Predischarge transcutaneous bilirubin screening reduces readmission rate for hyperbilirubinaemia in diverse South African newborns: A randomised controlled trial.
S Afr Med J
; 110(3): 249-254, 2020 Feb 26.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32657704
BACKGROUND: In South Africa (SA), healthy term newborns are usually discharged Ë72 hours after delivery. Discharged babies remain at risk for severe hyperbilirubinaemia if it is not identified early. Hyperbilirubinaemia is an important cause of readmission, and also leads to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Use of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening before hospital discharge has been controversial. OBJECTIVES: To test the clinical benefits of TcB screening of healthy newborns before discharge for the outcomes of readmission for jaundice and severe hyperbilirubinaemia in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: This was a RCT. We compared predischarge TcB screening with visual assessment (alone) for jaundice in apparently healthy newborns at a public tertiary hospital in Cape Town, SA. Patients or study participants were not involved in the study design and implementation. RESULTS: Of the 1 858 infants, 63% were black, 35% of mixed race and 1% white. There was a significant reduction in the rate of readmission for jaundice (risk ratio (RR) 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 - 0.46; p<0.0001) and in the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinaemia (RR 0.27; 95% CI 0.08 - 0.97; p=0.05) with the use of TcB screening compared with visual inspection. CONCLUSIONS: Predischarge TcB screening is superior in identifying newborns at risk of severe hyperbilirubinaemia compared with visual inspection. We recommend that every newborn, regardless of skin pigmentation, should receive objective bilirubin screening before hospital discharge. Universal bilirubin screening in newborns could potentially reduce hyperbilirubinaemia-related morbidity and mortality.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Readmisión del Paciente
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Bilirrubina
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Tamizaje Neonatal
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Hiperbilirrubinemia
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
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Diagnostic_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Screening_studies
Límite:
Female
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Humans
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Male
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Newborn
Idioma:
En
Revista:
S Afr Med J
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Sudáfrica
Pais de publicación:
Sudáfrica