Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the preterm infants.
| Parameters | L. reuteri | L. rhamnosus | Controls | P-value (<0.05) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of newborns | 83 | 83 | 83 | |
| Gestational age (weeks) | 33.8±1.8 | 33.3±1.6 | 33.3±2.1 | NS |
| Birth weight (grams) | 1998.7±439 | 1940.7±590 | 1945.7±465 | NS |
| Male/female | 44/39 | 45/38 | 46/37 | NS |
| Cesarean sections % | 94 | 86 | 93 | NS |
| Assisted ventilation mean days±s.d. | 1.3±5.6 | 2.9±6.3 | 3.1±6.0 | NS |
| Central venous catheter % | 48 | 52 | 48 | NS |
| Respiratory distress syndrome % of neonates | 36.1 | 51.8 | 43.3 | NS |
| Maternal antenatal steroid | 42 | 43 | 40 | NS |
| H2 blockers received mean days±s.d. | 10.8±11.9 | 9.6±12 | 11.7±12.6 | NS |
| Time of initiation of probiotic Mean days±s.d. | 1.42±0.49 | 1.40±0.49 | — | NS |
| Abnormal Cerebral scan % | 16 | 13 | 19 | NS |
Abbreviations: L. reuteri, Lactobacillus reuteri; L. rhamnosus; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; NS, not significant.