Does administering probiotic treatment to infants under 1500 g, decrease the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis? A systematic literature review

This literature review investigates if probiotics reduce the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in premature and low birth weight infants (1500 g) in the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). NEC remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the premature and low birth weight neonatal population. Probiotics are live micro-organisms which benefit the host when administered in adequate amounts by increasing the gut flora with ‘friendly’ bacteria and are thought to reduce of NEC in the premature population. The studies which used a combination of two or more probiotics, reported a decrease in the incidence and/or severity of NEC. However, there was no consistency in the type or dose of probiotic used and timing of introduction or length of treatment varied amongst the studies. While the results of the studies are promising, there are too many inconsistencies in the research and little is known about the long term outcomes. Further studies are needed in this area before probiotics are used in the on a routine basis in babies <1500 g.