Child Health Nurs Res.  2016 Oct;22(4):379-389. 10.4094/chnr.2016.22.4.379.

Flora Colonization and Oral Glucose Levels During the Early Postnatal Period in High-Risk Newborns

• Ahn YM
• Sohn M
• Jun YH
• Kim NH

• KMID: 2444908
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2016.22.4.379

Abstract

PURPOSE
A longitudinal study was conducted to explore flora colonization and oral glucose high-risk newborns during the first 7 days after birth.
METHODS
Oral secretions of hospitalized newborns were obtained for microbial cultures and glucose test at days 1-7 after birth.
RESULTS
Among the total 112 newborns, 40% were girls and 73% were premature. Mean gestational age was 34.4±3.2 weeks and weight was 2,266±697.5 grams. The most common flora included Streptococcus (28.2%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 10.9%), Staphylococcus (6.0%) and Coagulase- Negative Staphylococcus (CNS, 4.0%). The average oral glucose level was 29.2±23.0mg/dl~58.2±39.5mg/dl. Newborns with higher oral glucose than serum (crude odds ratio [ORc] =1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.03-2.97), phototherapy (ORc=3.30; 95% CI=2.29-4.76) and prone position (ORc= 2.04; 95% CI=1.13-3.69) were more likely to be colonized. Having oral tubes (ORc=0.42; 95% CI=0.29-0.59), parental nutrition (ORc=0.21; 95% CI=0.13-0.32) and antibiotics (ORc=0.51; 95% CI=0.36-0.73) had protective effects. For oral glucose statistical significances existed on time effect among newborns with Streptococcus (F=9.78, p=.024), MRSA (F=7.60, p=.037) or CNS (F=11.15, p=.019) and interaction between time and colonization among newborns with all of four flora (F=2.73, p=.029) or colonization with only Staphylococcus (F=2.91, p=.034).
CONCLUSION
High-risk newborns develop flora colonization at an early period of life. Their clinical features were associated with types and time of oral flora colonization. They need close monitoring and multifaceted intervention to improve oral environment and infection control.

Keyword

Mouth; Glucose; Microorganism; Newborn; Infection

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Colon*
Female
Gestational Age
Glucose*
Humans
Infant, Newborn*
Infection Control
Longitudinal Studies
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Mouth
Odds Ratio
Parents
Parturition
Phototherapy
Prone Position
Staphylococcus
Streptococcus
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Glucose