In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology examining the association between NICU capacity strain and neonatal outcomes. We discuss how high census and acuity on admission day correlate with increased mortality and morbidity when adjusted for hospital and patient factors. Join us as we explore why being "slammed with admissions" is more than just a badge of honor—it’s a critical safety metric for our patients.

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The association of NICU capacity strain with neonatal mortality and morbidity. Salazar EG, Passarella M, Formanowski B, Rogowski J, Edwards EM, Halpern SD, Phibbs C, Lorch SA.J Perinatol. 2025 Dec;45(12):1801-1808. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02449-0. Epub 2025 Oct 20.PMID: 41116036 Free PMC article.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna review a pivotal population-based study from Norway examining a new approach to Early-Onset Sepsis (EOS). The hosts discuss whether serial physical examinations can safely replace routine antibiotic prophylaxis in at-risk term and late-preterm infants. With antibiotic exposure often far exceeding sepsis incidence, this study offers compelling data for a "less is more" strategy. Tune in as Ben and Daphna explore the safety, efficacy, and bedside implications of substituting automatic treatment with structured clinical monitoring—and what this means for reducing unnecessary interventions in the NICU.

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Serial physical examination to reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure in newborn infants: a population-based study. Vatne A, Eriksen BHH, Bergqvist F, Fagerli I, Guthe HJT, Iversen KV, Ud Din FS, van der Weijde J, Kvaløy JT, Rettedal S.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Nov 19:fetalneonatal-2025-329639. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2025-329639. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41260908

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna dive into a multicenter retrospective study from the European Journal of Pediatrics questioning the necessity of universal empiric antibiotics in neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for HIE. Comparing Italian and Belgian cohorts, the team discusses the reality of a 111 Number Needed to Treat (NNT) for a single case of culture-proven sepsis. From the diagnostic challenges of overlapping clinical markers to the fascinating "asymptote" of postnatal leukocyte trends, we explore whether it's time to shift from routine to selective antibiotic use in our most complex patients.

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Antibiotic use in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy undergoing therapeutic hypothermia: time to rethink universal empirical treatment. De Rose DU, Piersigilli F, Auriti C, Campi F, Cortazzo V, Samaey A, Carkeek K, Martini L, Maddaloni C, Santisi A, Ronci S, Iacona G, Bersani I, Savarese I, Danhaive O, Cilio MR, Bernaschi P, Dotta A, Ronchetti MP.Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Nov 22;184(12):781. doi: 10.1007/s00431-025-06652-1.PMID: 41275063

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!