Efficacy of 10% povidone iodine versus 70% alcohol in umbilical cord care of newborn infants
Abstract
Objective To compare the effectiveness of 10% povidone iodineto that of 70% alcohol in umbilical cord care of newborn infants.
Methods This open label clinical trial was conducted in Pirngadi
Hospital, Medan from July to September 2003. Newborn infants
who fulfilled inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to umbili-
cal cord care using 10% povidone iodine or 70% alcohol. The
main outcome measures were omphalitis prevalence, microor-
ganism colonization, and time to umbilical cord separation. Culture
of the umbilical cord swab was taken in the first 48-72 hours
after birth. The umbilical cord was observed daily during hospital-
ization and every other day after discharge until cord separation.
Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test and indepen-
dent t-test.
Results There were 54 infants in the povidone iodine group and
52 infants in the alcohol group. Omphalitis was absent in both
groups. Fourteen percent of subjects in the povidone iodine group
showed no microorganism growth, compared to 7% in the alco-
hol group. Staphylococcus aureus colonization was found in
10% of subjects in the povidone iodine group and 23% of sub-
jects in the alcohol group. The prevalence of Escherichia coli
colonization was 41% and 47% in the povidone iodine and alco-
hol groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant
difference between both groups in bacterial colonization (P=0.135).
Mean time to umbilical cord separation was 6.44 days in the
povidone iodine group and 6.13 days in the alcohol group
(P=0.431).
Conclusion These results suggest that 10% povidone iodine
and 70% alcohol are equally effective in umbilical cord care of
newborn infants
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Accepted 2016-10-08
Published 2016-10-13