Effects of prophylactic probiotics supplementation on infants born very preterm or very low birth weight.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of guideline-driven prophylactic supplementation of a multi-strain neonatal intensive care unit-specific probiotic product on infants born very preterm (VP) or very low birth weight (VLBW).

Study Design: A prospective cohort of 125 infants born in one year after implementation who received probiotics were compared to a retrospective cohort of eligible 126 VP or VLBW infants who did not receive probiotics. The primary outcome of interest was necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).