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Frequent Standardized Oral Care Using Human Milk in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Sponsor: University of Florida
Summary
Premature infants are susceptible to complications related to infrequent and non-standardized oral care. Although the benefits of frequent standardized oral care are known to reduce oral dysbiosis (increased level of potentially pathogenic bacteria) and its associated complications in critically ill adults leading to established evidence-based guidelines, no such information exists for VLBW infants. The proposed study will prospectively follow 168 VLBW infants for 4 weeks following birth.
Official title: Frequent Standardized Oral Care Using Human Milk to Prevent Oral Dysbiosis and Improve Health Outcomes in Premature Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
1 Hour - 3 Days
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
218
Start Date
2023-11-23
Completion Date
2026-12-20
Last Updated
2025-04-01
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Standardized oral Care
One sponge-tipped swab, saturated with sterile water or human milk, will used clean the oral cavity with 15 seconds each area. Surfaces include all 4 quadrants of the gum surface and upper posterior part of the oropharynx. A second swab, with sterile water or milk will be used on the ventral and posterior surfaces of the tongue. A third swab, saturated with sterile water or human milk, will be used to clean the outer surface of any dwelling oral tubes (endotracheal tube, NAVA or feeding tube). Lips will be cleaned with a sterile gauze saturated with sterile water or human milk. Oral cavity will be suctioned as needed with an oral suction devise to remove secretions.
Locations (1)
Neonatal intensive care unit at Shands children's hospital at the Univeristy of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States