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 .
Probiotics supplementation increases intestinal blood flow velocity in extremely low birth weight preterm infants
Objective : To determine whether probiotics supplementation affects intestinal blood flow velocity in extremely low birth weight neonates . Study Design : In this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study , probiotics were added to the first enteral feeding and continued until discharge or 34 weeks postmenstrual age . Pulsed Doppler was used to measure prepr and ial and postpr and ial ( at 30 and 60 min ) time-averaged mean velocity ( TAMV ) , peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) and end diastolic velocity ( EDV ) during the second week of life after ⩾7 days of probiotics supplementation . Result : A total of 31 infants were studied , 15 were r and omized to the probiotic and 16 to the placebo groups . There was a significant postpr and ial increase in TAMV for the probiotic vs the placebo group ( P=0.035 ) , with PSV and EDV showing a trend . Demographic and clinical variables were similar between the groups . Conclusion : Probiotics administration significantly increases postpr and ial intestinal blood flow in extremely low birth weight preterm neonates when compared with the placebo group
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 .