• Tanjina Chowdhury, Muhammad Manajjir Ali, Muhammad Monir Hossain, Jugindra Singh, Abu Noyeem Muhammad Yousuf, Fatema Yasmin, and Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury.
• Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2016 Sep 1; 26 (9): 770-4.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of orally administered probiotics in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.Study DesignArandomized double blind controlled trial.Place And Duration Of StudyThe Paediatrics Department of Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet Bangladesh, from July 2012 to June 2015.MethodologyPreterm (28 - 33 weeks gestation) VLBW (birth weight 1000 - 1499 g) neonates were enrolled. The study group was fed with probiotics once daily with breast milk from first feeding, and the control group with only breast milk without the addition of probiotics. Both the groups received other standard care. The primary outcome was the development of NEC (stage II and III), categorized by modified Bell's classification.ResultsIn 108 neonates, development of NEC was significantly lower in the study group than that of control group [1 (1.9%) vs. 6 (11.5%); p=0.044]. Age of achievement of full oral feeding was significantly earlier in the study group than that in the control group (14.88 ±3.15 and 18.80 ±4.32 days; p < 0.001). Duration of hospital stay was significantly short in the study group compared to the control group (15.82 ±2.94 days vs. 19.57 ±4.26 days; p < 0.001).ConclusionProbiotic supplementation reduces the frequency of necrotising enterocolitis in preterm neonates with very low birth weight. It is also associated with faster achievement of full oral feeding and short duration of hospital stay.

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