Practice Research
Research · May 28, 2014
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- In this observational cohort study, the effect of prophylactic Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics was evaluated in very-low birth weight infants. Patients treated with probiotics demonstrated a decreased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis surgery, abdominal surgery, and hospital mortality. In addition, infants who received probiotics experienced increased weight gain per day.
- The data from this study support the use of probiotics that contain Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis in infants of very low birth weight.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate outcome data in an observational cohort of very low birth weight infants of the German Neonatal Network stratified to prophylactic use of Lactobacillus acidophilus/Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics.
STUDY DESIGN
Within the observational period (September 1, 2010, until December 31, 2012, n = 5351 infants) study centers were categorized into 3 groups based on their choice of Lactobacillus acidophilus/Bifidobacterium infantis use: (1) no prophylactic use (12 centers); (2 a/b) change of strategy nonuser to user during observational period (13 centers); and (3) use before start of observation (21 centers). Primary outcome data of all eligible infants were determined according to center-specific strategy.
RESULTS
The use of probiotics was associated with a reduced risk for necrotizing enterocolitis surgery (group 1 vs group 3: 4.2 vs 2.6%, P = .028; change of strategy: 6.2 vs 4.0%, P < .001), any abdominal surgery, and hospital mortality. Infants treated with probiotics had improved weight gain/day, and probiotics had no effect on the risk of blood-culture confirmed sepsis. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, probiotics were protective for necrotizing enterocolitis surgery (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37-0.91; P = .017), any abdominal surgery (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.51-0.95; P = .02), and the combined outcome abdominal surgery and/or death (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.33-0.56; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
Our observational data support the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus/Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics to reduce the risk for gastrointestinal morbidity but not sepsis in very low birth weight infants.
The Journal of Pediatrics
Prophylactic Use of Lactobacillus acidophilus/Bifidobacterium infantis Probiotics and Outcome in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
J Pediatr 2014 May 28;[EPub Ahead of Print], C Härtel, J Pagel, J Rupp, M Bendiks, F Guthmann, E Rieger-Fackeldey, M Heckmann, A Franz, JH Schiffmann, B Zimmermann, N Hepping, A von der Wense, C Wieg, E Herting, W Göpel