Tag Archives: Probiotics

Probiotics in the extremely preterm. Risks and benefits

Posted on 22 October 2026 by Keith Barrington

Many publications and some guidelines about the use of probiotics for NEC prevention in the preterm make the claim that the evidence is more reliable for the moderately preterm than for the extreme preterm. Many of the RCTs have not … Continue reading →

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Probiotics, risk-benefit ratio

Posted on 20 October 2026 by Keith Barrington

Many of you will know that I have been convinced for some time that probiotics can reduce the frequency of NEC. Once the data became strong enough, and safety seemed to be assured, we were, I think, the first Canadian … Continue reading →

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Neonatal Research Shorts : November 2025

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Keith Barrington

Ybarra M, et al. Low-Grade Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage-Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Concomitant Preterm Brain Injuries: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 3 Years of Age. J Pediatr. 2025:114713. Previous studies of the long term outcome of infants with germinal matrix or low grade IVH … Continue reading →

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NEC awareness day, 17 May 2025. What is new in NEC prevention?

Posted on 17 May 2025 by Keith Barrington

I thought, as today is NEC awareness day, I would give an overview of recent research about NEC prevention strategies. Probiotics. I am sure my readers are aware of the major problems in the USA which have followed the occurrence … Continue reading →

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Breast is Best; is Fresher Better?

Posted on 30 January 2025 by Keith Barrington

A recurrent problem in the NICU is “bandwagon-jumping”. An intervention with some preliminary positive data, and a possible physiologic rationale is widely adopted and made part of QI bundles with little or no reliable evidence that it is either effective … Continue reading →

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Which Probiotic is Preferable?

Posted on 21 November 2023 by Keith Barrington

The word “probiotic” is defined rather vaguely as a micro-organism which has beneficial health impacts. I think it is obvious that there is a huge difference between fungi that are found in the intestinal microbiome of adults, and the lactic … Continue reading →

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Do probiotics only work in bigger babies? What is the risk-benefit of routine probiotics in the extremely preterm?

Posted on 13 November 2023 by Keith Barrington

The recent statement from the AAP and a recent review article both state that probiotics only appear to be effective in babies over 1000g birthweight. This would be remarkable if it were true. I am trying to think of another … Continue reading →

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Manipulating the Microbiome

Posted on 2 November 2023 by Keith Barrington

Not with human milk based fortifier, but with probiotics. This post is a sort of intersection between some of my recent posts, human-milk based fortifier does not appear to have a positive effect on the intestinal microbiome. But exogenous probiotics … Continue reading →

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The preterm GI tract is not sterile

Posted on 27 October 2023 by Keith Barrington

The FDA are at it again, they seem to be on a mission to go after suppliers of probiotics for preterm babies, and have now attacked Abbott. They appear to have demanded that they stop marketing their probiotic product, as … Continue reading →

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Probiotics. What now?

Posted on 6 October 2023 by Keith Barrington

Many of you will have seen or heard of the FDA warning about probiotics in preterm infants. In a letter (I am not in the USA, so I am not sure exactly who this letter was sent to, or the … Continue reading →

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