Core and peripheral temperature as a marker for sepsis in the preterm infant

Smith, Jacqueline;Alcock, Gary;Monk, Barbara;Jones, Rhondda

Abstract

Aim: the aim of this contemporary paper is to try and demonstrate that infants who are born prematurely, before 32 weeks’ gestation, react to sepsis by widening the gradient between core (oesophageal) and peripheral (foot) temperature. Design: Exploratory descriptive, non-experimental observational prospective study on infants born at or before 32 weeks’ gestation, admitted to the neonatal intensive care. Method: All infants born at or before 32 weeks’ gestation, admitted to the NICU, received parental consent were enrolled in the study. Conclusion: Inconclusive results. Although this study does not show any significant differences between core and peripheral temperature, discussing issues which were raised whilst conducting the study may have some benefits to other researchers. The study would have continued, giving us a larger cohort of infants if Philips had not discontinued the manufacturing of the InnerSense oesophageal temperature probe.

Journal

Journal of Neonatal Nursing

Publication Name

N/A

Volume

ISBN/ISSN

1878-089X

Edition

N/A

Issue

Pages Count

Location

N/A

Publisher

Elsevier

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1016/j.jnn.2021.08.014