title: Prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm very low birth weight infants: is it feasible?
abstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is still one of the most catastrophic intestinal emergencies in preterm very low-birth weight infants. Primary prevention of NEC should be the priority, since NEC frequently progresses from nonspecific signs, to extensive necrosis within a matter of hours with medical or surgical treatment, making successful treatment and secondary prevention difficult to achieve. Currently available strategies for primary prevention of NEC include antenatal glucocorticosteroids, breast milk feeding, cautious feeding strategy, fluid restriction and probiotics. Nonetheless, based on current research evidence, mixed flora probiotics, and/or breast milk feeding, would appear to be the most effective feasible methods in the prevention of NEC at present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui Hsing
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Yung
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: d0373@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Hung-Chih
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D064806:Dysbiosis; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D019936:Probiotics; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: dysbiosis; necrotizing enterocolitis; preterm very low birth weight infants; prevention