Dose topical application of breast milk affect on bacterial colonization in umbilical cord?

Abstract

Introduction: The umbilical cord is an important site for bacterial colonization. Several agents havebeen used for umbilical neonatal cord care, and some of them have established bad effects for neonate.In respect to no clinical trial study about human milk effects on bacterial colonization in umbilicalcord, we decided to compare the effect of topical application of breast milk and dry cord care onbacterial colonization and cord separation time in neonates.Materials and Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial which was done at Omolbanin hospitalin Mashhad (Iran) in 2006. 118 neonates with 38-42 weeks gestational age, singleton and with oughtcongenital anomaly were chosen in base of interview and registration information from mother and herneonate, and they divided in two groups, Mother's milk for group 1, and dry cord care for group 2. Allmothers in two groups received an instructed one-to-one cord care education within 3 hours of birth.Group 1 was applied breast milk to the umbilical stump 3 hours after birth and continued every 12hours until 2 days after umbilical cord separation. Nothing was applied to the umbilical stump of thedry cord care group. Three hours after birth and the third day of life, were obtained an umbilical swabeither from the base of the cord or from the umbilicus if the cord was already sloughed. Rate ofbacterial colonization were recorded in both groupsResults: The most common cultured organisms were S.Epidermidis, S.Aureus, E.Coli and KlebsiellaPneumoniae in the umbilical stump, there were significant differences between two groups incolonization rate.Conclusion: Topical application of breast milk on umbilical cord care leads to reduced bacterialcolonization and cord separation time and can be used as easy, cheep, non injury methods forumbilical cord care.

Keywords

• Umbilical cord
• Topical application
• Breast milk
• Bacterial colonization.