Table 2. NEC and risk factors of developing NEC in the two groups.

NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; EBM, expressed breast milk; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; UVC, umbilical venous catheter; UAC, umbilical arterial catheter; UTI, urinary tract infection

Variables	Probiotic and lactoferrin (n=134)	No probiotic and lactoferrin (n=150)	p-Value
NEC, n (%)	11 (8.2%)	26 (17.3%)	0.023
Age at diagnosis of NEC (days)	23.82 ± 13.2	19.2 ± 12.7	0.32
Blood transfusion, n (%)	53 (42.7%)	71 (57.3%)	0.18
Acidosis, n (%)	34 (44.7%)	42 (55.3%)	0.61
Inotropes use, n (%)	31 (43.7%)	40 (56.3%)	0.49
Feeding – EBM, n (%)	18 (46.2%)	21 (53.8%)	0.078
Prolonged initial antibiotics, n (%)	54 (55.1%)	44 (44.9%)	0.22
PDA treatment, n (%)	108 (80.6%)	120(80%)	0.9
Respiratory support invasive, n (%)	62 (44%)	79 (56%)	0.23
UVC, n (%)	118 (49.2%)	119 (50.2%)	0.10
UAC, n (%)	38 (50%)	38 (50%)	0.63
Sepsis, n (%)	19 (48.7%)	20 (51.3%)	0.83
Age at sepsis (days)	18.43 ± 10.53	19.73 ± 19.83	0.78
UTI, n (%)	7 (46.7%)	8 (53.3%)	0.96