Follow-up study of the umbilical cord as affected by two methods of rinsing the newborn.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the incidence of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureaus disease of the umbilicus in infants being sponge-rinsed and tub-rinsed according to the basic tools of the Robinson study of 1969. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant difference in the incidence of coagulase-positive S. aureaus disease on the umbilicus of newborn infants using the two methods of rinsing. The identical lathering and cord procedures, with 3% hexachlorophene soap, were used for both groups. The study was conducted from September 20, 1970 on 21 bed postpartum unit of a 277 bed, general teaching hospital. A follow-up home visit was done between 14-22 days after the infant was born. Included in this study were 20 newborn infants; 10 in the sponge-rinsed and 10 in the tub-rinsed group. The clinical evaluations of the cord and infants general sate of health yielded no evidence of disease to analyze and compare in this small group. This supports the hypothesis that there were no significant differences in the disease rate for coagulase-positive S. aureaus of the umbilicus in infants being sponge-rinsed and rub-rinsed under identical and controlled conditions. The t test was done to compare the ages of the infants of the two groups at the time of cord separation. It showed no significant difference between the groups. Recommendations for future study include: 1. Use of a hospital that is not routinely using the tub-rinse procedure. 2. Use of a larger sample. 3. Contact by telephone 2-3 weeks after the end of the study, the mother of each infant in the nursing at the time of the study, but not a participant in it, to check on umbilical, skin or other infections.