Efficacy of probiotic therapy in full-term infants with critical illness

Probiotics are microbial supplements that have shown efficacy in a wide range of applications. To assess the safety and effects of enteral probiotics in critically ill neonates.

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 100 full-term infants with critical illness according to scores of neonatal acute physiology. Fifty neonatal intensive care patients were randomly assigned to receive probiotics three times daily after birth for 8 days, and fifty patients were not given probiotics, but who received a placebo. The incidence of sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), nosocomial pneumonia, and necrotizing enterocolitis were recorded. The prognosis of probiotic treatment was determined based on the rate of recovery and hospital days. Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations were measured on days 4 and 8.

Infants in the probiotics group showed a significantly reduced rate of nosocomial pneumonia (18% versus 36%) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (6% versus 16%) compared with the placebo group (p<0.05). Significant results were demonstrated in favour of the probiotics for days of hospital stay (13 ± 3.5 d versus 15.8 ± 5.3 d) (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the occurrence of sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and recovery rate. Patients given probiotics had significantly greater levels of IgA than those in the placebo group (p<0.05). No serious adverse effects in the study population were noted.

Supplements of probiotics to critically ill neonates could enhance immune activity, decrease occurrence of nosocomial pneumonia and MODS, and reduce days in hospital.