The Incubator India
Welcome to the Incubator India Podcast, your premier destination for cutting-edge neonatal care insights tailored for the Indian healthcare landscape. This podcast, hosted by experienced neonatologists Dr. Anita Singh and Dr. Akanksha Verma, bridges the gap between global research and local practice.
Each episode features in-depth journal club discussions, breaking down the latest studies in neonatology and exploring their implications for clinical care in India. From preterm infant management to innovative therapies, we dissect research that matters most to our unique healthcare environment.
But that's not all – we regularly welcome renowned experts from the field of neonatology for exclusive interviews. These conversations offer invaluable perspectives on emerging trends, challenges, and solutions specific to neonatal care in India.
Whether you're a neonatologist, pediatrician, NICU nurse, or healthcare professional passionate about improving outcomes for our tiniest patients, the Incubator India Podcast is your go-to resource. We combine evidence-based insights with practical applications, ensuring you stay at the forefront of neonatal care.
Join us as we incubate knowledge, foster collaboration, and elevate neonatal care standards across India. Subscribe now and be part of this exciting journey in advancing newborn health!
The Incubator India
#005 - Journal Club - The latest research in neonatology (September 10th 2025)
In this episode of The Incubator India Podcast, hosts Dr. Anita Singh and Dr. Akanksha Verma review six recent studies led by Indian researchers that address key challenges in neonatal care.
The discussion begins with a randomized trial from SGPGI Lucknow comparing nasal DuoPAP with CPAP in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. While DuoPAP was non-inferior to CPAP, it reduced the need for surfactant. A second trial from Safdarjung Hospital and PGI Chandigarh asked whether CPAP improves outcomes over oxygen hood therapy in mild to moderate meconium aspiration syndrome; most babies were managed safely with oxygen alone.
Attention then turns to neonatal shock. A study from AIIMS Rishikesh compared norepinephrine with dopamine as first-line agents, while a trial from PGI Chandigarh tested early hydrocortisone alongside vasoactive support. Both reflect the difficulty of improving survival in the setting of multidrug-resistant gram-negative sepsis but point toward norepinephrine as a safer choice.
The hosts also highlight findings from a multicenter Lancet Global Health study documenting the burden of sepsis and resistance patterns in district hospitals. The episode concludes with a QI project from St. John’s Bangalore, showing how structured implementation can improve “golden hour” care for preterm infants.
The articles covered on today’s episode of the podcast can be found here
1)Kaur H, Singh A, Naranje KM, Gupta G, Solanki PS, Mishra P. Nasal DUOPAP vs nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome - A randomized control trial. Early Hum Dev. 2025;207:106284. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106284
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378-3782(25)00094-5
2)Mustaqeem A, Yadav A, Kumar J, Debata P. Continuous positive airway pressure versus conventional oxygen therapy in meconium aspiration syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. J Trop Pediatr. 2025;71(2):fmaf002. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmaf002
https://academic.oup.com/tropej/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/tropej/fmaf002
3)Mazhari MYA, Priyadarshi M, Singh P, Chaurasia S, Basu S. Norepinephrine versus Dopamine for Septic Shock in Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pediatr. 2025;282:114599. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114599
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-3476(25)00139-8
4)Dudeja S, Saini SS, Sundaram V, Dutta S, Sachdeva N, Kumar P. Early hydrocortisone verses placebo in neonatal shock- a double blind Randomized controlled trial. J Perinatol. 2025;45(3):342-349. doi:10.1038/s41372-025-02222-3
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-025-02222-3
5)Jain K, Kumar V, Plakkal N, et al. Multidrug-resistant sepsis in special newborn care units in five district hospitals in India: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Glob Health. 2025;13(5):e870-e878. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00564-3
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2214-109X(24)00564-3
6)Amuji N, Appaji Rao S, Yemmethimmanahalli Nagaraju P, Gautham Suresh K, Steven S, Bada Shekharappa C. Improving the quality of care for preterm infants in the golden hour. BMJ Open Qual. 2025;14(1):e002277. Published 2025 Mar 23. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002277
https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/lookup/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=40122573