ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2023
How frequent is routine use of probiotics in UK neonatal units?
Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pro/synbiotics reduce systemic inflammation and improve gut health in Kenyan infants: An open label, randomized, 4-arm, phase II trial.Cell reports. Medicine · 2026Trial
- Evaluating the effect of probiotics on severe necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation in England and Wales: a propensity-matched population study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Impact of early life antibiotic and probiotic treatment on gut microbiome and resistome of very-low-birth-weight preterm infants.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Description of probiotic use in preterm infants in England and Wales 2016-2022.BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Observational
- Effect of Probiotic Dose Escalation on Gut Microbiota and Clinical Outcomes in Preterm Infants-A Systematic Review.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThere is a lack of UK guidance regarding routine use of probiotics in preterm infants to prevent necrotising enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis and death. As practices can vary, we aimed to determine the current usage of probiotics within neonatal units in the UK. DESIGN AND
settingUsing NeoTRIPS, a trainee-led neonatal research network, an online survey was disseminated to neonatal units of all service levels within England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in 2022. Trainees were requested to complete one survey per unit regarding routine probiotic administration.
results161 of 188 (86%) neonatal units responded to the survey. 70 of 161 (44%) respondents routinely give probiotics to preterm infants. 45 of 70 (64%) use the probiotic product
conclusionsMore than 40% of all UK neonatal units that responded are now routinely administering probiotics, with variability in the product used. With increased probiotic usage in recent years, there is a need to establish whether this translates to improved clinical outcomes.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.