Probiotics for preterm infants: A National Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of prophylactic probiotic (PP) administration on rates of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), late-onset sepsis (LOS), and mortality in preterm infants. Study

Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of infants < 29 weeks' gestation, admitted to neonatal intensive care units participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015. Infants in the exposure group received PP. A multiple logistic regression model with generalized estimation equation was used.

Results: A total of 3093 infants were included, 652 infants (21%) received PP. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of NEC (aOR 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.410, 0.996), mortality (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.26, 0.63), and a composite of NEC or mortality were significantly lower in the PP group. There was no significant difference in the aOR of LOS.

Conclusion: Prophylactic probiotic administration is associated with a reduction in NEC and mortality in preterm infants.