RE: some info about alcohol use for the umbilicial cord

[Guest guest]

Oh! I just remembered something else. With my non-PID, a newer ped told me

don't bother with the wimpy little alcohol packets, there is too little

there to

work. She said take a cotton ball and load it with alcohol and squeeze it

onto the stump, making a little puddle!

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/PR/00046.html states:

Until the cord stump heals:

a.. Keep the area clean. In the past, parents were instructed to swab the

cord stump with rubbing alcohol after every diaper change. But in response

to evidence that the stump may heal faster if left alone, these

recommendations were recently reversed. If you are unsure about cord

cleaning, talk to your baby's doctor or nurse.

b.. Keep the area dry. Exposing the cord to air allows it to dry at its

base so it will fall off faster. To prevent irritation from a wet or soiled

diaper, make sure that you change your baby's diaper every two hours. Also

keep the front of your baby's diaper folded down, leaving the cord exposed.

Some brands of newborn diapers are made with special openings around the

navel to further promote healing. In warm weather, dress a newborn in a

diaper and T-shirt to let air circulate and help the drying process.

a.. Give sponge baths only. During the healing process, give your baby

sponge baths instead of tub baths. Once the umbilical cord has fallen off,

you can bathe your baby in a baby tub or sink.

http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/MSM_98_4/MSM_98_4_chapte

r4.en.html

According to available studies, chlorhexidine, tincture of iodine,

povidone-iodine, silver sulphadiazine and triple dye appear to be of most

value in controlling umbilical colonization in hospital nurseries (see annex

for more information on individual antimicrobials). Alcohol does not promote

drying, is less effective against bacteria than other antimicrobials and

delays cord separation. It is therefore not suitable either for cleaning or

for routine application to the cord stump. While umbilical disinfection

seems to be necessary in hospital nurseries to prevent the spread of

bacteria, no studies indicate that this is needed in rooming-in babies or at

home where clean cord care is practised.

Studies have shown that antimicrobials prolong the time it takes the cord to

separate.11, 64, 65, 66 The clinical significance of this delay has not been

studied, but it appears to be of no medical consequence. However, late

separation of the cord is disliked by parents as it worries them and entails

more home visits by midwives, thus increasing their workload and the cost of

postnatal care.2

Another disadvantage of using topical antimicrobials is increased cost.

Depending on the products used, the cost of this intervention ranges from

about US$ 0.38 to US$ 1.50 for each baby.66