title: Oral care in a neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare the oral colonization profile of premature infants admitted at NICU before and after doing oral care routine with sterile water versus no intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a randomized clinical trial composed of 37 premature infants admitted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with a birth weight (BW) <1500 g. They were distributed in two groups: the study group (SG) with 15 patients who received an oral hygiene with sterile water; and a control group (CG) (no intervention) formed by 22 patients. Primary outcome was oral colonization profile before and after doing oral care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study group, the number of patients colonized by the Gram-positive bacteria at the beginning of the study was 53% versus 40% at the end (p=0.10). For Gram negative, 40% at the study's beginning versus 60% at the end (p=0.18). In the control group, the number of colonized patients for the Gram-positive bacteria at the onset of the study was 54.5% versus 32% patients at the end (p=0.24). For Gram negative, 32% patients at the start of the study versus 77% at the end (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant increase of the Gram-negative flora in those patients without oral care.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , Hospital Universitario Del Tajo , Aranjuez , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernandez Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neonatology , and.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peña Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: c Department of Microbiology , Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Cruz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Microbiology , Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaves Sanchez
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neonatology , and.
authors.forename: Carmen Rosa
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pallas Alonso
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neonatology , and.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Alba Romero
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001724:Birth Weight; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D000071074:Neonatal Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole
keywords: Infection; newborn; oral care; prematurity; sepsis