title: The successful accomplishment of nutritional and clinical outcomes via the implementation of a multidisciplinary nutrition support team in the neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: Nutritional support is critical for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A multidisciplinary nutritional support team (NST) that focuses on providing optimal and individualized nutrition care could be helpful. We conducted a thorough evaluation of clinical and nutritional outcomes in a tertiary NICU following the implementation of an NST.
  
  
  
  This study used a retrospective approach with historical comparisons. Preterm neonates < 30 weeks gestational age or weighing < 1250 g were enrolled. Clinical and nutritional outcomes were compared before and after the establishment of the NST. Medical records were reviewed, and clinical and nutritional outcomes were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  
  In total, 107 patients from the pre-NST period and 122 patients from the post-NST period were included. The cumulative energy delivery during the first week of life improved during the post-NST period (350.17 vs. 408.62 kcal/kg, p < 0.001). The cumulative protein and lipid deliveries also significantly increased. The time required to reach full enteric feedings decreased during the post-NST period (6.4 ± 5.8 vs. 4.7 ± 5.1 days, p = 0.016). Changes of Z-score in weight from admission to discharge exhibited more favorable results in the post-NST period (-1.13 ± 0.99 vs.-0.91 ± 0.74, p = 0.055), and the length of ICU stay significantly decreased in the post-NST period (81.7 ± 36.6 vs. 72.2 ± 32.9 days, p = 0.040).
  
  
  
  NST intervention in the NICU resulted in significant improvements in the provision of nutrition to preterm infants in the first week of life. There were also favorable clinical outcomes, such as increased weight gain and reduced length of ICU stay. Evaluable data remain sparse in the NICU setting with premature neonatal populations; therefore, the successful outcomes identified in this study may provide support for NST practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eurim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-769, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-769, South Korea. revival421@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seung Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwi Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyang Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-769, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-769, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ee-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-769, South Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-769, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Neonatal intensive care; Nutritional support team; Parenteral nutrition; Premature infants