search
Back to results

Prophylactic Probiotics in Premature Infants (C3P)

Primary Purpose

Death, Nosocomial Infection

Status
Terminated
Phase
Phase 3
Locations
Colombia
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Lactobacillus reuteri
Placebo
Sponsored by
Colombian Neonatal Research Network
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional prevention trial for Death focused on measuring probiotics, lactobacillus reuteri, preterm infants, nosocomial infection, necrotizing enterocolitis

Eligibility Criteria

1 Minute - 48 Hours (Child)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Admission to the NICU
  • Written parental consent
  • Birth weight < 2000 grams
  • Hemodynamically stable
  • < 48 hours of age

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Evidence or suspicion of congenital intestinal obstruction or perforation
  • Prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of gastroschisis, large omphalocele, or congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • Major congenital heart defects
  • Anticipated transfer to a NICU not involved in the study

Sites / Locations

  • Hospital San Vicente de Paul
  • Hospital San Ignacio, Universidad Javeriana
  • Policlinico del Olaya
  • Clinica San Luis
  • Hospital Universitario de Santander
  • Clinica los Farallones
  • Clinica Los Remedios
  • Fundacion Valle de Lilli

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Placebo Comparator

Experimental

Arm Label

1

2

Arm Description

5 drops of an available oil suspension without Lactobacillus reuteri will be given once per day until discharge from the hospital. Patients fed through NG tube will be administered 5 drops of placebo through the NG tube followed by a 0.5 cc of a normal saline flush. Patients taking PO feeds will be administered 5 drops of placebo in posterior oropharynx after secretions have been suctioned.

5 drops of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 from an oil based suspension will be administered once a day until death or discharge home. Patients with NG feeds will be administered the probiotic in the amount of 5 drops through the NG tube followed by 0.5 cc of a normal saline flush. Patients with PO feeds will be administered 5 drops of the probiotics in the posterior oropharynx after secretions have been suctioned. If feeds are temporarily suspended because of feeding intolerance or NEC, the probiotic may be re-started once feeds are re-started.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Number of deaths and episodes of nosocomial sepsis among probiotic exposed and non-exposed preterm infants
Premature infants randomized within the first 48 hours of birth will be followed prospectively to determine number of deaths and episodes of nosocomial sepsis between placebo and control groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Number of episodes of necrotizing enterocolitis experienced by each premature infant randomized to probiotic exposure or to placebo
Premature infants randomized to placebo or treatment within the first 48 hours of birth will be followed prospectively to determine number of necrotizing enterocolitis episodes experienced using a modification of Bells criteria for Stage 2.

Full Information

First Posted
July 31, 2008
Last Updated
June 21, 2011
Sponsor
Colombian Neonatal Research Network
Collaborators
Instituto Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (COLCIENCIAS), Vanderbilt University
search

1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00727363
Brief Title
Prophylactic Probiotics in Premature Infants
Acronym
C3P
Official Title
Prophylactic Probiotics for the Prevention of Sepsis and NEC in Premature Infants in Colombia. A Randomized Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
June 2011
Overall Recruitment Status
Terminated
Why Stopped
We are underpowered to find a difference in the primary outcome.
Study Start Date
August 2008 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
June 2011 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
August 2011 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Name of the Sponsor
Colombian Neonatal Research Network
Collaborators
Instituto Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (COLCIENCIAS), Vanderbilt University

