Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
Published on: July 28, 2022
Moisture-associated skin damage and its management in neonatal and infant populations: a retrospective study in Italy
Biagio Nicolosi1, Eustachio Parente1, Alessio Petronici1
1Healthcare Professions Department, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy.
Insights
A novel treatment for moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) in infants significantly reduced healing time and relapse rates. This effective therapy for neonatal skin conditions offers improved patient outcomes and potential cost savings.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal dermatology
- Paediatric intensive care
- Wound healing research
Background:
- Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) is prevalent in neonates due to fragile skin.
- Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) and peristomal MASD are common forms.
- Effective treatment is crucial for reducing complications and healthcare costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most effective treatment for MASD in a paediatric population.
- To analyze clinical features, severity, and healing times of MASD lesions.
- To evaluate the impact of a novel treatment on MASD outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study at Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy.
- Analysis of electronic health records for 102 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
- Evaluation of demographic, clinical, and nursing data, including lesion characteristics and treatment approaches.
Main Results:
- IAD represented 78.4% of MASD cases, with persistent redness or skin loss being common.
- Peristomal MASD (21.6%) often presented as L2 erosive lesions.
- A novel treatment (Vulnamin) reduced healing time by 2.4 days (p<0.001) and decreased relapse odds by 5.3 times.
Conclusions:
- Effective MASD therapies are vital for improving outcomes in neonates.
- The novel treatment demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing healing time and relapse rates.
- Optimized MASD management can lead to reduced nursing hours and associated healthcare costs.
Objective:
Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) is a significant concern in the paediatric population, particularly among neonates, who exhibit the highest incidence due to their highly sensitive and fragile skin. The aim of the study was to identify the most effective treatment.
Method:
A retrospective observational study was conducted at Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy. Data from infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the hospital were collected from electronic health records. Demographic, clinical and nursing data were analysed to identify the key clinical features of MASD lesions, including their severity, healing time, and the relationship between MASD lesions and treatment approaches.
Results:
The cohort comprised 102 infants (mean age 2.92 months). Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) accounted for the majority (78.4%) of MASD lesions. Among patients with IAD, most exhibited persistent redness (26.3%) or skin loss (47.5%) without clinical signs of infection. In contrast, peristomal MASD cases constituted 21.6% of the total, with the majority classified according to the Study on Peristomal Skin Alterations (SACS) 2.0 as L2 erosive lesions (63.6%), predominantly occurring in quadrants 2, 3 or 5. A novel treatment (Vulnamin; Professional Dietetics S.p.A., Italy) was used to manage MASD lesions in 64.7% of patients. This innovative treatment significantly (p<0.001) reduced healing time by an average of 2.4 days and decreased the odds of relapse by 5.3 times compared with traditional treatments.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study showed that use of effective MASD therapies can reduce healing time and relapse rate, leading to decreased nursing hours and associated costs.
