The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
The objective of the study is to compare different supplemental incubator humidification strategies for infants \<25 weeks' gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study aims to compare higher (90%) and lower (70%) starting relative humidity (RH), as well as shorter (10 days) and longer (28 days) duration of humidity supplementation.
Inclusion Criteria: * Inborn infant of \<25 weeks' gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Exclusion Criteria: * Infants with known congenital skin conditions * Outborn infants * Infants with unknown gestational age prior to birth * Infants with redirection of intensive care prior to study enrollment * Infants whose parents request not to participate
Infants will be provided usual delivery room care and then placed in an incubator on admission to the NICU, receiving starting relative humidity (RH) of 90% in the incubator, which is weaned to 50% by day 8, and humidity supplementation stopped at day 10.
Infants will be provided usual delivery room care and then placed in an incubator on admission to the NICU, receiving starting relative humidity (RH) of 70% in the incubator, which is weaned to 50% by day 8, and humidity supplementation stopped at day 10.
Infants will be provided usual delivery room care and then placed in an incubator on admission to the NICU, receiving starting relative humidity (RH) of 90% in the incubator, which is weaned to 50% by day 8, and humidity supplementation stopped at day 28.
Infants will be provided usual delivery room care and then placed in an incubator on admission to the NICU, receiving starting relative humidity (RH) of 70% in the incubator, which is weaned to 50% by day 8, and humidity supplementation stopped at day 28.