Probiotics Lower Risk for Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants

Although the results of this meta-analysis clearly demonstrate that probiotics are beneficial, the timing, dose, and specific formulation cannot be determined.

The health benefits of probiotics continue to be defined (Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Feb 1 2005 and Journal Watch General Medicine Sep 30 2005). In a Cochrane systematic review, investigators analyzed data from nine clinical trials that involved 1425 premature infants (gestational age, <37 weeks or weight, <2500 g) who were randomized to receive either a prophylactic enteral probiotic formulation or placebo to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, or both.

Enteral probiotics significantly lowered the incidence of severe (stage II or III) necrotizing enterocolitis (relative risk, 0.32) and mortality (RR, 0.43). Probiotics had no significant effect on rates of nosocomial sepsis or days on which total parenteral nutri…

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)