Abstract
AIM: To compare the effect of umbilical cord care with Povidine Iodine- Spirit on umbilical infection in early neonatal period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective double blinded randomized controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of daily cleansing of the umbilical cord of term infants with Spirit (Alcohol) -Povidine Iodine combination). This was also compared to the retrospective data obtained for the prevailing practice of keeping the umbilical cord dry. RESULTS: 1518 infants were included in the study. (462 in the "cord care group", 496 in the "water" placebo group, & 560 in "Dry" retrospective group). There was an overall reduction in the clinically screened and evaluated "umbilical infection" in the Povidine -Iodine group. This was attributable to a greater reduction in the mixed bacterial (Colonizer/ commensals) isolates. The Relative Risk for Staph. aureus was lesser when the cord was kept dry (RR 0.6, p<0.01) and sterile water (Placebo) group (RR 0.7, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Avoiding the antiseptic cleansing increased the RR for commensal / mixed bacterial over growth that would probably facilitate umbilical cord separation.