Modifiable Risk Factors in Necrotizing Enterocolitis

C Michael Cotten1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 2739 DUMC, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Clinics in Perinatology
|February 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) incidence has decreased in preterm infants due to practice modifications. These changes, based on scientific evidence, aim to reduce NEC risk and associated morbidities.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Multicenter studies show declining necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) rates in preterm infants over 20 years.
  • This trend aligns with practice modifications implemented via quality-improvement initiatives.
  • Initiatives target reducing NEC specifically or overall mortality and morbidity in extremely premature infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent practice modifications aimed at reducing NEC in preterm infants.
  • To discuss select modified and modifiable practices contributing to NEC reduction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent reports from centers modifying clinical practices.
  • Analysis of quality-improvement techniques and their impact on NEC incidence.
  • Synthesis of evidence from mechanistic studies, epidemiologic data, and clinical trials.

Main Results:

  • Significant reductions in NEC incidence reported by multicenter groups.
  • Practice modifications are associated with decreased NEC rates.
  • Quality-improvement strategies have shown efficacy in managing risks for extreme prematurity.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence-based practice modifications are effective in reducing NEC in preterm infants.
  • Continued focus on quality improvement is crucial for managing NEC and associated morbidities.
  • Further research into modifiable practices can optimize outcomes for extremely premature infants.

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.4K
Relative Risk01:12

Relative Risk

Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
2.1K
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
82.7K
Factors Affecting Solubility04:01

Factors Affecting Solubility

Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Chȃtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
37.0K
Modified Boxplots00:57

Modified Boxplots

A standard box and whisker plot informs us about the spread of the data in a given sample. One can identify the minimum value, maximum value, first quartile value, second quartile or median value, and third quartile.
However, the box plot does not tell the reader about outliers - values that lie far from the center of the data. We can modify the standard box and whisker plot to identify the outliers and visualize the actual spread of the data in a sample.
Initially, we calculate the adjusted...
10.9K
Transcription Elongation Factors02:35

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA...
13.8K