Efficacy and safety of probiotics in preterm infants.
Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements that beneficially affect the recipient by improving intestinal balance. In an updated systematic review, nineteen trials randomizing more than 2800 infants were included. In a meta-analysis of trial data, enteral probiotic supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of severe necrotizing enterocolitis (typical RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.52) and mortality (typical RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.74). There was no evidence of significant reduction of nosocomial sepsis (typical RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.03). The included trials reported no systemic infection with - supplemented probiotics. Recent data in addition to a report by the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology (ESPGAN) concluded probiotics could be generally considered safe.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Anabrees
D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018805:Sepsis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
NEC; Probiotics; neonatal sepsis; preterm