Probiotic Use Increased in US Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Associated With a Decline in Necrotizing Enterocolitis but Not With Sepsis or Mortality Rates

Probiotic Use Increased in US Neonatal Intensive Care Units Associated With a Decline in Necrotizing Enterocolitis but Not With Sepsis or Mortality Rates

In a study published in JAMA Health Forum, Prof. Leila Agha from Harvard Medical School and her team, answered the following question:

Did probiotic use change in US neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) between 2012 and 2019, and is use of probiotics associated with improved health outcomes in neonates with very low birth weight (VLBW)?

In this cohort study of 307 905 neonates with VLBW in 807 NICUs from 2012 to 2019, 17% of NICUs had adopted routine use of probiotics by 2019.

Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis declined by 18% at adopting NICUs vs nonadopting NICUs, and probiotic adoption was not associated with significant changes in mortality or sepsis.

In conclusion probiotic use increased in US NICUs, and probiotic use was associated with a decline in necrotizing enterocolitis but not with sepsis or mortality rates.

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Article DOI.

Image credits: Image by KamranAydinov on Freepik


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