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Probiotics Reduce Necrotizing Enterocolitis Severity in HIV-exposed Premature Infants

Evette Van Niekerk1, Daniel G Nel2, Reneé Blaauw3

  • 1Division Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa evettev@sun.ac.za.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|March 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Probiotic supplementation reduced necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. While not reducing NEC incidence in HIV-exposed infants, probiotics lessened disease severity in this group.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious condition in premature infants.
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure may influence NEC risk.
  • Probiotics are explored for preventing neonatal complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of probiotics on NEC incidence in premature infants.
  • To compare outcomes between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial involving HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed premature infants.
  • Intervention group received Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium infantis.
  • Control group received a placebo.

Main Results:

  • Overall NEC incidence was significantly lower in the probiotic group (3%) compared to placebo (6%).
  • No significant difference in NEC incidence or death was observed between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants.
  • A significant reduction in NEC severity was noted in HIV-exposed infants receiving probiotics.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic supplementation effectively reduces NEC incidence in premature infants.
  • Probiotics did not lower NEC incidence in HIV-exposed premature infants but did reduce disease severity.
  • Further research is needed on probiotics in high-risk neonatal populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
human immunodeficiency virusnecrotizing enterocolitispremature infantprobioticvery low birth weight

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