• Deepak Sharma and Geeta Gathwala.
• Department of Pediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences , Rohtak, Haryana , India.
• J. Matern. Fetal. Neonatal. Med. 2014 Aug 1; 27 (12): 1262-5.

AimTo study the impact of chlorhexidine cleansing of the umbilical cord on cord separation time and neonatal mortality in comparison to dry cord care.MethodsThis is the secondary analysis of the data of the study which was conducted in the NICU of a teaching hospital in north India between 2010 and 2011. Newborns (>32 weeks of gestation and weighing >1500 g) were randomized into chlorhexidine application and dry cord care groups. Here, we analyze the data regarding time of cord separation, umbilical sepsis and mortality in both the groups.ResultsOne hundred and forty (dry care group 70, chlorhexidine group 70) were enrolled and finally analyzed. A significant difference was observed among groups in terms of time to cord separation (8.92 ± 2.77 days versus 10.31 ± 3.23 days; t = 2.20; p = 0.02, significant) and neonatal mortality (χ(2) = 4.11; p = 0.042, significant).ConclusionUse of chlorhexidine for umbilical cord care shortens duration of cord separation and decreases neonatal mortality in NICU. This simple intervention can be used as mode for decreasing neonatal mortality.

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