title: Efficacy of Bovine Lactoferrin Supplementation in Preventing Late-onset Sepsis in low Birth Weight Neonates: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin (BLF) in preventing first episode of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in low birth weight (LBW) neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study conducted from May 2012 to July 2013 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care hospital, inborn asymptomatic neonates, <2000 g, admitted to NICU in first 12 h of birth with no maternal risk factors for sepsis were randomized to receive BLF or placebo from 1st to 28th day of life. The incidence of culture-proven sepsis and sepsis-attributable mortality after 72 h of life was recorded. Increasing doses of BLF were used with higher birth weights.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of first episode of culture-proven LOS was significantly lower in the BLF group vs. placebo [2/63 (3.2%) vs. 9/67(13.4%); risk ratio, 0.211; 95% CI, 0.044-1.019; p = 0.036]. Statistically significant reduction in the sepsis-attributable mortality was also seen after use of prophylactic BLF [0/63 (0%) vs. 5/67 (7.5%); p = 0.027].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BLF supplementation in LBW neonates reduced the incidence of first episode of LOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India gurpreet.virgo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gurpreet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pandit B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India.
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gathwala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002417:Cattle; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: bovine lactoferrin; late-onset sepsis; low birth weight