The effect of colostrum mouthwash on the level of oral care and the incidence of late sepsis in premature infants: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

controlled clinical trial Abstract Introduction: Premature infants often need to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for the survival and development of body systems. The purpose of care in Nicu is to ensure the comfort of the baby, reduce the level of infection and length of hospitalisation and provide appropriate care. Premature infants due to prematurity, respiratory diseases and asphyxia need more intervention therapies, such as having an umbilical catheter and treatment with respiratory suport. This increases the risk of infection and reduces the colonization of the normal oral flora. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of colostrum mouthwash on the level of oral care and the incidence of secondary sepsis in premature infants. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 70 premature infants were selected from theconvenience method from all premature infants who had the characteristics of the research samples and were randomly divided into intervention and control groups using RandList software. In the intervention group, colostrum with a value of 0.2 to 0.3 and in the control group, sterile water was used for 5 days for oral care. To determine the number of times oral care needed in all infants, the Risk Assessment Tool for Mouth Care was used. Oral Assessment Tool for Neonates was used to assess the level of neonatal oral care and the incidence of late sepsis was assessed 72 hours after birth based on clinical and laboratory symptoms. Results: The results of independent t-test showed that the mean score of oral care level on the fourth and fifth days of the study in the intervention and control groups were statistically significant and the level of oral care in the colostrum group compared to The water group was reduced (P = 0.00). Also, there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups of neonates in terms of clinical symptoms and laboratory values related to sepsis (P <0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show the importance of oral care in premature infants and the use of colostrum in oral care and mouthwash with it can be an alternative for premature infants who are deprived of oral nutrition with colostrum in the first days of life.