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 .
Probiotics Feeding in Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Sepsis and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants
Background : It has been suggested that probiotics can reduce the overgrowth of pathogens in the bowels of preterm infants and contribute to the reduction of the incidence of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care units ( NICUs ) . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus GG supplementation in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections ( UTIs ) , bacterial sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in preterm infants . Methods : A double-blind study was conducted in 12 Italian NICUs . Newborn infants with a gestational age <33 weeks or birthweight < 1,500 g were r and omized to receive st and ard milk feed supplemented with Lactobacillus GG ( Dicoflor ® , Dicofarm , Rome , Italy ) in a dose of 6 × 109 colony-forming units ( cfu ) once a day until discharge , starting with the first feed or placebo . Results : Five hundred eighty-five patients were studied . The probiotics group ( n = 295 ) and the placebo group ( n = 290 ) exhibited similar clinical characteristics . The duration  of Lactobacillus GG and placebo supplementation was 47.3 ± 26.0 and 48.2 ± 24.3 days , respectively . Although UTIs ( 3.4 vs. 5.8 % ) and NEC ( 1.4 vs. 2.7 % ) were found less frequently in the probiotic group compared to the control group , these differences were not significant . Bacterial sepsis was more frequent in the probiotics group ( 4.4 % , n = 11 ) than in the placebo group ( 3.8 % , n = 9 ) , but the difference was not significant . Conclusion : Seven days of Lactobacillus GG supplementation starting with the first feed is not effective in reducing the incidence of UTIs , NEC and sepsis in preterm infants . Further studies are required to confirm our results in lower birthweight population
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 .