Effects of Oral Probiotic Supplementation on the Clinical Status of Very-low-birth-weight Preterm Neonates.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of a probiotic foodstuff and its influence on emergence and development of natural intestinal flora and the clinical status of premature very low birth weight neonates. The study was also intended to investigate reduction of colonisation by pathogenic bacteria and to estimate the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders. Probotic bacteria contained in the investigational product administered directly after birth are beneficial for the development of normal gut microflora and can prevent or significantly limit gastrointestinal colonisation by pathogenic bacteria and the development of pathogenic flora in a hospital setting. Permanent colonisation with commensal flora in very early life improves gastrointestinal function in premature neonates by reducing the onset of or by decreasing the severity of the signs and symptoms of feeding intolerance and generalised bacterial infections, including sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis.