Role of Probiotic Use in Outcomes of Premature Birth

Probiotic or placebo administration will be started from the first feed of the infants. Infants in the probiotic group will receive five drops of oil-based suspension containing 1×108 colony-forming units of L reuteri (DSM 17938 Biogaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden) once a day, until death or discharge from the hospital. For infants on oral feeds, after suctioning oral secretions, five drops will be placed in the posterior oropharynx of the infants. For infants without per oral feeds, five drops will be administered through a gastric tube followed by a flash of 0.5 mL of sterile water. For the infants in the placebo group, five drops from an identical vial containing only oil base will be administered following the same protocol as the probiotic group.

Probiotic or placebo administration will be started from the first feed of the infants. Infants in the probiotic group will receive five drops of oil-based suspension containing 1×108 colony-forming units of L reuteri (DSM 17938 Biogaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden) once a day, until death or discharge from the hospital. For infants on oral feeds, after suctioning oral secretions, five drops will be placed in the posterior oropharynx of the infants. For infants without per oral feeds, five drops will be administered through a gastric tube followed by a flash of 0.5 mL of sterile water. For the infants in the placebo group, five drops from an identical vial containing only oil base will be administered following the same protocol as the probiotic group.