TIPQC Late Preterm Infant Project
The late preterm infant (LPI) is an infant born between 34 0/7 weeks and 36 6/7 weeks’ gestation. LPIs account for approximately 75% of the preterm births in the US, and for approximately 20% of the NICU admissions (McCormick et al, 2006).
The LPIs are often referred to as the “great imposter” because their size is misleading, being often metabolically and physiologically immature. The morbidity rate approximately doubles for every week below 38 weeks gestational age at birth. They are more likely to be re-hospitalized within 2 weeks of discharge, usually due to hyperbilirubinemia or feeding difficulties (Shapiro-Mendoza et al, 2008). A large Kaiser cohort in 1998-2000 showed readmission occurred in 4.4% of LPIs compared to 2.0% of term infants; 26% of the time due to poor feeding (Escobar et al, 2006).
The TIPQC infant project for 2018 will involve this special population, with Drs. Anna Morad and Vicki DeVito as state leaders. The Aim for the project is to improve the hospital care of the LPI and decrease their risk of hospital readmission.
Watch for more information as we ready the project for roll-out.
McCormick MC, Escobar GJ, Zheng Z, Richardson DK. (2006). Place of birth and variations in management of late preterm (“near-term”) infants Semin Perinatol. 2006;30;44–47. .
Escobar GJ, Clark RH, Greene JD Short-term outcomes of infants born at 35 and 36 weeks gestation: we need to ask more questions Semin Perinatol. 2006;30:28–33.
Shapiro-Mendoza CK, Tomashek KM, Kotelchuck M, Bar eld W, Nannini A, Weiss J, et al Effect of late-preterm birth and maternal medical conditions on newborn morbidity risk Pediatrics. 2008;121:e223–232.