Abstract
Objective: To determine the efficacy of probiotics in preterm neonates in preventing late onset sepsis.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1st September 2015 to 14th February 2016.
Material and Methods: After approval from ethical review committee, Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi, total 240 patients admitted in NICU were enrolled. Preterm (34-36 weeks gestation) neonates were randomly divided into two groups. Neonates in group A were given probiotics while distill water as placebo was given to the neonates in Group B. Probiotics were given once daily in a dose of 1 billion colony forming unit. Neonates received supplementation from 48 hours of life till next 14 days.
Results: There were 50 (43.5%) and 55 (47.8%) male neonates, whereas 65 (56.5%) and 60 (52.2%) female neonates in both groups respectively. In our study, 38 (33.0%) in group A and 40 (34.8%) neonates in group B presented with sepsis during the study period. There were 80 (69.6%) neonates in whom probiotics were effective from probiotic group and 76 (66.1%) from placebo group. Chi-square test was used to compare the efficacy which was statistically not significant (p-value 0.572).
Conclusion: The study concludes that prophylactic use of probiotics have no significant effect in preventing late onset sepsis in preterm infants.
