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Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Contemporary use of prophylactic probiotics in NICUs in the United States: a survey update
Samantha J Wala1,2, Mecklin V Ragan1,2, Erin Pryor3
1Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Objective:
In 2015, 14.0% of US NICUs administered probiotics to very low birth weight infants. Current probiotic use prior to and after the Fall of 2023 (when FDA warnings were issued) remains unknown.
Study Design:
A survey was distributed to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine (August-November/2022) and Neonatology Solutions' Level III/IV NICUs (January-April/2023). Probiotic administration practices were investigated.
Results:
In total, 289 unique NICUs and 406 providers responded to the survey. Of those, 29.1% of NICUs administered prophylactic probiotics to premature neonates, however, this decreased considerably after FDA warnings were issued. Additionally, 71.4% of providers stated willingness to administer probiotics to premature infants if there was an FDA-approved formulation.
Conclusions:
Probiotic use in US NICUs increased between 2015 and the Fall of 2023 and then dropped dramatically following warning letters from the FDA. The introduction of an FDA-approved probiotic may further expand administration.
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