Oral probiotics in preterm infants and bacterial signatures in consecutive stool samples

Introduction: In preterm infants the risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is reduced by oral probiotics. The protective effect could be associated with changes of the gut flora (direct effects) or by indirect effects modulating bacterial-host-interaction at the mucosal interface or the intestinal or systemic immune system. Material and Methods: In the present prospective randomized cross-over study we analysed the development of the bacterial community in stool samples of preterm infants for the first 6 weeks of life. 21 preterm infants at a gestational age