RESUMO
Introduction: Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in NICU, it is a life-threatening disease that occurs primarily in premature infants.1 Probiotics are the live microbial dietary supplements that when administered in adequate amount promotes health.2 In premature infants they are thought to improve the positive balance of colonizing bacteria that facilitate development of mucosal immunity and prevent the excessive in?ammation associated with NEC.3 The present study is a Prospective Observational study Methods and Materials: conducted in the NICU at Prathima Institute Of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar,Telangana. During the period of 2 years between December 2020 and November 2022. Neonates of <37 weeks of gestation and with birth weight <1500 gms admitted into NICU are included in the study. The selected neonates would be administered probiotic 2 million spores of Bacillus clausii ampules per day along with expressed mother's own milk daily till they reach full feeds (150ml/kg/day). These neonates were observed clinically, investigated and studied during their period of admission in NICU for the development of Necrotising Enterocolitis and also the morbidity and mortality of such neonates was studied. : In the present study, out of 50 Results neonates, 11 (22%) preterms developed NEC while 39 (78%) of them did not. This was found to be statistically signi?cant (p=0.01). Out of the 11 preterms, 1 (2%) belonged to ELBW while 10 (90%) belonged to VLBW. Out of the 11 preterms who developed developed NEC, 4 (8%) developed stage I NEC, 5 (10%) developed stage II NEC and 2 (4%) developed stage III NEC. This was statistically signi?cant (p= 0.001) In our present study, 4 (8%) of the preterms developed with sepsis while 46 (92%) did not develop sepsis. This was statistically signi?cant (p=0.001) Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a worldwide problem in Conclusion: Preterms Low Birth Weight neonates. The present study has found that Probiotic supplementation has reduced both the 4incidence and severity of NEC in such neonates. Probiotic supplementation has also reduced the incidence of culture proven 5sepsis in preterm and Low Birth Weight neonates