Enteral supplementation of probiotics prevents severe NEC and all cause mortality in preterm infants .
There is insufficient data with regard to the benefits and potential adverse effects in the most at risk infants weighing less than 1000 grams at birth
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) and nosocomial sepsis are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants .
Through prevention of bacterial migration across the mucosa , competitive exclusion of pathogenic bacteria , and enhancing the immune responses of the host , prophylactic enteral probiotics ( live microbial supplements ) may play a role in reducing NEC and the associated morbidity .
OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of prophylactic enteral probiotics administration versus placebo or no treatment in the prevention of severe NEC or sepsis , or both , in preterm infants .
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Probiotics for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is a serious disease that affects the bowel of premature infants in the first few weeks of life .
Although the cause of NEC is not entirely known , milk feeding and bacterial growth play a role .
Probiotics ( dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast ) have been used to prevent NEC .
Comparison between killed and living probiotic usage versus placebo for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis in neonates.
UNLABELLED The aim of the study is to compare the role of killed ( KP ) Lactobacillus acidophilus with living ( LP ) in reducing incidence of sepsis ( NS ) and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in neonates . R and omized double blind placebo study , included 150 neonates admitted to NICU at day 1 , sixty received oral ( LP ) and 60 received ( KP ) and 30 received placebo .  One gram of stools was collected on admission , at day 7 , at end of the study , as well as on suspected NEC or NS and was sent for culture . RESULTS LP and KP were preventive factors for NEC with absolute risk reduction ( AAR ) 16 , 15 % , respectively and 18 % for NS compared to placebo .  Incidence of NEC and NS did not differ significantly between neonates supplemented with LP and those with KP . Preterm neonates supplemented with KP showed significantly lower incidence of NEC compared to placebo , while incidence of NS showed no significant difference between both groups . There is significant reduction in NS and NEC among neonates with positive Lactobacillus colonization of gut compared to those none colonized at day 7 ( 27.9 vs. 85.9 % , 0 vs. 7.8 % ) and at day 14 ( 48.7 vs. 91.7 % for NS and 0 vs. 20.8 % for NEC ) . Overall comparison between the three groups showed statistical significant reduction in the incidence of NEC . Present conclusions are that early gut colonization with beneficial bacteria lowers the incidence of NEC and NS . KP retained similar benefits to live bacteria
Enteral supplementation of probiotics prevents severe NEC and all cause mortality in preterm infants .
There is insufficient data with regard to the benefits and potential adverse effects in the most at risk infants weighing less than 1000 grams at birth
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) and nosocomial sepsis are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants .
Through prevention of bacterial migration across the mucosa , competitive exclusion of pathogenic bacteria , and enhancing the immune responses of the host , prophylactic enteral probiotics ( live microbial supplements ) may play a role in reducing NEC and the associated morbidity .
OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of prophylactic enteral probiotics administration versus placebo or no treatment in the prevention of severe NEC or sepsis , or both , in preterm infants .
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Probiotics for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is a serious disease that affects the bowel of premature infants in the first few weeks of life .
Although the cause of NEC is not entirely known , milk feeding and bacterial growth play a role .
Probiotics ( dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast ) have been used to prevent NEC .