September 2011. Volume 7. Number 3

In premature newborns probiotics decrease the risk for developing severe necrotizing enterocolitis and death

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rating: 0 (0 Votes)
Newsletter Free Subscription
Regularly recieve most recent articles by e-mail
Subscribe
Print
Add to library
Discuss this article

AVC | Critically appraised articles

AlFaleh K, Anabrees J, Bassler D, Al-Kharfi T. Probiotics for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Mar 16; 3:CD005496
Reviewers: Cuello García CA1, González de Dios J2.
1ITESM. Monterrey. Nuevo León. México.
2Departamento de Pediatría. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. España.
Correspondence: Carlos Alberto Cuello García. Email: carlos.cuello@gmail.com
Reception date: 25/04/2011
Acceptance date: 06/06/2011
Publication date: 15/06/2011

Abstract

Authors' conclusion: enteral supplementation of probiotics prevents severe necrotizing enterocolitis and all cause mortality in preterm infants. Our updated review of available evidence supports a change in practice. More studies are needed to assess efficacy in extremely low birth weight infants and assess the most effective formulation and dose to be utilized.

Reviewers' commentary: this systematic review provides high quality evidence with low possibility of future change regarding the strong recommendation for routinely providing probiotics to the premature infants in the neonatal intensive care units for diminishing the risk of severe necrotizing enterocolitis. In any neonatal intensive care unit with a 10% prevalence of necrotizing enterocolitis, 16 premature infants would have to be treated to prevent one death, and 17 to prevent one necrotizing enterocolitis stage II or III. More studies are needed to ascertain specific doses, formulation and effects in those extremely low birth weight infants, as well as economic analyses to determine its cost-effectiveness in different health systems. With current evidence, it should be strongly considered to routinely provide probiotics to premature babies.

How to cite this article

Cuello García, CA, González de Dios, J. En recién nacidos prematuros los probióticos disminuyen el riesgo de muerte y de desarrollar enterocolitis necrosante. Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:58.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

AlFaleh K, Anabrees J, Bassler D, Al-Kharfi T. Probiotics for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Mar 16; 3:CD005496
Reviewers: Cuello García CA1, González de Dios J2.
1ITESM. Monterrey. Nuevo León. México.
2Departamento de Pediatría. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. España.
Correspondence: Carlos Alberto Cuello García. Email: carlos.cuello@gmail.com
Reception date: 25/04/2011
Acceptance date: 06/06/2011
Publication date: 15/06/2011

How to cite this article

Cuello García, CA, González de Dios, J. En recién nacidos prematuros los probióticos disminuyen el riesgo de muerte y de desarrollar enterocolitis necrosante. Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:58.

References

  1. Neu J, Walker WA. Necrotizing enterocolitis. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:255-64.
  2. Holman RC, Stoll BJ, Curns AT, Yorita KL, Steiner CA, Schonberger LB. Necrotising enterocolitis hospitalisations among neonates in the United States. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2006;20:498-506.
  3. Kosloske AM. Epidemiology of necrotizing enterocolitis. Acta Paediatrica Suppl. 1994;396:2-7.
  4. Urrutia G, Bonfill X. Declaración PRISMA: una propuesta para mejorar la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis. Med Clin (Barc). 2010;135:507-11.
  5. Deshpande G, Rao S, Patole S, Bulsara M. Updated meta-analysis of probiotics for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates. Pediatrics. 2010;125:921-30.
15/06/2011

Linked Comment