REVIEW

Probiotics for preterm infants?

M Millar¹, M Wilks² and K Costeloe³

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology, Barts and The London NHS Trust, 37 Ashfield Street, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK
² Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts and The London NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK
³ Academic Department of Child Health, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Millar, Department of Medical Microbiology, Barts and The London NHS Trust, 37 Ashfield Street, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK;
michael.millar{at}bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

Infants nursed in special care baby units develop an abnormal pattern of microbial colonisation, which may contribute to disease. Enteric feeding of live microbial supplements (probiotics) may provide benefit to such infants and help to prevent diseases such as neonatal necrotising enterocolitis.

Keywords: preterm; probiotics; microbial colonisation; gastrointestinal tract; necrotising enterocolitis

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