A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Topical Breast Milk, Chlorhexidine, and Dry Cord Care on Umbilical Cord Bacterial Colonization in Premature Infants in NICU

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the topical effect of breast milk, chlorhexidine, and dry cord care on the umbilical cord bacterial colonization in premature infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methodology: This randomized controlled double-blinded trial was performed on premature infants admitted to the NICU of Valiasr Hospital, Birjand in 2016.  The infants were allocated to one of the three study groups of breast milk, chlorhexidine, dry cord care. The data were analyzed using the SPSS (v.21.0) at the level of p-value≤0.05. Results: 25 infants were included in each group matched for gender, type of delivery, birth weight, and gestational age. The density (p<0.001) and the number p<0.05) of bacterial colonization reduced after intervention in all groups, significantly. However, the was no difference between the groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the effect of the three procedures of dry cord care, application of chlorhexidine, as well as use of breast milk in the control of the umbilical cord bacterial colonization in preterm infants, although no difference was reported between the study groups.