: Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of LOS in preterm infants
CONTEXT : Late-onset sepsis ( LOS ) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants .
Despite various preventive measures , its incidence continues to remain high , hence the urgent need for additional approaches .
One such potential strategy is supplementation with probiotics .
Currently there are > 30 r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) of probiotics in preterm infants that have reported on LOS .
The propre-save study: effects of probiotics and prebiotics alone or combined on necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE To test the efficacy of probiotic and prebiotic , alone or combined ( synbiotic ) , on the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in very low birth weight ( VLBW ) infants . STUDY DESIGN A prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled trial was conducted at 5 neonatal intensive care units in Turkey . VLBW infants ( n = 400 ) were assigned to a control group and 3 study groups that were given probiotic ( Bifidobacterium lactis ) , prebiotic ( inulin ) , or synbiotic ( Bifidobacterium lactis plus inulin ) added to breastmilk or formula for a maximum of 8 weeks before discharge or death . The primary outcome was NEC ( Bell stage ≥2 ) . RESULTS The rate of NEC was lower in probiotic ( 2.0 % ) and synbiotic ( 4.0 % ) groups compared with prebiotic ( 12.0 % ) and placebo ( 18.0 % ) groups ( P < .001 ) . The times to reach full enteral feeding were faster ( P < .001 ) , the rates of clinical nosocomial sepsis were lower ( P = .004 ) , stays in the neonatal intensive care unit were shorter , ( P = .002 ) , and mortality rates were lower ( P = .003 ) for infants receiving probiotics , prebiotics , or synbiotic than controls . The use of antenatal steroid ( OR 0.5 , 95 % CI 0.3 - 0.9 ) and postnatal probiotic ( alone or in synbiotic ) ( OR 0.5 , 95 % CI 0.2 - 0.8 ) decreased the risk of NEC , and maternal antibiotic exposure increased this risk ( OR 1.9 , 95 % CI 1.1 - 3.6 ) . CONCLUSIONS In VLBW infants  , probiotic ( Bifidobacterium lactis ) and synbiotic ( Bifidobacterium lactis plus inulin ) but not prebiotic ( inulin ) alone decrease NEC
: Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of LOS in preterm infants
CONTEXT : Late-onset sepsis ( LOS ) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants .
Despite various preventive measures , its incidence continues to remain high , hence the urgent need for additional approaches .
One such potential strategy is supplementation with probiotics .
Currently there are > 30 r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) of probiotics in preterm infants that have reported on LOS .