Probiotics are beneficial bacteria which help premature babies by improving milk feed tolerance and reducing the risk of a life-threatening gut condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis. The optimal type and dose of probiotic for sick term and preterm infants is being studied in several randomised trials in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at PCH and KEMH. The work is led by Clinical Professor Sanjay Patole, with assistance from Clinical Assoc Prof Shripad Rao and Dr Gayatri Jape.
Underwood MA, Davis JCC, Kalanetra, Gehlot S, Patole S, Tancredi DJ, Mills DA, Lebrilla CB, Simmer K. Digestion of human milk oligosaccharides by Bifidobacterium breve in the preterm infant. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017. Project to better define best probiotic supplement for very preterm infants and following up from our published RCT, cohort studies and meta-analyses.
Athalye-Jape G, Minaee N, Nathan E, Simmer K, Patole S. Outcomes in preterm small versus appropriate for gestation infants after Bifidobacterium breve M-16 V supplementation. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018 Nov 22.
Athalye-Jape G, Rao S, Simmer K, Patole S. Bifidobacterium breve M-16V as a Probiotic for Preterm Infants: A Strain-Specific Systematic Review. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2017 Aug 1:148607117722749.
Rao, S, Simmer, K and Patole, S. Probiotic supplementation in neonates with major gastrointestinal surgical conditions: A systematic review, The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 2017; Apr 25: 1-7.
Patole SK, Rao SC, Keil AD, Nathan EA, Doherty DA, Simmer KN, Benefits of Bifidobacterium breve M-16V Supplementation in Preterm Neonates – A Retrospective Cohort Study. PLoS One. 2016 Mar 8;11(3):e0150775.
Rao SC, Athalye-Jape GK, Deshpande CG, Simmer KN, Patole SK. Probiotic Supplementation and Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2016 Mar;137(3):e20153684.
Patole SK, Keil AD, Nathan E, Doherty D, Esvaran M, Simmer KN, Conway P. Effect of Bifidobacterium breve M-16V supplementation on faecal bifidobacteria in growth restricted very preterm infants – analysis from a randomized trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016 Feb 26:1-5.
Patole S, Keil A, Chang A, Nathan E, Doherty D, Simmer K, Esvaran M, Conway P. Effect of bifidobacterium breve M-16V supplementation on fecal bifidobacteria in preterm neonates – a randomised double blind placebo controlled trial. PLoS One. 2014 Mar;9(3):e89511. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016 Feb 26:1-5