A comparative study of neonates' umbilical cord management

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the effect of treating neonates' umbilical cords with chlorhexidine 0.5% in alcohol 70% on cord separation time and to observe the clinical and microbiological consequences of not treating the cords of healthy neonates. The treated group contained 466 babies whose cords were treated with chlorhexidine, 424 babies were not treated. Microbiological colonisation patterns of the cords of babies in both groups were monitored both for purposes of this investigation and to ensure that no untoward consequences resulted from non-treatment. The research showed that treatment prolonged separation time by 1.7 days, which was significant at the level of p = 0.000, and that normal colonisation was delayed in the treated group.