A comparison of temperature-taking methods in neonates

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Medical device technology
• Clinical thermometry

Background:

• Accurate infant temperature monitoring is crucial for clinical decision-making.
• Various non-invasive thermometers are available, but their accuracy in neonates requires validation.
• Environmental and developmental factors can influence temperature readings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare temperature measurements from multiple thermometers against a reference glass/mercury thermometer in infants.
• To evaluate the impact of environmental, developmental, and pharmacological factors on thermometer accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive study design.
• Convenience sample of 220 infants (birth weight >= 1,500 gm).
• Comparison of axillary, skin, and tympanic measurements from digital, single-use, and tympanic thermometers against axillary glass/mercury reference.

Main Results:

• The B-D Digital Fever thermometer demonstrated the highest correlation for axillary temperature.
• Tempa.DOT single-use thermometers showed the second-highest correlation.
• Tympanic measurements (CORE.CHECK) had moderate correlation; skin temperatures were affected by nesting, clothing, and probe placement.

Conclusions:

• Digital thermometers offer a viable alternative for accurate axillary infant temperature measurement.
• Factors like swaddling, clothing, and bed type can significantly impact non-axillary temperature readings.
• Further research may be needed to refine non-invasive thermometry in diverse neonatal conditions.