title: Probiotics for Preterm Infants: A Premature or Overdue Necrotizing Enterocolitis Prevention Strategy?
abstract: Common among preterm, very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal, infectious disease that remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among this high-risk population. To combat this devastating condition, research efforts have been redirected from treatment toward prevention strategies. Although there are several proposed risk-reduction strategies, one intervention gaining support is the administration of prophylactic enteral probiotics. Regardless of growing evidentiary support and a benign safety profile, neonatal providers have yet to embrace this therapy. This article provides an overview of the proposed benefits of probiotics, focusing on their role as a NEC prevention strategy. A review of several sentinel research studies targeting preterm, VLBW, and ELBW infants is provided. Considerations for ongoing research are reviewed. Finally, two evidence-based NEC prevention probiotics protocols are presented.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome