Evidence of low quality suggests that lactoferrin supplementation to enteral feeds with or without probiotics decreases late-onset sepsis and NEC stage II or III in preterm infants without adverse effects .
BACKGROUND Lactoferrin , a normal component of human colostrum and milk , can enhance host defenses and may be effective for prevention of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in preterm neonates .
To assess the safety and effectiveness of lactoferrin supplementation to enteral feeds for prevention of sepsis and NEC in preterm neonates Secondary objectives 1 .
To determine the effects of lactoferrin supplementation to enteral feeds to prevent neonatal sepsis and /or NEC on duration of positive-pressure ventilation , development of chronic lung disease ( CLD ) or periventricular leukomalacia ( PVL ) , length of hospital stay to discharge among survivors , and adverse neurological outcomes at two years of age or later2 .
To determine the adverse effects of lactoferrin supplementation for prophylaxis of neonatal sepsis and /or NECWhen data were available , we analyzed the following subgroups.1 .
Gestational age < 32 weeks and 32 to 36 weeks2 .
Type of feeding : breast milk versus formula milk SEARCH METHODS : We used the search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group ( CNRG ) to up date our search in December 2016 .
Efficacy of Bovine Lactoferrin Supplementation in Preventing Late-onset Sepsis in low Birth Weight Neonates: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin ( BLF ) in preventing first episode of late-onset sepsis ( LOS ) in low birth weight ( LBW ) neonates . METHODS In this study conducted from May 2012 to July 2013 in the neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ) of a tertiary care hospital , inborn asymptomatic neonates , < 2000 g , admitted to NICU in first 12 h of birth with no maternal risk factors for sepsis were r and omized to receive BLF or placebo from 1st to 28th day of life . The incidence of culture-proven sepsis and sepsis-attributable mortality after 72 h of life was recorded . Increasing doses of BLF were used with higher birth weights . RESULTS Incidence of first episode of culture-proven LOS was significantly lower in the BLF group vs. placebo [ 2/63 ( 3.2 % ) vs. 9/67(13.4 % ) ; risk ratio , 0.211 ; 95 % CI , 0.044 - 1.019 ; p = 0.036 ] . Statistically significant reduction in the sepsis-attributable mortality was also seen after use of prophylactic BLF [ 0/63 ( 0 % ) vs. 5/67 ( 7.5 % ) ; p = 0.027 ] . CONCLUSION BLF  supplementation in LBW neonates reduced the incidence of first episode of LOS
Evidence of low quality suggests that lactoferrin supplementation to enteral feeds with or without probiotics decreases late-onset sepsis and NEC stage II or III in preterm infants without adverse effects .
BACKGROUND Lactoferrin , a normal component of human colostrum and milk , can enhance host defenses and may be effective for prevention of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) in preterm neonates .
To assess the safety and effectiveness of lactoferrin supplementation to enteral feeds for prevention of sepsis and NEC in preterm neonates Secondary objectives 1 .
To determine the effects of lactoferrin supplementation to enteral feeds to prevent neonatal sepsis and /or NEC on duration of positive-pressure ventilation , development of chronic lung disease ( CLD ) or periventricular leukomalacia ( PVL ) , length of hospital stay to discharge among survivors , and adverse neurological outcomes at two years of age or later2 .
To determine the adverse effects of lactoferrin supplementation for prophylaxis of neonatal sepsis and /or NECWhen data were available , we analyzed the following subgroups.1 .
Gestational age < 32 weeks and 32 to 36 weeks2 .
Type of feeding : breast milk versus formula milk SEARCH METHODS : We used the search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group ( CNRG ) to up date our search in December 2016 .