TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of skin barrier therapy on neonatal mortality rates in preterm infants in bangladesh
T2 - A randomized, controlled, clinical trial
AU - Darmstadt, Gary L.
AU - Saha, Samir K.
AU - Ahmed, A. S.M.Nawshad Uddin
AU - Ahmed, Saifuddin
AU - Chowdhury, M. A.K.Azad
AU - Law, Paul A.
AU - Rosenberg, Rebecca E.
AU - Black, Robert E.
AU - Santosham, Mathuram
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Objective. Skin barrier therapy during the neonatal period, when the skin barrier is most highly compromised and the risk of death is greatest, has been shown to have a number of potential benefits, including reduced risk of nosocomial sepsis. Topical application of emollients that augment skin barrier function was evaluated as a strategy for improving survival rates among hospitalized preterm infants in Bangladesh. Methods. A prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical trial was conducted in the special care nursery at Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, the largest tertiary care children's hospital in Bangladesh. Preterm infants (gestational age: ≤33 weeks; N = 497) received daily topical applications of sunflower seed oil or Aquaphor ointment. Neonatal mortality rates were compared in an intent-to-treat analysis with a control group that did not receive emollient therapy. Results. Treatment with sunflower seed oil resulted in a statistically significant 26% reduction in mortality rates, compared with infants not receiving topical emollient therapy. Aquaphor therapy also significantly reduced mortality rates, by 32%. Conclusions. Topical therapy with skin barrier-enhancing emollients improved survival rates among preterm hospitalized infants in Bangladesh. This study provides strong evidence for the implementation of topical therapy for high-risk preterm neonates in developing countries. Copyright
AB - Objective. Skin barrier therapy during the neonatal period, when the skin barrier is most highly compromised and the risk of death is greatest, has been shown to have a number of potential benefits, including reduced risk of nosocomial sepsis. Topical application of emollients that augment skin barrier function was evaluated as a strategy for improving survival rates among hospitalized preterm infants in Bangladesh. Methods. A prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical trial was conducted in the special care nursery at Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, the largest tertiary care children's hospital in Bangladesh. Preterm infants (gestational age: ≤33 weeks; N = 497) received daily topical applications of sunflower seed oil or Aquaphor ointment. Neonatal mortality rates were compared in an intent-to-treat analysis with a control group that did not receive emollient therapy. Results. Treatment with sunflower seed oil resulted in a statistically significant 26% reduction in mortality rates, compared with infants not receiving topical emollient therapy. Aquaphor therapy also significantly reduced mortality rates, by 32%. Conclusions. Topical therapy with skin barrier-enhancing emollients improved survival rates among preterm hospitalized infants in Bangladesh. This study provides strong evidence for the implementation of topical therapy for high-risk preterm neonates in developing countries. Copyright
KW - Developing country
KW - Emollient
KW - Low birth weight
KW - Mortality
KW - Preterm
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U2 - 10.1542/peds.2007-0213
DO - 10.1542/peds.2007-0213
M3 - Article
C2 - 18310201
AN - SCOPUS:40949128340
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 121
SP - 522
EP - 529
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 3
ER -