Eau de dalibour vs. alcohol for umbilical cord care

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the effects of Eau de Dalibour and ethanol on preventing omphalitis and also on umbilical cord separation time in neonates. In this clinical trial, 178 randomly selected, healthy term neonates were investigated. To disinfect the umbilical cords, Eau de Dalibour was used for 84 infants (case group) and ethanol for 94 infants (control group). No cases of omphalitis were observed in either group. Umbilical cord separation time was significantly shorter in the Eau de Dalibour group than in the ethanol group: 4.04 ± 1.61 days vs. 6.3 ± 1.82 days, p = 0.001. This study revealed that although Eau de Dalibour and ethanol were equally effective in preventing the incidence of omphalitis in neonates, Eau de Dalibour induced the separation of umbilical cord significantly quicker in the infants. Thus, Eau de Dalibour could be used as a suitable replacement for ethanol in neonates' umbilical cord care. © The Author 2014.Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.