Is anyone using Probiotics for their infants? If so, which product do you use? Why did you choose this product? How do you administer? How often? When do you start them?

We don not administer probiotics at our department but the discussion i comming up more often.

We reviewed the published studies. We are not comfortable in using it yet in our prerm infants. We feel, more studies are needed.

Please look into the new metanalysis by Dr Girish despande published in lancet, it ais a good one with benefits in NEC , Mortality, Time to attain full feeds, but nmany of the issues still are to be answersed as to the type, dose, frequency of the probiotic to be used.

hi i try to share some studies about this:

1614 www.thelancet.com Vol 369 May 12, 2007

Probiotics for prevention of necrotising enterocolitis in

preterm neonates with very low birthweight: a systematic

review of randomised controlled trials

indian journal of pediatrics vol 74 jan, 2007

necrotising enterocolitis the state of the science

Fax +41 61 306 12 34

E-Mail karger@karger.ch

www.karger.com

Original Paper

Neonatology 2007;91:174–179

Effects of Probiotics on Enteric Flora and

Feeding Tolerance in Preterm Infants

Manuel,

Thanks for your references!

We are having an ongoing discussion re: the use of probiotics and watching for more data.

I think also look in cochrane review:

Alfaleh k, Probiotics for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants (Review)

2008

i think it is useful product, it is found in breast milk

We do. We use lactobacterin and bifidobacterin for all newborns, enteraly fed.

what dose

We still not ready to use probiotics, though informal discussions are going on; the limiting factor is the nonavailbility of the suitable preparations and the reluctance to start oral feedings on day one or two in sick preterm babies.

We use probiotics only for non breastfed preterm, after half feed (50 ml/kg).. We're just have a liquid probiotics here, given 3-5 drops a day..