Description of probiotic use in preterm infants in England and Wales 2016-2022.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe the use of probiotics among preterm infants in neonatal units and explore factors that influence exposure.

Design

Observational study using prospectively recorded health data.

Setting

England and Wales.

Patients

48 048 infants born at <32 weeks gestational age (GA) and admitted to a neonatal unit between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2022.

Main outcome measures

Measures of probiotic use (number and proportion of infants exposed to probiotics, postnatal age of first probiotic exposure and discontinuation).

Results

The proportion of infants who received probiotics increased from 9% to 54% over the study period. Median GA of infants given probiotics was 29⁺³ weeks (IQR 27⁺³-30⁺⁶). Probiotics wer

SUBMITTER: Aveline A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12306256 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature