Background The Standardised, Concentrated with Added Macronutrients Parenteral (SCAMP) nutrition regimen is a method of hyperalimentation shown to improve early head growth in very preterm infants.¹ It is possible that increasing the osmolality and lipid/glucose content of neonatal parenteral nutrition (PN) may reduce central venous catheter (CVC) life and/or increases late-onset sepsis (LOS; >72 h) sepsis rates.² We aimed to compare line life and LOS rates in VPI randomised to receive SCAMP or control PN.

Methods Control PN was started at birth and infants (<29 weeks, <1200 g) randomised (d2–5) to switch to SCAMP or remain on control PN. CVC, blood culture (BC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) data were collected d1–28.

Results Infants were randomised to SCAMP (n = 74) and control (n = 76) groups respectively. Survival curve analysis revealed no differences in line life between groups. The CVC-associated infection rates (per 1000 CVC days) were 18.5 (SCAMP) and 23.9 (control). There were no differences in CVC use/type or duration or in positive/negative BC with/without associated CRP rise in SCAMP versus control groups.

Conclusion Increasing the macronutrient content of a standardised concentrated neonatal PN regimen does not increase CVC complication rates.

References

1. Morgan C, McGowan P, Herwitker S, et al. Pediatrics 2014;133:e620–8

2. Moltu SJ, Strømmen K, Blakstad EW, et al. Clin Nutr 2013;37:207–12