LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity of organisms and dosing regimens studied prevent a species-specific treatment recommendation from being made .
CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants benefit from probiotics to prevent severe NEC and death
CONTEXT Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is the most frequent gastrointestinal emergency in neonates .
The microbiome of the preterm gut may regulate the integrity of the intestinal mucosa .
Probiotics may positively contribute to mucosal integrity , potentially reducing the risk of NEC in neonates .
OBJECTIVE To perform an up date d systematic review and meta- analysis on the efficacy and safety of probiotics for the prevention of NEC in premature infants .
Probiotics, feeding tolerance, and growth: a comparison between HIV-exposed and unexposed very low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the effect of administration of probiotics  on feeding tolerance and growth outcomes of HIV-exposed ( but uninfected ) versus HIV non-exposed preterm infants . The null hypothesis of this study states that there will be no difference in the feeding tolerance and growth outcomes for both probiotic-exposed and unexposed premature very low birth weight infants . METHODS A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial was conducted during the period from July 2011 to August 2012 . HIV-exposed and non-exposed premature ( < 34 wk gestation ) infants with a birth weight of ≥500 g and ≤1250 g were r and omized to receive either a probiotic mixture or placebo . The multispecies probiotic mixture consisted of 1 × 10(9 ) CFU , Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium infantis per day and was administered for 28 d. Anthropometrical parameters , daily intakes , and feeding tolerance were monitored . RESULTS Seventy-four HIV-exposed and 110 unexposed infants were enrolled and r and omized ( mean birth weight 987 g ± 160 g , range , 560 - 1244 g ; mean gestational age 28.7 wk ) . In all 4227 probiotic doses were administered ( mean 22.9/infant ) . There was no difference in the average daily weight gain for treatment groups or HIV exposure . The HIV-exposed group achieved significantly higher z scores for length and head circumference at day 28 than the unexposed group ( P < 0.01 and P = 0.03 , respectively ) . There were no differences in the incidence of any signs of feeding intolerance and abdominal distension between the groups . CONCLUSION Probiotic supplementation did not affect growth outcomes or the incidence of any signs of feeding intolerance in HIV exposure
LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity of organisms and dosing regimens studied prevent a species-specific treatment recommendation from being made .
CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants benefit from probiotics to prevent severe NEC and death
CONTEXT Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is the most frequent gastrointestinal emergency in neonates .
The microbiome of the preterm gut may regulate the integrity of the intestinal mucosa .
Probiotics may positively contribute to mucosal integrity , potentially reducing the risk of NEC in neonates .
OBJECTIVE To perform an up date d systematic review and meta- analysis on the efficacy and safety of probiotics for the prevention of NEC in premature infants .