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Effect of bathing on skin flora of preterm newborns

Maria Luzia Chollopetz da Cunha1, Renato S Procianoy

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Newborn Section, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|April 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Bathing preterm newborns with water alone or with mild soap and water similarly impacts skin flora. Both methods effectively reduce bacterial colonies on neonate skin.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Microbiology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Preterm newborns have immature skin barriers, increasing infection risk.
  • Skin colonization by microorganisms plays a crucial role in neonatal health and disease.
  • Optimal bathing practices are essential for maintaining skin integrity and preventing infections in vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of water-only bathing versus mild soap and water bathing on the skin microflora of preterm newborns.
  • To evaluate the impact of different bathing interventions on bacterial colonization in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized blinded clinical trial involving 73 preterm newborns (gestational age 28–35 weeks, birth weight 800–1800 g).
  • Infants were assigned to receive daily baths with either water only or mild soap and water for at least 7 days.
  • Axillary bacterial cultures were collected before and 30 minutes after bathing on the final day.

Main Results:

  • Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common microorganism identified in both groups.
  • No significant difference in the overall count of microorganism colonies was observed between the water-only and soap-and-water bathing groups.
  • Both bathing methods significantly reduced bacterial colony counts over time, with no significant difference between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Bathing preterm neonates with water only or with mild soap and water yields comparable outcomes regarding skin colonization.
  • Both bathing strategies are effective in reducing the number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial colonies on preterm infant skin.
Abstract

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