: Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of LOS in preterm infants
CONTEXT : Late-onset sepsis ( LOS ) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants .
Despite various preventive measures , its incidence continues to remain high , hence the urgent need for additional approaches .
One such potential strategy is supplementation with probiotics .
Currently there are > 30 r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) of probiotics in preterm infants that have reported on LOS .
[Effects of probiotics on intestinal bacterial colonization in premature infants].
OBJECTIVE To study the possible roles of probiotics in decreasing intestinal bacterial colonization rate and the incidence of enterogenic infections in premature infants . METHODS Seventy premature infants were r and omly assigned to two groups : probiotics and conventional treatment groups ( control ) ( n=35 each ) . The probiotics treatment group was administered with oral Clostridium butyricum powder ( 250 mg , twice daily up to discharge ) 24 hrs after birth except conventional treatment .  Rectal swab cultures were done at admission , 5 and 12 days after admission , and before discharge . Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between the two groups . RESULTS The intestinal bacterial colonization rate in the probiotics treatment group was lower than that in the control group 12 days after admission ( 60 % vs 83 % ; p<0.05 ) and before discharge ( 51 % vs 80 % ; p<0.05 ) . Klebsiella pneumoniae , Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium were common colonization bacteria in the two groups . Diarrhea occurred in 7 cases ( 20 % ) in the probiotics treatment group compared with 16 cases ( 46 % ) in the control group ( p<0.05 ) . Two infants ( 6 % ) developed sepsis in the probiotics treatment group compared with 9 cases ( 26 % ) in the control group ( p<0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Probiotics can decrease intestinal bacterial colonization rate and the incidence of diarrhea and sepsis in premature infants
: Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of LOS in preterm infants
CONTEXT : Late-onset sepsis ( LOS ) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants .
Despite various preventive measures , its incidence continues to remain high , hence the urgent need for additional approaches .
One such potential strategy is supplementation with probiotics .
Currently there are > 30 r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) of probiotics in preterm infants that have reported on LOS .