|
The topical use of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on premature infants in
a neonatal intensive care unit was shown in this study to cause
a tremendous increase in the risk of systemic candidiasis (yeast
infections). This association was discovered when a Houston hospital
noticed an increase in the incidence of this problem shortly after
they instituted a change in their standard protocol for skin treatment
in extremely low birth weight infants. Researchers found that the
risk of candidiasis was increased by a factor of 11 (eleven). The
average age of the infants when diagnosed with candidiasis was 21.5
days old. Following the findings, the hospital discontinued it's
use of petroleum jelly and the incidence of candidiasis returned
back to normal levels.
Pediatrics 2000; 105: 1041-1045
| 