Disposable Plastic Clamp Reduces Birth-Related Infections

An eight-centimeter disposable plastic clamp could prevent millions of infection-related neonatal deaths in developing countries.

The SafeSnip, developed by students and researchers at Tulane University (New Orleans, LA, USA; www.tulane.edu) can cut, seal, and sanitize the umbilical cord in one step, and is designed for use in regions like Southeast Asia and Africa where home births are common and infants are susceptible to infections caused by unsanitary birth conditions. The device is placed on the umbilical cord and clamped down until it is severed. Once the cord is cut, the SafeSnip breaks in two, leaving one half of the device firmly clamped onto the baby's umbilical cord to seal the wound, while the other part is discarded. The SafeSnip was developed by David Rice, Ph.D., an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Tulane, and bioengineering graduates William Kethman, Bryan Molter, Stephanie Roberts, and Mark Young. The device should cost less than U.S. $1 to manufacture. The SafeSnip has so far been tested in animal studies, and a patent has been applied for by the developers.

According the World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland), one-third of neonatal deaths worldwide (1.5 million) are due to infection, and many of them begin as umbilical cord infection, as simple preventive aseptic practices are not universally implemented. In one study conducted in 14 Latin American countries, up to 16% of the deaths were due to infection, ranging between 31.3% in El Salvador and 7.5% in Costa Rica. Umbilical cord infections can occur in all settings; however, they are more likely to occur in low-income countries and in settings where the majority of births are not assisted by a skilled attendant. Also, at the present time, in many locations the best way to handle the umbilical cord is not known; in settings where the risk of bacterial infection is high, it may be prudent to use an antiseptic as per local preferences.

Related Links:
Tulane University
World Health Organization