ISSN 2522-9400 European Modern Studies Journal Vol 5 No 4 available at journal-ems.com 276 European Modern Studies Journal, 2021, 5(4) Impact of Colostrum Administration in the Oropharyngeal Mucosa of Very Low Birth Weight Infants on the Rate of Late-Onset Sepsis: A Randomized Blinded Trial Daiane de O.P. Vergani [1]* , Vandréa C. de Souza [1] , Breno F. de Araújo [2] , Rosa M. Rahmi [1] , Pâmela A. dos Santos [1] , Sarah A. Bilibio [1] , José M. Madi [1, 2] [1] Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil [2] Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Abstract. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of oropharyngeal administration of colostrum in very low birth weight infants on the rate of late-onset sepsis compared to placebo. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial involving 52 preterm infants born before 30 weeks gestation and with a birth weight < 1500 g. Subjects received 0.2 ml of their mother’s colostrum or sterile water via oropharyngeal route every 3 hours for 3 days beginning at 48 to 96 hours of life. After therapy, the newborns were followed until hospital discharge or death. Results: The sample consisted of 26 preterm infants born in the colostrum group and 26 preterm in the control group. Gestational age and birth weight (median and interquartile range (IQR)) were respectively [28.5 (8) vs 31 (11)] and [1.095 g (945) vs 1232.5 g (1.120)]. The results did not associate the administration of colostrum with the reduction of late sepsis [n = 13 (50%) vs n = 14 (53.8%)], as far as sepsis was confirmed by blood culture, the occurrence was higher. In the case group [n = 10 (38.5% vs 4 (15.4%)], there was also a higher mortality trend for the group receiving colostrum [n = 8 (30.8%) vs n = 3 (11.5%)]. Conclusions: This study suggests that oropharyngeal administration of colostrum does not decrease the rate of late-onset sepsis. These results may be associated with sample size, suggesting further studies. Clinical Trial Registration: Rebec: UTN: U1111-1203-3393 Financial Disclosure: The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose. Keywords: oropharyngeal; colostrum; very low birth weight; sepsis; preterm Background Each year, approximately 15 million preterm infants are delivered all over the world (Liu et al., 2015), and significant increases in the survival of these preterm infants are associated with improvements in prenatal, obstetric and neonatal care. However, the survival of preterm infants is affected by high rates of morbimortality mainly due to neonatal sepsis, necrotizing * Corresponding Author: Daiane de Oliveira Pereira Vergani (ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2510-1740, Nursing School/Caxias do Sul University - Francisco Getúlio Vargas St, 1130, Bloco S. CEP 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS – Brazil, +55 054-991196307, daianevergani@gmail.com) Other Authors: José Mauro Madi, MD, PhD (ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2345-4713) Vandréa Carla de Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7306-5639) Breno Fauth de Araújo (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2288-0032) Rosa Maria Rahmi, MD, PhD (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1547-6282) Pâmela Antoniazzi dos Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1197-8739) Sarah Assoni Bilibio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9916-1274)