Arguments for routine administration of probiotics for NEC prevention

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Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
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Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

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Mark A Underwood1

  • 1Division of Neonatology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, California, USA.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|January 22, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Routine probiotic use in premature infants is safe and reduces risks of death, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis. Future research should ensure probiotic product quality and compare different formulations.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant concern in premature infants.
  • Probiotic administration for NEC prevention is common globally but less so in the US.
  • Recent evidence supports routine probiotic use in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on probiotic administration for NEC prevention in premature infants.
  • To emphasize the benefits of routine probiotic use in neonatal intensive care.

Main Methods:

  • Review of animal models detailing probiotic mechanisms in immature guts.
  • Updated meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and observational cohorts.
  • Inclusion of data from over 40,000 premature infants worldwide.

Main Results:

  • Probiotic administration is well-tolerated in premature infants.
  • Probiotics significantly decrease the risk of mortality, NEC, and sepsis.
  • Evidence suggests further placebo-controlled trials are unlikely to change current conclusions.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic supplementation is recommended for premature infants to reduce NEC and sepsis risk.
  • Focus should shift to ensuring high-quality probiotic products (purity, viability).
  • Future clinical trials should compare different high-quality probiotic products and dosages.
Abstract

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