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. 2024 May;44(5):739-744.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01952-0. Epub 2024 Mar 29.

Contemporary use of prophylactic probiotics in NICUs in the United States: a survey update

Samantha J Wala #  1   2 , Mecklin V Ragan #  1   2 , Erin Pryor  3 , Jennifer Canvasser  3 , Karen A Diefenbach  2 , Gail E Besner  4   5
Affiliations

Contemporary use of prophylactic probiotics in NICUs in the United States: a survey update

Samantha J Wala et al. J Perinatol. 2024 May.

Abstract

Objective: In 2015, 14.0% of US NICUs administered probiotics to very low birth weight infants. Current probiotic use prior to and after the Fall of 2023 (when FDA warnings were issued) remains unknown.

Study design: A survey was distributed to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine (August-November/2022) and Neonatology Solutions' Level III/IV NICUs (January-April/2023). Probiotic administration practices were investigated.

Results: In total, 289 unique NICUs and 406 providers responded to the survey. Of those, 29.1% of NICUs administered prophylactic probiotics to premature neonates, however, this decreased considerably after FDA warnings were issued. Additionally, 71.4% of providers stated willingness to administer probiotics to premature infants if there was an FDA-approved formulation.

Conclusions: Probiotic use in US NICUs increased between 2015 and the Fall of 2023 and then dropped dramatically following warning letters from the FDA. The introduction of an FDA-approved probiotic may further expand administration.

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Conflict of interest statement

GEB is a co-founder of Scioto Biosciences, Inc.

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