Defining Current Practice of Iron Deficiency Screening Among High-Risk Neonates

Infants that are born small for gestational age (SGA), very low birthweight (VLBW), or as an infant of a diabetic mother (IDM) are at an increased risk of having iron deficiency anemia early in their life. Iron deficiency anemia puts an infant at risk for several serious conditions that can be detrimental. This study looked at how consistently the University of Utah newborn intensive care unit (NICU) screens at risk infants for iron deficiency. The charts of all infants admitted to the University of Utah NICU between October of 2016 and September of 2017 with the diagnosis of SGA, VLBW and IDM were reviewed. It was identified how frequently these infants were screened for iron deficiency (prior to and after 14 days of life), how frequently each laboratory test for iron deficiency was used, how frequently these screening was indicative of iron deficiency, and how frequently the infants screened received iron supplementation prior to being tested. At this time the University of Utah NICU doesn't consistently screen infants in these categories for iron deficiency despite them being at risk; of the infants observed, 0.5% were checked within the first two weeks of life for iron deficiency, 35.2% were checked after the first two weeks of life, and 64.3% were not checked for iron deficiency. If adequate testing for iron deficiency can be completed prior to 14 days of life without depleting the infants' iron stores, these infants can receive treatment that is more appropriate to their specific clinical situation.