Cuidados intensivos com a pele do recém-nascido pré-termo

The care with the skin of the Pre-term Newborn Infant (PTNB) is a constant concern of professionals working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which is initiated soon after birth, with the aim of maintaining an ideal body temperature and significantly contribute to a successful adaptation. We aim in this study performing an updated literature and an analysis on the infections prevention and skin injuries on PTNBs and the essential skin care with those interned in NICUs. Thus, we performed a bibliographical review, using the electronic databases LILACS, BDENF and MEDLINE. We have found 222 articles, in which 29 had a greater relevance to our study. Of the 29 articles, had predominated experimental studies (19), in the period from 1995 to 2000 (10) and bibliographical studies (10) in the years of 2001 to 2006 (05). In bibliographical studies, even taking a smaller number of researches, the authors had studied more categories in the same study (30). The data obtained show that still there is a lack of consensus on certain techniques developed with the PTNB, pointing to the need for researches in this assistance area.