Probiotics for the prevention of necrotising enterocolitis in very low-birth-weight infants: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

John P Thomas, Tim Raine, Sanath Reddy, Gusztav Belteki

Journal: Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 2018;106(11):1729-1741

PMID: 28471478

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Abstract

UNLABELLED

We performed an updated meta-analysis incorporating the results of recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to measure the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in preventing necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and death in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, and to investigate any differences in efficacy by probiotic agent. Using meta-regression analysis, we assessed the contribution of other measured variables on the overall effect size and between-study variability.

CONCLUSION

Overall, probiotics lead to significant reductions in NEC incidence and mortality in VLBW infants. Differences in probiotic agents and the influence of prenatal steroids and feeding regimens may explain the differences in outcomes between studies.

Address: Department of Gastroenterology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.; Department of Paediatrics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, UK.; Department of Neonatology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK.

DOI: 10.1111/apa.13902

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MeSH Terms: Enterocolitis, Necrotizing, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Very Low Birth Weight, Probiotics