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This study tries to determine whether the oral administration of a specific probiotic (good bacteria) in premature infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit may prevent infections and the development of a severe inflammatory disease of the bowel called necrotizing enterocolitis. The investigators propose that premature infants not given probiotics will colonize their gut with bad bacterias and develop infection.
Detailed Description
Neonatal infections currently cause about 1.6 million deaths annually in developing countries. Preterm infants are especially vulnerable to infections because of their immature immune responses and their exposure to the hospital milieu which promotes gastrointestinal colonization with Gram-negative pathogens. Multiple studies have shown that the colonization of the bowel with probiotics (nonpathogenic anaerobic bacteria) competitively inhibit the attachment of Gram-negative pathogens decreasing their likelihood for bacterial translocation and the development of life threatening infections.This potentially high-impact, low-cost intervention may significantly improve the survival and morbidity of preterm infants around the world. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE We seek to determine whether prophylactic administration of Lactobacillus reuteri decreases the incidence of death and nosocomial sepsis among susceptible preterm infants in a neonatal care setting in Colombia. Specific aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of oral Lactobacillus reuteri for the primary endpoint prevention of death or nosocomial sepsis in preterm infants through a well powered multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT). To assess the impact of Lactobacillus reuteri on four secondary endpoints: necrotizing enterocolitis, prevalence of Gram-negative pathogens, duration of hospitalization, and frequency of outpatient treatment and re-admission for infectious causes at 6 months post-discharge. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Study Design: Overview Multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial Primary outcome: Death or nosocomial sepsis Secondary outcomes: NEC, prevalence of Gram-negative pathogens, duration of hospitalization, and frequency of outpatient treatment and re-admission for infectious causes at 6 months post-discharge. Post-hoc analysis will evaluate differences in RCT outcomes in two key subgroups: breast-fed and formula-fed infants and vaginal delivery versus cesarean section, in both probiotic exposed and unexposed infants. In addition, we will look at death and nosocomial sepsis as separate outcomes to ensure there is no differential effect of treatment in either outcome. Location: 11 NICUs in Colombia. Randomization and Stratification: Stratification according to participating institutions will be done in order to control for center-related differences. Stratification by birth weight will be performed in 2 groups: < 1500 grams and 1501 to 2000 grams. When eligibility criteria are met, infants will be randomly assigned to treatment with probiotics or placebo by using a computerized stratified balanced block randomization design. Assignment to treatment will be accomplished using sealed, sequentially numbered, opaque envelopes, color-coded for strata, available in each NICU pharmacy. Experimental Design: Study patients will be randomized at birth to either placebo or probiotic administration (treatment group). The hospital pharmacy will be in charge of random allocation. Vials of probiotic and placebo will only be identified by the pharmacist and according to randomization will be sent to the NICU for administration to the patient. For those randomized to the treatment arm, L reuteri DSM 17938 will be administered at a dose of 10 to the eighth colony-forming units in 5 drops of a commercially available oil suspension once per day until discharge from the hospital. This oil suspension is stable for 21 months at 2o C to 8o C (as documented by the manufacturer, BioGaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden). For those randomized to the placebo arm, patients will receive an equal number of drops from an identical vial containing only the oil base, but without the probiotic. The above preparations will be administered even if the patient has not begun a feeding protocol if there are no contraindications for feeding. Patients will be stratified according to their exposure to breast milk or premature infant formula alone or a combination of both. Infants of mothers with insufficient production of breast milk will be offered premature formula. Feeding and nutrition protocols will be standardized among participating institutions to minimize the confounding effects of diverse practices. A standard feeding protocol may be started at 24-48 hours of life at a volume of 10 ml/kg/day if the patient is hemodynamically stable, defined as having a stable blood pressure. The two milliliters of breast milk or premature infant formula will be subtracted from this total daily volume. Feedings will be advanced slowly at a volume between 10 and 20 ml/kg/day depending on tolerance.84 Umbilical lines may be removed once feeds are increased above 20 ml/kg/day. Parenteral nutrition will be started on the second day of life according to a standardized protocol. MCT oil (2 kcal/30ml) will be used as a dietary supplement to increases the energy content of breast milk or formula when needed. Human milk fortifiers may be started once full enteral feeds have been tolerated. Feedings will be discontinued and an abdominal radiograph taken if there are any signs of feeding intolerance (recurrent emesis, gastric aspirate > 50% of previous feeding with abdominal distension or the presence of macroscopic blood in stools). In situations where feeds have been temporarily discontinued, patients may re-enter the study at the initiation of feeds. Patients who develop NEC may continue in the study if they are able to resume feeds after treatment. Inotropic support, if being weaned, is not a contraindication to begin or continue the protocol. Administration of probiotic will end at discharge, but the infant's status will continue to be monitored until 6 months post-discharge. Patient's participation in the study will end at 6 months post-discharge, or upon the death of the patient.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Death, Nosocomial Infection
Keywords
probiotics, lactobacillus reuteri, preterm infants, nosocomial infection, necrotizing enterocolitis

