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Prebiotics and sepsis in infants: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Yuejia Qin1,2,3,4, Linhui Pan1,3,4
1Anesthesiology Department, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Insights
Prebiotics may reduce the risk of sepsis in infants. This systematic review and meta-analysis found a lower odds ratio for sepsis in infants receiving prebiotics, suggesting a potential alternative treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Microbiome research
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- Sepsis presents a significant clinical challenge, particularly in infants.
- Antibiotics, a common sepsis treatment, carry adverse effects in pediatric populations.
- Prebiotics emerge as a potential alternative therapeutic strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- To evaluate the efficacy of prebiotics in reducing sepsis incidence in infants.
- To aid clinical decision-making regarding prebiotic use for infant sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials.
- Inclusion of studies involving prebiotics and sepsis in infants.
- Application of a random effects model to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for sepsis incidence.
Main Results:
- Prebiotic use was associated with a significantly lower pooled odds ratio for sepsis in infants.
- The meta-analysis included data from 6,438 infants.
- A medium level of heterogeneity was observed across the included studies.
Conclusions:
- Prebiotics show potential for reducing sepsis incidence in infants.
- Further clinical research into standardized prebiotic application is warranted.
- Prebiotics may offer a safer alternative to antibiotics for infant sepsis prevention.
Background:
Sepsis is a critical situation, and its treatment and reduction are important clinical issues. Antibiotics are a routine treatment option, but their adverse effects are a concern in pediatric patients, especially infants. Prebiotics might be an alternative option.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to provide an updated systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of prebiotics for sepsis in infants, which could assist clinicians in deciding whether to use this treatment.
Methods:
The study included RCTs related to prebiotics and sepsis in infants. A random effects model and the odds ratio (OR) were applied to estimate the effect of prebiotic use and the incidence of sepsis in infants. The analysis included 16 studies with a total of 6,438 infants. The primary outcome was the OR of sepsis for infants who received prebiotics.
Results:
The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the pooled OR of sepsis was significantly lower for infants who used prebiotics. However, the results indicated a medium level of heterogeneity.
Conclusion:
The results showed that the use of prebiotics might be associated with a reduction of sepsis in infants. The standardized application of this treatment might be an intriguing topic for future clinical research.
