title: [Role of probiotics in the prevention of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: A case-control study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of probiotics in the prevention of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and to investigate the risk factors for NEC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2528 hospitalized neonates between January 2002 and May 2005 were assigned into either receiving prophylactic use of probiotics bifoco (Prevention group, n=1182) or without probiotics supplementation (Control group, n = 1346). The incidence of NEC was compared between the two groups. The risk factors for NEC were investigated by conditional logistic regression multifactorial analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 19 cases of NEC in the Control group (1.41%), but only 6 cases in the Prevention group (0.51%) (P < 0.05). Gestational age (OR = 5.521), hypoxicdouble ended arrowischemic encephalopathy (OR = 3.887), specticemia (OR = 4.854) and critical illness scores (OR = 5.989) were the risk factors for NEC, while the prophylactic use of probiotics was an independent protective factor for NEC (OR = 0.255).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prophylactic use of probiotics may reduce the incidence of NEC in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Quanzhou, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, China. mogenllq@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Lian-Qiao
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xuan-Xuan
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Su-Xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong-Shi
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jia-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*