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. 2020 Feb;109(2):276-279.
doi: 10.1111/apa.14976. Epub 2019 Sep 30.

Quality of probiotic products for preterm infants: Contamination and missing strains

Marijn J Vermeulen  1 , Ad Luijendijk  2 , Letty van Toledo  3 , Anton H van Kaam  3 , Irwin K M Reiss  1
Affiliations

Quality of probiotic products for preterm infants: Contamination and missing strains

Marijn J Vermeulen et al. Acta Paediatr. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Probiotics are effective in reducing necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants, but routine use is not generally adopted. We describe a safety issue concerning contamination by pathogenic bacteria and missing of labelled strains in a probiotic product widely used in neonatal care. We recommend all centres using probiotics in the care of vulnerable patients to consider product safety checks in addition to the quality reports of manufacturers. Meanwhile, clinicians and manufacturers should collaborate to define quality standards for probiotic products in clinical settings as long as specific international regulations are lacking.

Keywords: Infloran; contamination; necrotising enterocolitis; probiotics; safety.

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References

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