Table 1.
Characteristics of infants who received probiotics
| L. reuteri (N=16) | B. infantis (N=29) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth weight (g), mean (SD) | 1078 (334) | 1165 (334) | 0.41 |
| Gestational age (weeks), mean (SD) | 28 (2.5) | 28.5 (2.1) | 0.38 |
| Male N (%) | 10 (63) | 13 (45) | 0.35 |
| Cesarean N (%) | 9 (56) | 20 (69) | 0.51 |
| One minute Apgar, median (IQR) | 3 (2,4) | 6 (4,7) | 0.023a |
| Five minute Apgar, median (IQR) | 7 (6,8.5) | 7 (6,8) | 0.88 |
| DOL first feeding, median (IQR) | 1 (1,2) | 2 (1,2) | 0.077 |
| DOL full enteral feeding, median (IQR) | 14.5 (10,25) | 13 (9,17) | 0.27 |
| Total days NPO, median (IQR) | 1 (1,3.3) | 2 (1,3) | 0.66 |
| First feeding MOM, N (%) | 12 (75) | 20 (69) | 0.74 |
| Feeding mode; only MOM, N (%) | 7 (44) | 19 (70) | 0.19 |
| Feeding mode; mostly (>50%) MOM, N (%) | 6 (38) | 4 (15) | 0.19 |
| Feeding mode; mostly (>50%) PDHM, N (%) | 3 (19) | 4 (15) | 0.19 |
| Antibiotic days, mean (SD) | 8.6 (13) | 5.1 (9.1) | 0.31 |
| NEC stage 2 or 3, N (%) | 0 (0) | 2 (7) | 0.53 |
| SIP, N (%) | 0 (0) | 2 (7) | 0.53 |
| BPD, N (%) | 7 (44) | 10 (37)b | 0.75 |
| Culture positive sepsis, N (%) | 3 (19) | 3 (10) | 0.65 |
| Death, N (%) | 1 (6) | 1 (4)b | 1.0 |
| Length of hospital stay (days), mean (SD) | 85 (47) | 72 (36) | 0.31 |
| DOL first probiotic dose, median (IQR) | 1 (1,1) | 3 (2,5) | < 0.001a |
| DOL final probiotic dose, median (IQR) | 38 (26,58) | 37 (26,49) | 0.48 |
N, number; SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range; DOL, day of life; MOM, mother’s own milk; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; SIP, spontaneous intestinal perforation; BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
a
No significant differences between groups except for one minute Apgar score (p < 0.05) and DOL first probiotic dose (p < 0.01).
b
one set of twins was transferred to another NICU at 33 weeks postmenstrual age and is not included in the calculations for BPD or death.