Probiotic drops may shield preemies from fatal gut infection
NCT ID NCT05710575
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether giving a probiotic (Lactobacillus reuteri) to premature infants could reduce the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe gut infection, and death. One hundred babies born between 28 and 36 weeks and weighing 1000-2500 grams were enrolled. The probiotic group received daily drops, while the control group got no treatment. Researchers tracked NEC, sepsis, feeding tolerance, and hospital stay length.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Probiotic (Lactobacillus reuteri)
- What this could lead to
- If probiotics reduce NEC and death in preemies, this could become a standard, low-cost addition to NICU care for vulnerable infants.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-center study (100 infants). Results may not apply to all preemies, and probiotics could rarely cause infections in fragile newborns.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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services hospital Pakistan
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54610, Pakistan
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