LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity of organisms and dosing regimens studied prevent a species-specific treatment recommendation from being made .
CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants benefit from probiotics to prevent severe NEC and death
CONTEXT Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is the most frequent gastrointestinal emergency in neonates .
The microbiome of the preterm gut may regulate the integrity of the intestinal mucosa .
Probiotics may positively contribute to mucosal integrity , potentially reducing the risk of NEC in neonates .
OBJECTIVE To perform an up date d systematic review and meta- analysis on the efficacy and safety of probiotics for the prevention of NEC in premature infants .
Probiotics-supplemented feeding in extremely low-birth-weight infants
Objective : The objective of this trial was to test whether probiotic-supplemented feeding to extremely low-birth-weight ( ELBW ) infants will improve growth as determined by decreasing the percentage of infants with weight below the 10th percentile at 34 weeks postmenstrual age ( PMA ) . Other important outcome measures , such as improving feeding tolerance determined by tolerating larger volume of feeding per day and reducing antimicrobial treatment days during the first 28 days from the initiation of feeding supplementation were also evaluated . Study Design : We conducted a multicenter r and omized controlled double-blinded clinical study . The probiotics-supplementation ( PS ) group received Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium infantis added to the first enteral feeding and continued once daily with feedings thereafter until discharge or until 34 weeks ( PMA ) . The control ( C ) group received unsupplemented feedings .  Infant weight and feeding volumes were recorded daily during the first 28 days of study period . Weights were also recorded at 34 weeks PMA . Result : A total of 101 infants were enrolled ( PS 50 versus C 51 ) . There was no difference between the two groups in the percentage of infants with weight below the 10th percentile at 34 weeks PMA ( PS group 58 % versus C group 60 % , ( P value 0.83 ) ) or in the average volume of feeding during 28 days after study entry ( PS group 59 ml kg−1 versus C group 71 ml kg−1 , ( P value 0.11 ) ) . Calculated growth velocity was higher in the PS group compared with the C group ( 14.9 versus 12.6 g per day , ( P value 0.05 ) ) . Incidences of necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) , as well as mortality were similar between the two groups . Conclusion : Although probiotic-supplemented feedings improve growth velocity in ELBW infants , there was no improvement in the percentage of infants with growth delay at 34 weeks PMA . There were no probiotic-related adverse events reported
LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity of organisms and dosing regimens studied prevent a species-specific treatment recommendation from being made .
CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants benefit from probiotics to prevent severe NEC and death
CONTEXT Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is the most frequent gastrointestinal emergency in neonates .
The microbiome of the preterm gut may regulate the integrity of the intestinal mucosa .
Probiotics may positively contribute to mucosal integrity , potentially reducing the risk of NEC in neonates .
OBJECTIVE To perform an up date d systematic review and meta- analysis on the efficacy and safety of probiotics for the prevention of NEC in premature infants .