Neonatal and Paediatric Infection

2.00 pm
Immunisation – meningococcal disease
Professor Ray Borrow, Consultant Clinical Scientist who is Head of the Vaccine Evaluation Unit and Head of the Meningococcal Reference Unit at UK Health Security Agency, Manchester

Learning objectives:

• Importance of conjugate vaccines in inducing herd protection
• The role of PCR in diagnostics
• The importance of whole genome sequencing  

2.45 pm
Individualising septic screening on the postnatal ward - an evaluation of the Kaiser Permanente Infection calculator in the north west population (KPI-NW study)
Dr Jennifer Peterson, neonatal GRID trainee working within the north west region

Talk synopsis:

Whilst early onset sepsis carries high mortality and morbidity risks, the initial signs and symptoms of sepsis are non-specific and consequently, many infants receive septic screens which are negative. These screens expose the infant to intravenous antibiotics, disrupting their microbiome and requiring prolonged hospital stays with significant impact on their parents and wider families. The Kaiser Permanente Infection (KPI) calculator is an online tool which uses individualised information about mother and baby to give a more tailored indicator of sepsis risk for these infants.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the KPI calculator against NICE guidance to evaluate if the KPI calculator would be safe to use within the north west population. The study aimed to determine if the KPI calculator could reduce the number of infants being exposed to intravenous antibiotics, without missing any cases of true infection (blood culture positive or raised infection markers (CRP>10).

The study took place between March - October 2024 and recruited 817 infants from 11 hospitals across the north west. We are pleased to be able to share the results of this collaborative, trainee/ANNP-led research with the MMS.

3.30 pm
Break

3.40 pm
Paediatric Tuberculosis - What's changed for 2025?
Dr Louise Turnbull, Paediatric Respiratory Consultant at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (MFT)

Talk synopsis:

TB. That topic we all knew once upon a time but often forget when it comes to practice. Why are children truly not just 'small adults' when it comes to TB and what do you need to know to look after children with TB in 2025.

4.25 pm
Closing comments

Attendees will be awarded CPD certficiates of attendance