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Prevention
Study Phase
Phase 3
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantCare ProviderInvestigator
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
751 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
1
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
5 drops of an available oil suspension without Lactobacillus reuteri will be given once per day until discharge from the hospital. Patients fed through NG tube will be administered 5 drops of placebo through the NG tube followed by a 0.5 cc of a normal saline flush. Patients taking PO feeds will be administered 5 drops of placebo in posterior oropharynx after secretions have been suctioned.
Arm Title
2
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
5 drops of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 from an oil based suspension will be administered once a day until death or discharge home. Patients with NG feeds will be administered the probiotic in the amount of 5 drops through the NG tube followed by 0.5 cc of a normal saline flush. Patients with PO feeds will be administered 5 drops of the probiotics in the posterior oropharynx after secretions have been suctioned. If feeds are temporarily suspended because of feeding intolerance or NEC, the probiotic may be re-started once feeds are re-started.
Intervention Type
Dietary Supplement
Intervention Name(s)
Lactobacillus reuteri
Other Intervention Name(s)
BioGaia Probiotic drops
Intervention Description
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 will be administered at a dose of ten to the eighth colony-forming units in 5 drops of a commercially available oil suspension once per day until discharge from the hospital.
Intervention Type
Dietary Supplement
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Intervention Description
5 drops of an available oil suspension without Lactobacillus reuteri will be given once per day until discharge from the hospital.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Number of deaths and episodes of nosocomial sepsis among probiotic exposed and non-exposed preterm infants
Description
Premature infants randomized within the first 48 hours of birth will be followed prospectively to determine number of deaths and episodes of nosocomial sepsis between placebo and control groups.
Time Frame
From birth to discharge from the NICU or death. Average time 2 months.
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Number of episodes of necrotizing enterocolitis experienced by each premature infant randomized to probiotic exposure or to placebo
Description
Premature infants randomized to placebo or treatment within the first 48 hours of birth will be followed prospectively to determine number of necrotizing enterocolitis episodes experienced using a modification of Bells criteria for Stage 2.
Time Frame
From birth to discharge from the NICU or death. Average time: 2 months

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
1 Minute
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
48 Hours
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Admission to the NICU Written parental consent Birth weight < 2000 grams Hemodynamically stable < 48 hours of age Exclusion Criteria: Evidence or suspicion of congenital intestinal obstruction or perforation Prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of gastroschisis, large omphalocele, or congenital diaphragmatic hernia Major congenital heart defects Anticipated transfer to a NICU not involved in the study
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Mario A Rojas, MD, MPH
Organizational Affiliation
Vanderbilt University
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Juan M Lozano, MD, Msc
Organizational Affiliation
Universidad Javeriana
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Hospital San Vicente de Paul
City
Medellin
State/Province
Antioquia
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Hospital San Ignacio, Universidad Javeriana
City
Bogota
State/Province
Cundinamarca
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Policlinico del Olaya
City
Bogota
State/Province
Cundinamarca
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Clinica San Luis
City
Bucaramanga
State/Province
Santander
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Hospital Universitario de Santander
City
Bucaramanga
State/Province
Santander
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Clinica los Farallones
City
Cali
State/Province
Valle
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Clinica Los Remedios
City
Cali
State/Province
Valle
Country
Colombia
Facility Name
Fundacion Valle de Lilli
City
Cali
State/Province
Valle
Country
Colombia

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
23071204
Citation
Rojas MA, Lozano JM, Rojas MX, Rodriguez VA, Rondon MA, Bastidas JA, Perez LA, Rojas C, Ovalle O, Garcia-Harker JE, Tamayo ME, Ruiz GC, Ballesteros A, Archila MM, Arevalo M. Prophylactic probiotics to prevent death and nosocomial infection in preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2012 Nov;130(5):e1113-20. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3584. Epub 2012 Oct 15.
Results Reference
derived

Learn more about this trial

Prophylactic Probiotics in Premature Infants

We'll reach out to this number within 24 hrs