The Nursing Week News


Clinical digest


Nursing Times provides a round-up of the latest research news and insights on improving practice


NICE: treat neonatal infection quickly


Babies with suspected early onset neonatal infection should be treated within one hour of the decision to treat, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Benzylpenicillin and gentamicin should be used as the


first-choice antibiotics for suspected infection but a blood culture should be performed before administering the first dose, new guidance from the institute said. It published the guidelines after finding variations in the


treatment of babies with early onset neonatal infection. Mark Baker, director of NICE’s centre for clinical practice,


said: “There is much variation in how it is managed, with sometimes unnecessary delays in recognising and treating sick babies.” He added that many babies were receiving antibiotics “needlessly” and there was concern their effectiveness was being reduced by the development of resistance. Early onset neonatal infection – which occurs within 72 hours of birth – causes the death


Neonatal infection sepsis kills one in four babies it affects


of one in four babies who are diagnosed, even when given antibiotics. They are usually caused by organisms from the mother’s genital tract, such as group B streptococcus, E coli, pseudomonas and klebsiella. Such infections may develop suddenly and rapidly, with mortality particularly high in


premature babies and those with a low birthweight. A Department of Health spokesman said: “It can be very distressing to watch and care for


a sick child, especially when they are very young. This guidance will help clinicians to make an informed decision and offer the best high-quality care.” www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG149


Obesity raises AF risk in younger women


Obesity can trigger atrial fibrillation in seemingly healthy fertile women, according to a study presented last week at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress in Munich. Researchers studied a population of around 271,000 Danish women, aged 20-50 years, who had given birth during 2004-09. They were followed for an average of 4.6 years. The researchers found that the risk of developing atrial fibrillation was twice as high in obese women than in women of a healthy weight,


and three times higher in those who were very obese. The researchers said: “Strategies that comprehensively promote weight loss may also decrease the burden of atrial fibrillation.”


tinyurl.com/8kflou3


Measles infection doubles in past year


Almost twice as many cases of measles have been reported so far this year compared with the same period last year. In the first six months of 2012, there were 964 cases in England and Wales, compared with 497 in 2011, according to the


Health Protection Agency. The rise is linked to outbreaks in Merseyside and Sussex, and several travelling communities. The HPA said: “We are urging parents to ensure their children have received the two [MMR] doses.”


www.hpa.org.uk


Routine advice cuts likelihood of STIs


Brief behaviour change interventions should be part of routine practice for nurses working in sexual health, according to guidelines on promoting safer sex from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and


4 Nursing Times 04.09.12 / Vol 108 No 36 / www.nursingtimes.net


the British HIV Association. The UK National Guidelines on Safer Sex Advice recommend the delivery of behaviour change interventions in genitourinary medicine clinics and general practice. As few as two interventions are enough to reduce the risk of acquiring infections and staff should be trained in their use, the guideline authors said. www.bashh.org/documents/4452


Traffic light test to find liver disease


A “traffic light” test has been devised by University of Southampton researchers to help diagnose liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in primary care. The Southampton Traffic Light test combines several tests and clinical markers, and gives a score that indicates a patient’s likelihood of developing liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. British Journal of General Practice (2011) 61: 470-471


Echinacea not for children, says MHRA


Oral herbal products containing echinacea should not be used in children aged under 12 years, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has warned. The move follows advice from the European Herbal Medicinal Products Committee and the UK Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee, which said the perceived benefits of Echinacea in under-12s were outweighed by the potential risks from allergic reactions. www.mhra.gov.uk


Alamy


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