Intestinal Microbial Flora – Effect of Probiotics in Newborns

Role of enteric supplementation of probiotics on late-onset sepsis by candida species in preterm low birth weight neonates: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…The direct effects of probiotics on the lumen are competition with the pathogens for nutrients, production of antimicrobial substances, receptorial hydrolysis, and nitric oxide (NO); while the indirect effects are based on site of interaction of the probiotics and the effectors of immune response topographically located in the intestinal tract. [ 41 ]…”

“…Premature neonates in the NICU are highly prone to develop disorders of gut microecology with an overgrowth of pathogenic microflora including fungi,[ 38 ] as they are often treated with long courses of antibiotics and also this group experience difficulty in receiving full enteral nutrition. [ 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 ] The gut is a reservoir site as well as a major colonization site for all types of pathogens and probably the most important site from where fungal dissemination occurs. [ 14 15 16 17 ]…”

Not all probiotics are the same: Gut microbiota modulation with a multistrain probiotics

“…Probiotics are increasingly being used for their beneficial properties, considered to be particularly useful in reducing some symptoms related to gastrointestinal disorders. [ 5 ] In particular, preparations of a multistrain, consisting of different bacterial strains but belonging to the same species or anyway similar species are considered more effective than single probiotic strain. Evidence regarding the potential beneficial effects of probiotics supplementation in preterm infants is encouraging.…”