Frequent Standardized Oral Care to Improve Health Outcomes in Premature Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NCT05167318)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Premature very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are susceptible to complications related to infrequent and non-standardized oral care. Although the benefits of frequent standardized oral care are known to reduce oral dybiosis (increased level of potentially pathogenic bacteria) and its associated complications in critically ill adults leading to established evidence-based guidelines, no such information exists for VLBW infants. The proposed study will prospectively follow 40 VLBW infants for 4 weeks following birth. Infants will be randomized into 1 of 2 groups. Standardized oral care will be performed every 3-4 hours (Group 1) and every 12 hours (Group 2). Aim 1 will evaluate the feasibility of frequent standardized oral care, Aim 2 will compare the oral microbiome between groups, and Aim 3 will compare respiratory outcomes including the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and need for respiratory support between infants receiving standardized oral care every 3-4 hours and every 12 hours. Issues related to recruitment, retention, randomization, acceptance by nursing staff, and treatment fidelity will be examined. Saliva samples will be obtained weekly and analyzed using 16S sequencing, respiratory cultures will be obtained weekly on ventilated infants, and respiratory outcomes will be collected from the medical records.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: University of Florida — Gainesville, Florida
Age range: 12 Hours to 72 Hours
🧪 Interventions in This Study
- frequent standardized oral care (OTHER)
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- University of Florida — Gainesville, Florida
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
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💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Review the official NIH record below to find the coordinating site.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.