Lifesaving Technology at UCSD Detects Infection in Infants

HeRO can predict the risk of life-threatening infections up to 24 hours before they appear in severely premature or critically ill newborns

UC San Diego Health is using a new technology in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that is saving the lives of infants.

The Heart Rate Observation System, or HeRO, can predict the risk of life-threatening infections up to 24 hours before they appear in severely premature or critically ill newborns.

HeRO has an innovative monitoring technology that uses an algorithm to detect slight changes in the baby’s heartbeat that could be an early sign of infection.

Infection is the leading cause of death in infants, including sepsis — a bacterial infection that is highly dangerous to babies born three pounds or less.

“The challenge with diagnosing sepsis is a lot of symptoms for the early stages of the infection are subtle and nonspecific,” said Erika Fernandez, MD, director of the NICU at UC San Diego Health. “With the HeRO technology, we can detect symptoms of sepsis up to 24 hours before the infection actually happens. This allows us to begin an investigation and intervene with treatment before a baby becomes critically ill.”

UC San Diego Health is the first provider in San Diego County to use the technology. Traditionally, doctors and nurses must rely on their own observations to detect signs of infection.

HeRO reports vital sign trends much earlier than the human eye or traditional equipment and requires no additional wiring to the baby.

“This state-of-the-art technology lets babies be babies, and mothers can breastfeed without worrying about tangling up or unplugging wires,” said Lawrence Prince, MD, PhD, chief in the Division of Neonatology at UC San Diego Health. “It makes for a much less intimidating experience for families and a highly improved monitoring approach for medical staff.

The technology is expected to reduce mortality rates in the NICU by 20%.

“Physicians and nurses can evaluate a situation much more thoroughly,” said Prince. “When I look at the data on the monitor, I can ask myself, ‘is there something more going on with the patient and do we need to do further testing?’”

The monitoring system represents part of the next generation of technology, and helps UCSD “provide the highest quality of comprehensive and compassionate care to NICU babies so they can thrive and go home with their families as soon as possible,” Fernandez added.

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