Use of Probiotics to Reduce the Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Extremely Preterm Neonates in a NICU Environment

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A multicenter study found that routine probiotic supplementation in NICUs reduced NEC incidence by approximately 50% among infants delivered before 30 weeks' gestation.
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NEC is a severe condition in premature infants, with reported mortality rates between 15% and 30%, necessitating effective prophylactic approaches.
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The probiotic formulation used in the study has shown efficacy in preventing NEC in infants under 1500 g in previous RCTs and is recommended by ESPGHAN.
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Strain specificity is crucial for probiotics; different strains may yield varying results, highlighting the need for high-quality RCT support for clinical use.
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The study identified one case of probiotic-associated sepsis, but overall sepsis incidence was lower post-implementation, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring.

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