Epidemilogical Study of Nares and Umbilicus of Normal Fullterm Newborns in the Nursery and Clinical Follow Up at 4 Weeks of Age

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to find out the bacteriological colonization of nares and umbilicus of 166 normal fullterm newborns in the nursery of Ewha Womans University Hospital during the period from July 1 to Aug 31. 1980 and its relation with follow up study at the age of 4 weeks. The results are as following 1) The cultures of nares and umbilicus of 91 newborns, while only soap was used(Group 1), were compared with those during the period when Betadine was added as a washing agent(75 newborns, Group 2). 2) The incidence of colonization with coagulase (+) staphylococci was 28.6% in nares, and 29.7% in umbilicus(average 29.1%) in Group 1, and 20.0%, 13.3% respectively(average 16.0%) in Group 2. 3) In follow up, 33.3% of Group 1 and 42.7% of Group 2 were seen at 4 weeks of age. Among them, the incidence of pyoderma was 3.3% in (Group 1) and 6.1% in Group 2, and that of omphalitis was 3.3% and 6.1% in each Group respectively. 4) The incidence of clinical infection at 4 weeks of age was 1.5% in culture-negative 117 cases in Group 1, and 2.2% in culture-positive 45 cases, 2.9% in culture-negative 105 cases in Group 2. 5) Gram-Negative bacilli was cultured in 7.1% of Group 1 and 14.7% of Group 2. Lactose-fermenter, e.g. E. coli, comprised 61.5% in Group 1 and 50.0% in Group 2, and non-lactose fermenter, e.g. Pseudomonas, comprised the rest. 6) Gram negative bacilli was recovered in 1.9% of Staphylococci-positive population and 8.5% of Staphylococci-negative population in Group 1. In Group 2, the incidence of gram-negative bacilli culture was 15.4% in Staphylococci-positive and 14.5% in Staphylococci negative population respectively.