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Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of death caused by gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants. Major risk factors include prematurity, formula feeding, and gut microbial colonization. Microbes have been linked to NEC, yet there is no evidence of causal species, and select probiotics have been shown to reduce NEC incidence in infants. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (BL. infantis), alone and in combination with a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO)-sialylactose (3'SL)-on the microbiome, and the incidence of NEC in preterm piglets fed an infant formula diet. We studied 50 preterm piglets randomized between 5 treatments: (1) Preterm infant formula, (2) Donor human milk (DHM), (3) Infant formula + 3'SL, (4) Infant formula + BL. infantis, and (5) Infant formula and BL. infantis + 3'SL. NEC incidence and severity were assessed through the evaluation of tissue from all the segments of the GI tract. The gut microbiota composition was assessed both daily and terminally through 16S and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of rectal stool samples and intestinal contents. Dietary BL. infantis and 3'SL supplementation had no effect, yet DHM significantly reduced the incidence of NEC. The abundance of BL. infantis in the gut contents negatively correlated with disease severity. Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Clostridium perfringens were significantly more abundant in NEC and positively correlated with disease severity. Our results suggest that pre- and probiotics are not sufficient for protection from NEC in an exclusively formula-based diet. The results highlight the differences in microbial species positively associated with both diet and NEC incidence.

ObjectiveSmall for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants (PT) are at greatest risk for growth failure. Our objective was to assess the impact of an exclusive human milk diet (HUM) on growth velocities and neonatal morbidities from birth to discharge in a SGA population.Study designMulticenter, retrospective cohort study, subgroup analysis of SGA PT comparing a cow's milk diet (CMD) with HUM diet.ResultsAt birth 420 PT were classified as SGA (197 CMD group, 223 HUM group). Demographics and anthropometric measurements were similar. HUM group PT showed improvement in length Z score at discharge (p = 0.024) and reduction in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (p = 0.004).ConclusionSGA PT fed a HUM diet had significantly decreased incidence of NEC, surgical NEC, and late-onset sepsis. Due to concerns about growth in a HUM diet, it is reassuring SGA infants fed the HUM diet had similar growth to CMD diet with trends toward improvement.

Background: To determine variables associated with outcomes in infants with intestinal failure (IF) and ostomy following reanastomosis (RA). Methods: A single‐center, descriptive cohort study of 120 infants with IF and a stoma from January 2011 to December 2020 with subsequent RA during initial hospitalization. The primary outcome was achievement of enteral autonomy (EA) following RA. Other outcomes were duration of hospital stay, and mortality. Penalized logistic regression and linear regression were used for data analysis. Results: The median gestational age was 26 weeks, and the median birth weight was 890 g. Three infants died. The median duration between ostomy creation and RA was 80 days (interquartile range; 62.5, 100.5). For each additional day of discontinuity, the odds of EA decreased by 2% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.980; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.962, 0.999; P = 0.038), and death increased by 4.2% (OR = 1.042; 95% CI: 1.010, 1.075; P = 0.009). For each additional mL/kg/day of enteral feeds at RA, the odds of EA increased by 7.5% (OR = 1.075; 95% CI: 1.027, 1.126, P = 0.002) and duration of hospital stay decreased by 0.35 days (slope coefficient = −0.351; 95% CI: −0.540, −0.163; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Shorter duration of intestinal discontinuity and enteral nutrition before RA could positively influence EA and duration of stay in infants with IF and ostomy following RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In an era of improved management and treatment options, this study aims to describe the long‐term outcomes and factors predictive of outcomes of neonatal‐onset intestinal failure (IF) due to surgical short bowel syndrome (SBS). Methods: Retrospective, single‐center cohort study of infants born between January 2011 and December 2018 with inclusion criteria: <44 weeks postmenstrual age at SBS diagnosis, <28 days on admission, parenteral nutrition dependence >60 days, and documented intestinal resection. Primary outcomes included survival and achievement of enteral autonomy (EA). Data analysis utilized Fisher.s exact test, Kruskal‐Wallis test, survival analysis methods, Cox proportional hazards regression, linear regression and logistic regression. Results: Ninety‐five patients (males 56%) were studied with median follow‐up of 38 months (IQR 19, 59). Survival at last follow‐up was 96%, and EA was achieved in 85%. Forty‐eight patients had documented residual bowel length (RBL) with median length of 49 cm (IQR 36, 80). Survival in patients with RBL of <30cm (n = 8), 30‐59cm (n = 19), and >60cm (n = 21) was 100%, 95%, and 95% respectively. Shorter RBL was associated with longer time to achieve EA (p = 0.007), but not with survival (p = 0.81). Delay in achieving EA was associated with absence of ileocecal valve (p = 0.002) and bloodstream infections (p < 0.001). Peak conjugated bilirubin correlated with increased mortality (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Overall high rate of survival and achievement of EA was found in neonatal onset IF due to SBS. EA but not survival was correlated with RBL. Ileocecal valve, bloodstream infections, and conjugated bilirubin levels were the other predictive factors of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]