Enteral supplementation of probiotics prevents severe NEC and all cause mortality in preterm infants .
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 .
Double-blind, randomised clinical assay to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in preterm newborns weighing less than 1500 g in the prevention of necrotising enterocolitis
Background A r and omised , double-blind clinical trial was undertaken in order to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in the prevention of  necrotising enterocolitis ( NEC ) in newborns weighing < 1500 g. Methods We studied a group of 150 patients who were r and omised in two groups after parental consent was obtained , to receive either a daily feeding supplementation with a multispecies probiotic ( Lactobacillus acidophilus , Lactobacillus rhamnosus , Lactobacillus casei , Lactobacillus plantarum , Bifidobacteruim infantis , Streptococcus thermophillus ) 1 g per day plus their regular feedings or to receive their regular feedings with nothing added ( control group ) , over the period of January 2007 through June 2010 . Clinicians in care of the infants were blinded to the group assignment . Results The primary outcome was the development of NEC . Both groups were comparable , with no differences during hospitalisation , including the type of nutrition received . Blood cultures obtained from cases that developed sepsis did not reveal lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria growth . No differences were detected in terms of NEC risk reduction ( RR : 0.54 , 95 % CI 0.21 to 1.39 ) although we did observe a clear trend in the reduction of NEC frequency in the studied cases : 6 ( 8 % ) versus 12 ( 16 % ) in the control group . When the combined risk of NEC or death was calculated as a post hoc analysis , we found a significantly lower risk ( RR : 0.39 , 95 % CI 0.17 to 0.87 ) for the study group . Conclusions Probiotics may offer potential benefits for premature infants and are a promising strategy in the reduction of the risk of NEC in preterm newborns
Enteral supplementation of probiotics prevents severe NEC and all cause mortality in preterm infants .
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 .