Rocking the Nursery: Infections and Newborns

From the delivery room to the nursery, parents of newborns are typically vigilant about cleanliness and safety. That caution is wise, especially during flu season, says pediatrician Dorsey Goosby, M.D.,  interim chief medical officer at  Homestead Hospital.

Viruses, strep infections and other household germs can rock the otherwise healthy balance of a baby’s nursery, he says. Fortunately, preventive medicine begins with prenatal care and continues after your baby’s homecoming.

Worried about germs? Dr. Goosby warns of the most common illnesses newborns contract and offers parents tips to keep babies safe:  

• Influenza: A flu vaccination during pregnancy allows the unborn child to benefit from mom’s flu shot. Direct flu immunization is not recommended for newborns and babies under 6 months. But during those early months, the newborn remains protected from a flu shot received by mom during her pregnancy. That’s important, because small infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the flu and related complications such as pneumonia. “I have seen 2-week-old infants hospitalized because they were exposed to and contracted the flu. It’s horrible,” Dr. Goosby says. “It behooves the mother to get the flu vaccination during pregnancy to protect the child.”
• Group B streptococci: About 25 percent of women carry group B strep bacteria, which is not harmful or contagious. Newborns are the exception. Group B strep can be dangerous or fatal to a newborn when the infection is passed to the baby during labor.  Therefore, when you’re 35 to 37 weeks pregnant, request a group B strep test. If identified as a carrier, you will receive two doses of an antibiotic during labor, Dr. Goosby says. That step will prevent the baby from catching group B strep during the delivery. What’s more, with each pregnancy, a woman should have a group B strep test.
• Cytomegalovirus: Known as CMV, this virus can be passed from the mother to the baby during pregnancy. “Most babies born with a CMV infection will be fine and will not have symptoms or develop health problems. However, some babies will have permanent problems, such as hearing or vision loss or mental disabilities, at birth, or develop problems later on,” according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus is transmitted through body fluids, such as saliva, and you should take extra care around small children who can carry the virus. For protection, the CDC recommends that pregnant mothers:

1. Use soap and water to wash hands, particularly after you have changed a toddler’s diaper, wiped a child’s nose or touched other objects handled by children.

2. Wash or disinfect toys and surfaces—especially those handled by children.

3. Avoid sharing utensils, food and drinks.

• Listeriosis: Newborns, pregnant women, older adults and those with compromised immune systems are more likely to come down with listeriosis, a potentially severe infection caused by eating food tainted with the bacteria called listeria. It’s a rare illness, but the CDC reports that pregnant women are 10 times more likely to contract the infection than others and adds that the infection can present a serious threat to unborn babies and newborns.

As a preventive step, pregnant women should avoid the following:

• Unpasteurized milk or soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk.
• Undercooked or raw seafood or fish, including sushi.
• Unheated deli meat or hot dogs.
• Refrigerated meat spreads and pates.

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When you bring your newborn home, correct hand washing, extra care and common sense go a long way toward good health, Dr. Goosby says.

“For the first two months of a baby’s life, children under 5 should not be allowed to touch, hold or handle the baby or anything that belongs to the baby, including toys and blankets,” he suggests.

And don’t forget about the benefits of breast milk, which also bolsters your baby’s immune system as it fights off bacteria, pathogens and viruses, Dr. Goosby says.

Tags: pediatrics