Episode Details
Back to Episodes#469 - [Journal Club] - 📌 What did two Dutch NICUs learn from routine probiotics in preterm infants?
Description
In this Journal Club episode, Ben reviews a JAMA Network Open study from two Dutch Level IV NICUs. It examined NEC before and after routine implementation of a three-strain probiotic in 1,413 infants born before 30 weeks or under 1,000 grams. NEC fell from 11.9% to 5.3%, and late-onset sepsis also declined. But non-NEC mortality rose after implementation. NEC also dropped in an unexposed reference cohort, and one infant died of B. infantis sepsis. Ben and Daphna discuss how baseline NEC rates, seasonal patterns, and number needed to harm should shape how units weigh probiotic use.
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Probiotic Implementation and Necrotizing Enterocolitis Risk in Preterm Infants. Imren C, Jongejans V, Onland W, Keyzer-Dekker CMG, Been JV, Derikx JPM, van Kaam AH, Simons SHP, Twisk JWR, van den Akker CHP, Vermeulen MJ.JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Aug 3;9(8):e2631601. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.31601.PMID: 42671836 Free PMC article.
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