Admission of infants who have been home

( Version 1.0  05/01/00 - 10/24/02)

Although substantial concerns exist about infection control, occasional infants who have been discharged home may be re-admitted to the NICU. Infants who may be admitted to the NICU after discharge home include:

1. infants with any noninfectious disorder which is ordinarily the province of neonatal care; for ex. infants with symptomatic congenital heart disease, an inborn error of metabolism, hyperbilirubinemia, etc.
2. infants recently discharged from the VUMC NICU presenting with continued problems for which they were previously hospitalized (a former premie with apnea, etc.)

Infants that should not be admitted to the NICU include any with potentially contagious infectious disease (gastroenteritis, upper or lower respiratory tract infections, varicella, etc.) Remember that RSV can present with apnea particularly in young infants. During the RSV season, any infant that has been home or to any other area in the hospital (PICU, pediatric floor) must have a negative RSV antigen screen prior to admission to the NICU.

Any infant who has been home but, under special circumstances, is being considered for NICU admission should be discussed with the attending and charge nurse on duty, and potentially the Chief of Nurseries and the Manager of Patient Care Services.