Sibling visitation: effects on newborn infection rates.

This study compared signs and symptoms of infection in term infants who had direct contact with their siblings with infants who had contact only with an adult visitor as part of a postpartum hospital visitation program (N = 150). Following sibling visitation, mothers assessed their infants for signs and symptoms of infection using a questionnaire designed for this study. No increase in signs and symptoms of infection associated with direct sibling visitation in this setting was identified.