Investigating the effect of oropharyngeal colostrum in the prevention of late-onset sepsis in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial

Based on the immunological properties of maternal colostrum, this study aimed to determine the effect of oropharyngeal colostrum on preventing late-onset sepsis in preterm infants. This clinical trial was conducted from May 2023 to June 2024 at Rouhani Hospital with 70 premature infants. In the control group, no colostrum was administered, while the intervention group received 0.4 ml of colostrum every three hours for seven days, with extraoral massage for better absorption. The relative risk of late-onset sepsis was 55% lower in the intervention group (RR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.17 to 1.16). Although the difference in sepsis incidence between the groups was not statistically significant (11, 32.4% vs. 5, 14.7% infants, P = 0.086), it was clinically important. The age of achieving full enteral feeding was significantly lower in the intervention group (4.47 ± 2.33 vs. 3.24 ± 2.10 days, P = 0.025), but no significant differences were found in the age of achieving independent oral feeding, weight gain at discharge, or length of hospitalization. This study suggests that oropharyngeal colostrum may help reduce the incidence of late-onset sepsis and decrease the time to achieve full enteral feeding in preterm infants.Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT20230312057698N1. Registered 29 March 2023 prospective, https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/69281 .