Efficacy of Bovine Lactoferrin Supplementation in Preventing Late-onset Sepsis in low Birth Weight Neonates: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin (BLF) in preventing first episode of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in low birth weight (LBW) neonates.

METHODS:

In this study conducted from May 2012 to July 2013 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care hospital, inborn asymptomatic neonates, <2000 g, admitted to NICU in first 12 h of birth with no maternal risk factors for sepsis were randomized to receive BLF or placebo from 1st to 28th day of life. The incidence of culture-proven sepsis and sepsis-attributable mortality after 72 h of life was recorded. Increasing doses of BLF were used with higher birth weights.

RESULTS:

Incidence of first episode of culture-proven LOS was significantly lower in the BLF group vs. placebo [2/63 (3.2%) vs. 9/67(13.4%); risk ratio, 0.211; 95% CI, 0.044-1.019; p = 0.036]. Statistically significant reduction in the sepsis-attributable mortality was also seen after use of prophylactic BLF [0/63 (0%) vs. 5/67 (7.5%); p = 0.027].

CONCLUSION:

BLF supplementation in LBW neonates reduced the incidence of first episode of LOS.

• Authors: Gurpreet Kaur, Geeta Gathwala
• Journal: Journal of tropical pediatrics (J Trop Pediatr) Vol. 61 Issue 5 Pg. 370-6 (Oct 2015) ISSN: 1465-3664 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26224129 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © The Author [2015]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Lactoferrin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Infective Agents (administration & dosage)
• Cattle
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• India (epidemiology)
• Infant, Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (mortality, prevention & control)
• Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
• Lactoferrin (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Risk Factors
• Sepsis (mortality, prevention & control)
• Treatment Outcome