The Comparison of Four Different Regimens Used for Neonatal
Umbilical Cord Care

NerminTANSUĞ1,  Şükran KESKİN1, Ali A. GÜVEN1, Zehra KARAKOÇ1, 
Süheyla SÜRÜCÜOĞLU2, Semra ORUÇ3,  Ali ONAĞ1
Manisa-Turkey

OBJECTIVE: There is no consensus on the regimens used for umbilical cord care. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of different regimens used for umbilical cord care.
STUDY DESIGN: Dry cord care, alcohol, povidone-iodine, or eosine were applied to 173 healthy full-term neonates. Periumbilical swab samples were taken on the first, third and the tenth days after delivery. Chi square and frequency analysis were applied.
RESULTS: There was no difference between the effectiveness of the four different regimens. The differences between the groups for percentage of colonization and the colonized species, and the separation times of umbilical cord were not significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Dry care is a suitable method for umbilical cord care as antimicrobial agents have no superiority in healthy fullterm babies.
(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2006; 12:112-115)

Key Words: Newborn, Umblical cord care, Omphalitis