Zeitschrift für Probiotika und Gesundheit
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Effect of Routine Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 use on Rates of Late-onset infection in Extremely-low-birth-weight Infants

Peter Gal, Mary Ann VT Dimaguila, Tiffany Wilson and John E Wimmer

Background: Preterm infants are at high risk for late-onset infections due to gram-negative or fungal organisms. Evidence supports that a common source for these organisms may be the gastrointestinal tract. One theoretical way to change the infection rate is to alter the bacterial flora inhabiting the newborn gastrointestinal tract using probiotics. This study examines the impact of routine use of a probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (BioGaia®), on the rate of late-onset gram-negative and fungal infection in neonates with birth weight ≤ 1000 grams.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing the rates of gram-negative bacterial and fungal infections in neonates with birth weight ≤ 1000 grams. The groups are separated into those neonates born from January 2004 to June 30, 2009, before introduction of L. reuteri, and neonates born July 2009 through July 2012 who received routine L. reuteri prophylaxis. Neonates were excluded if they died or were transferred within the fi rst week of life. The remainder were included in the study and recorded as either having late onset infection related to gram negative organisms or fungi, or not having late onset infection. Since no major changes occurred in our NICU practice in recent years, and the introduction of L. reuteri as routine prophylaxis was abrupt, we attributed the post-probiotic changes to the introduction of this new therapy. Rates of infection were compared using Chi square analysis with Fisher exact t-test.
Results: Medical records for 354 neonates were reviewed, 232 before- and 122 after-introduction of L. reuteri prophylaxis. Despite a marked reduction in necrotizing enterocolitis and mortality, the incidence of late-onset infection varied from year-to-year, but was not signifi cantly altered by the introduction of routine L. reuteri. No adverse events related to use of L. reuteri were noted.
Conclusions: Prophylactic initiation of L. reuteri as a probiotic does not decrease late-onset infection.