Can breast milk or mouthwash stop pneumonia in preterm infants?
NCT ID NCT07482007
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested four different mouth care methods—colostrum (early breast milk), chlorhexidine (an antiseptic), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and normal saline (salt water)—in 80 premature babies on breathing machines. The goal was to see which best prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia, a common and dangerous infection. Researchers tracked how many babies got pneumonia, how long they needed the ventilator, and how long they stayed in the hospital.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- colostrum, chlorhexidine, sodium bicarbonate, or normal saline (oral care solutions)
- What this could lead to
- If one of these oral care methods works best, it could help prevent a serious lung infection in premature babies on breathing machines, potentially saving lives and reducing hospital stays.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-center study with only 80 babies, so results may not apply to all NICUs. The study is completed but not yet published, so we don't know if any method was clearly better or if there were side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Tanta University Children's Hospital
Tanta, Egypt
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