Sijad-ur Rehman, Abid Iqbal, Wahid Ali.
Role of Probiotics in Reducing Frequency of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates.
Pak Paed J Jan ;42(3):172-7.

Aim: To determine effectiveness of probiotics in decreasing the frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature, very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. Methods: This was a randomized control study carried out at MCH Nursery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad from June 2014 to December 2014. A total of 146 neonates (73 in each group) were included. They were preterm infants having gestation of 27 to 36+7 weeks; they were VLBW (< 1500g) and they survived to feed enterally. The intervention group received a probiotic mixture and the control group was given placebo. The amount of feeding was increased slowly. Babies were monitored for NEC daily. NEC was diagnosed according to Bell staging. Results: 58 (39.7%) were boys and 88 (60.3%) were girls. The mean gestational age was 228.6±15.4 days. The mean birth weight was 1.32±0.17 kg. 10 (6.8%) neonates developed NEC. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of different risk factors for NEC between the probiotic or the non-probiotic groups. 2 (2.7%) neonates in the probiotic group and 8 (10.9%) in the non-probiotic group developed necrotizing enterocolitis; these proportions were statistically significantly different; p= 0.049. Hence, neonates in the probiotic group had significantly lesser NEC. Conclusion: The frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis is significantly lower among probiotics receiving preterm very low birth weight neonates as compared to non-probiotic receiving controls.

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