S. Pelke et al., GOWNING DOES NOT AFFECT COLONIZATION OR INFECTION-RATES IN A NEONATALINTENSIVE-CARE UNIT, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 148(10), 1994, pp. 1016-1020
Objective: To study the effect of gowning in a neonatal intensive care
unit on colonization patterns, necrotizing enterocolitis, respiratory
syncytial virus and other infections, mortality, and traffic and hand
washing patterns. Methods: Alternate 2-month gowning and no-gowning cy
cles were established in a 24-bed level III neonatal intensive care un
it for 8 months, with respiratory site, umbilical, and stool surveilla
nce cultures done weekly on all patients. Traffic flow and handwashing
compliance were evaluated by direct observation. Results: Demographic
data did not differ between periods. There were no significant differ
ences between the gowning and no-gowning periods in the rates of bacte
rial colonization, any type of infection, or mortality. There was no e
ffect on traffic flow or handwashing compliance. Conclusion: Gowning i
n the neonatal intensive care unit is an unnecessary custom without be
nefit in neonatal colenization, infection rates, mortality, traffic pa
tterns, and handwashing behavior.