exposed infants should be screened for HCV with a nucleic acid test (NAT) for detection of HCV RNA at ages 2 to […]
Probiotics for Preterm Infants Could Pose Serious Danger, FDA Warns
The FDA warned the public Thursday that certain probiotic products given to preterm infants in hospital settings are potentially dangerous. The agency also sent warning letters to Abbott Nutrition and Infinant Health, two makers of probiotic products that the FDA said violate federal laws. “Preterm infants who are administered a probiotic product are at risk […]
COVID Vax in Pregnancy Protects Young Infants Against Omicron
Maternal COVID vaccination in pregnancy protected young infants against Omicron-associated hospitalization, but few women actually receive the vaccine during pregnancy, according to new data from the CDC. At least one maternal vaccine dose had an effectiveness of 54% (95% CI 32-68) against COVID-related hospitalization among infants younger than 3 months of age, and an effectiveness […]
Adding complex component of milk to infant formula confers long-term cognitive benefits for bottle-fed babies
Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the most beneficial nutrition for infants, but many families face medical or logistical challenges in breastfeeding. In the U.S., just 45% of infants continue to be exclusively breastfed at 3 months of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For decades, researchers have sought to create a viable […]
Less Velopharyngeal Insufficiency at Age 5 With Earlier Cleft Palate Surgery
Fewer infants with isolated cleft palate who had primary surgery to close it at age 6 months had insufficient closure between their velum and pharyngeal walls later in childhood than infants who had surgery at 12 months, the TOPS clinical trial found. Among 558 infants in Europe and South America, 8.9% in the 6-month surgery […]
Safety Data on Maternal RSV Vaccine ‘Favorable,’ FDA Staff Says
A maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate prevents infections in infants and comes with “generally favorable” safety data, said FDA staff in briefing documents released ahead of an advisory committee meeting this week, but the reviewers “noted potential uncertainty based on the numerical imbalance in premature deliveries.” On Thursday, members of the Vaccines and […]