In studies included in this meta- analysis , probiotic administration was associated with a reduction in NEC-related mortality
Aim of the study Probiotic administration to preterm infants has the potential to prevent necrotising enterocolitis ( NEC ) .
Data from r and omised controlled trials ( RCT ) are conflicting but meta-analyses seem to support this intervention .
To date , these analyses have not focused on surgical NEC .
We aim ed to determine the effect of probiotic administration  to preterm infants on prevention of surgical NEC .
Comparison of stool colonization in premature infants by three dose regimes of a probiotic combination: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE To compare stool colonization among premature infants receiving high-dose probiotics versus st and ard dose . STUDY DESIGN This blinded , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial was conducted in a Level III neonatal unit . Eligibility criteria were gestational age 27 - 33 weeks , age < 96 hours , tolerating milk ≥ 15 mL/kg/day and availability for follow-up . Gastro-intestinal/life-threatening malformations and necrotizing enterocolitis/sepsis were exclusions . A total of 149 subjects were r and omly allocated to groups A through D ( received 12-hourly probiotic supplements of 10(10 ) cells for 21 days , 10(10 ) cells for 14 days , 10(9 ) cells for 21 days and placebo , respectively ) . Key outcome was stool colonization by a probiotic organism at 28 days . RESULTS Colonization with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in groups A , B , and C versus placebo respectively , but groups A through C did not differ from each other . There were trends toward more colony forming unit ( cfu ) of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium per milliliter of stool in group A versus B and B versus C. Groups A and B and spontaneous preterm labor ( SPL ) independently predicted high Lactobacillus counts on day 28 ; groups A , B , and C and SPL predicted high Bifidobacterium counts . CONCLUSION Proportion of infants colonized with probiotic species was similar with high-dose and st and ard dose regimes
In studies included in this meta- analysis , probiotic administration was associated with a reduction in NEC-related mortality
Aim of the study Probiotic administration to preterm infants has the potential to prevent necrotising enterocolitis ( NEC ) .
Data from r and omised controlled trials ( RCT ) are conflicting but meta-analyses seem to support this intervention .
To date , these analyses have not focused on surgical NEC .
We aim ed to determine the effect of probiotic administration  to preterm infants on prevention of surgical NEC .