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 .
[Effects of oral administration of bifidobacteria on intestinal microflora in premature and newborn infants].
In a prospect i ve , r and omised study the effects of orally administered bifidobacteria on the intestinal microflora were investigated in 100 preterm and term neonates under intensive care conditions during the first 21 days of life . The 50 infants ( group with bifidobacteria ) received lyophilized bifidobacteria ( Töpfer Bifidus ) via nasogastral tube with an initial dosage of 3 times daily 1.25 x 10(8 ) bifidobacteria on day 2 of life and a daily dosage of 6 times 1.25 x 10(8 ) bifidobacteria on day 3 until day 21 of life . The other 50 infants ( control group ) did not receive bifidobacteria . The preterm and term neonates were fed either with pasteurized mother 's milk or milk from healthy female donors ( n = 79 ) or with an infant formula ( Alfaré , n = 13 ) or initially with Alfaré and thereafter with mother 's milk ( n = 8) . The intestinal microflora of preterm and term neonates under intensive care conditions could be influenced by the oral administration of bifidobacteria . The administration of bifidobacteria result ed in the group of inoculated infants in a significantly earlier colonization of bifidobacteria ( 8.1 + /- 3.9 days of life ) than in the control group ( 11.3 + /- 4.7 days of life ) . On day 7 a bifidobacterial dominance ( > 90 % of the intestinal microflora ) could be found in 26 % of infants with inoculation of bifidobacteria and only in 2 % of the control group ( p < 0.001 ) . These significant differences could be shown until day 21 of life . A difference in septicemia frequency between the two groups could not be demonstrated . At the beginning of the infection a bifidobacterial dominance was found in only one of 23 cases of septicemia
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 .