The ProPrems Trial investigated the use of probiotics in very preterm infants. The study has been reported at meetings, but the full article will be published in Pediatrics in December.

The primary outcome was late onset sepsis, but the finding given most publicity was reduction of NEC. Keith Barrington, neonatologist in Canada and blogging at neonatalresearch.org, argued that probiotics should now be used as NEC prevention and that future research should focus on refining probiotic therapy, not comparing it with placebo.

In the new 99nicu Poll we ask about your practise regarding probiotics as NEC prevention. Please also comment your votes. If you use probiotics, please share your experience.

We use Infloran (Bifidobacterium bifidum & lactobacillus acidophilus) in our ELBWs

we use Darolac sachets(lactobacillus) for infants <1.5 kg or <32 weeks whenever we begin trophic feeds.

Darolac1/2 bid