Cutting Ties With an Old Friend: Omphalitis and Bacteremia With Umbilical Cord Nonseverance

Abstract

Umbilical cord nonseverance (UCNS) is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord attached to the placenta after delivery. Limited case reports exist revealing adverse outcomes of UCNS. We report a case of neonatal omphalitis associated with Escherichia coli bacteremia and urinary tract infection after UCNS.

Assessing risks of leaving the umbilical cord uncut: A case–control study

“…1 The benefits have not been demonstrated, but the risks can include systemic infections, as the tissue becomes colonised by multiple bacteria. 1 Some case reports have documented omphalitis, bacteraemia, urinary tract infections and hepatitis, [1][2][3][4] but the study designs did not enable causal associations to be established. This prospective, multicentre, case-control study compared infection rates in infants delivered with or without lotus births in six neonatal units in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, from 1 June 2016 to 31 October 2021.…”

“…The benefits have not been demonstrated, but the risks can include systemic infections, as the tissue becomes colonised by multiple bacteria 1 . Some case reports have documented omphalitis, bacteraemia, urinary tract infections and hepatitis, 1–4 but the study designs did not enable causal associations to be established.…”