Pharmacologic treatment of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in community hospitals compared to academic medical centers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare length of hospital stay (LOS), LOS due to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and duration of pharmacologic treatment in community or academic settings.

STUDY DESIGN: One hundred-two infants exposed to opioids in utero at two community hospitals were compared to 256 from eight academic centers. All infants were managed with non-pharmacologic care followed by similar pharmacologic treatment options.

RESULTS: Two hundred-twelve infants received pharmacologic treatment for NAS. Mean LOS (24.7 ± 8.5 vs. 24.5 ± 11.3 days), LOS due to NAS (24.0 ± 8.2 vs. 23.3 ± 9.2 days), and duration of NAS treatment (19.3 ± 8.0 vs. 18.9 ± 9.2 days) were similar in community compared to academic medical centers.

CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in infants managed in the community compared to academic care settings. These findings support caring for opioid-exposed infants in both community and academic settings with the use of standardized care protocols.