4.1. Participant Recruitment and Sample Collection
congenital malformations
SKIN, SKIN CONDITION
This trial, conducted in the NICU at Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, was approved by the institutional human research ethics committee (HREC2015191EW) and registered with the Australian Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12616000042448). Infants born <30 weeks’ gestational age without major congenital malformations or congenital skin conditions were enrolled. Virgin coconut oil (Nature Pacific, Varsity Lakes, QLD, Australia) was provided in individually sealed 5 mL sachets for each application. Coconut oil (5 mL/kg) was applied by trained nursing staff to neonates in the intervention arm every 12 h for 21 days, commencing within 24 h of birth. The control arm was given standard neonatal care as per NICU guidelines without topical coconut oil [Skin swabs (eNAT FLOQ Swabs