title: Probiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for low birth weight premature infants. Prematurity, ischemia, formula feeding, and bacterial colonization are risk factors for the self-perpetuating cycle of damaged intestinal epithelia, inflammation, bacterial entry, sepsis, and shock that characterizes NEC. Probiotics are food supplements containing live bacteria that benefit the recipient by improving the microflora balance within the intestine. Several studies suggest that the administration of probiotics may have a prophylactic effect for NEC and may reduce morbidity and mortality rates for low birth weight infants.
authors.affiliation: Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit, Childrens Hospital, Los Angeles, USA. jgaul@chla.usc.edu
authors.forename: Janeen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaul
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D009017:Morbidity; D019936:Probiotics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; C008243:lactinex