| Does bathing newborns remove potentially harmful pathogens from the skin? | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 11552963 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
BACKGROUND: Newborn infants are routinely bathed after birth partly to reduce the possibility of transmitting potential pathogens to others. The extent to which a mild soap reduces the quantity and type of microbes found on the skin through normal colonization has not been reported. The objective of the study was to compare colonization rates between infants bathed in soap and water and infants bathed in plain water. METHOD: One hundred and forty infants were randomly assigned to one group bathed in a mild pH neutral soap and water or to another group bathed in water alone. Microbiology swabs were taken on three occasions (before the first bath, 1 hour after the bath, and 24 hours after birth) from two sites (anterior fontanelle and umbilical area). RESULTS: No difference occurred between groups on type or quantity of organisms found at each time period. Skin colonization is a function of time, and the quantity of organisms identified increased over time (Friedman A 2 = 111.379, df = 5, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bathing with mild soap as opposed to bathing in water alone has minimal effect on skin bacterial colonization. Skin colonization increased over time. The findings did not support the efficacy of bathing with soap and water to reduce skin colonization of bacterial pathogens. Although the incidence of potential pathogens colonizing the skin during the first day of life is low and unlikely to pose a risk to healthy newborns, health care professionals may wish to wear gloves until the infant has been bathed. |
| | |
Authors:
|
J M Medves; B O'Brien |
Related Documents
:
|
12804473 - Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. 19890343 - Effectiveness of no-sting skin protectant and aquaphor on water loss and skin integrity... 20968803 - A continuous training procedure to assess infants' learning of categories from acoustic... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Birth (Berkeley, Calif.) Volume: 28 ISSN: 0730-7659 ISO Abbreviation: Birth Publication Date: 2001 Sep |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2001-09-12 Completed Date: 2001-10-25 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 8302042 Medline TA: Birth Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 161-5 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, 90 Barrie Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Bacterial Infections
/
prevention & control*,
transmission Baths* Colony Count, Microbial Humans Infant Care* Infant, Newborn Skin / microbiology* Soaps / therapeutic use* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
|
0/Soaps |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Trends in the use of episiotomy in the United States: 1980-1998.
Next Document: Rates of cesarean births in Hong Kong: 1987-1999.