Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2009 Mar;12(1):39-45.

Clinical Significance of the Nutritional Support Team for Preterm Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

• Yang HR
• Choi CW
• Kim BI
• Seo JK
• Choi SA
• Kim SY

Abstract

PURPOSE
Preterm infants are very susceptible to malnutrition because of a lack of storage of nutrients, immature digestion and metabolism, and accompanying diseases associated with prematurity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nutritional support by the pediatric nutritional support team (pNST) on the clinical course of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
METHODS
Between July 2003 and July 2006, 48 preterm infants who were admitted to the NICU at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were included. The subjects were divided into the following two subgroups according to the presence of NST activity; pre-NST group (n=23) and NST group (n=25). Hospital records were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Forty-eight preterm babies were included (M:F=27:21; gestational age, 25~33 weeks). A dietician, pharmacists, or the pNST participated in the prescription of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) more rapidly in the NST group (p=0.000). The fasting periods and TPN administration periods were significantly decreased in the NST group compared to the pre-NST group (p=0.017 & p=0.001, respectively). The doses of calories, protein, and lipids administered via TPN were significantly increased in the NST group compared to the pre-NST group (p=0.016, p=0.000, and p=0.000, respectively). The total period on antibiotic therapy was significantly decreased in the NST group compared to the pre-NST group (p=0.007).
CONCLUSION
Because nutritional support by the pNST is of benefit to the clinical course of preterm infants in the NICU, the pNST should recommend to improve the nutritional status and clinical outcome of preterm infants.

Keyword

Nutritional support team; Malnutrition; Total parenteral nutrition; Preterm infants; Neonatal intensive care unit

MeSH Terms

Digestion
Fasting
Gestational Age
Hospital Records
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Malnutrition
Nutritional Status
Nutritional Support
Parenteral Nutrition, Total
Pharmacists
Prescriptions