Table 3 Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in infants treated with probiotics and in controls

Al-Hosni, 2012 [33]

Not stated

50 probiotic

3/50 any stage

4/51 any stage

51 control

1/50 stage 1

2/51 stage 1

0/50 stage 2

0/51 stage 2

2/50 stage 3

2/51 stage 3

Bin-Nun, 2005 [40]

15 %

72 probiotic

3/72 any stage

12/73 any stage

73 control

1/72 stage ≥2

10/73 stage ≥2

1/72 stage 2

7/73 stage 2

0/72 stage 3

3/73 stage 3

Braga, 2011 [35]

10 %

119 probiotic

0/119 stage ≥2

4/112 stage ≥2

112 placebo

Costalos, 2003 [49]

Not stated

51 probiotic

5/51 any stage

6/36 any stage

36 placebo

Dani, 2002 [42]

Not stated

295 probiotic

4/295 stage ≥2

8/290 stage ≥2

290 placebo

Demirel, 2013 [28]

32 %

135 probiotic

6/135 stage ≥2

7/136 stage ≥2

136 control

Dilli, 2015 [44]

Not stated

100 probiotic

2/100 stage ≥2

18/100 stage ≥2

100 placebo

Fernández-Carrocera, 2013 [32]

20 %

75 probiotic

6/75 stage ≥2

12/75 stage ≥2

75 placebo

Jacobs, 2013 [26]

Not stated

548 probiotic

11/548 stage ≥2

24/551 stage ≥2

551 placebo

Kitajima, 1997 [52]

Not stated

45 probiotic

0/45 any stage

0/46 any stage

46 placebo

Lin, 2005 [41]

Approx. 23 % (NEC or death)

180 probiotic

2/180 stage ≥2

10/187 stage ≥2

187 control

2/180 stage 2

4/187 stage 2

0/180 stage 3

6/187 stage 3

Lin, 2008 [37]

Approx.

217 placebo

4/217 any stage

14/217 any stage

217 control

2/217 stage 2

9/217 stage 2

2/217 stage 3

5/217 stage 3

Manzoni, 2006 [37]

Not stated

39 probiotic

1/39 any stage

3/41 any stage

41 control

1/39 stage 2

2/41 stage 2

0/39 stage 3

1/41 stage 3

Mihatsch, 2010 [43]

Not stated

84 probiotic

2/84 stage ≥2

4/82 stage ≥2

82 placebo

Mohan, 2006 [53]

Not stated

21 probiotic

2/37 stage ≥2

1/32 stage ≥2

17 placebo

Unpublished data, taken from Alfaleh 2011 [58]

Unpublished data, taken from Alfaleh 2011 [58]

Oncel, 2013 [25]

15 %

200 probiotic

8/200 stage ≥2

10/200 stage ≥2

200 placebo

Patole, 2014 [45]

Not stated

74 probiotic

0/74 stage ≥2

1/66 stage ≥2

66 placebo

Rojas, 2012 [30]

Not stated

372 probiotic

NEC stage ≥2

NEC stage ≥2

378 placebo

≤1500 g

≤1500 g

6/176 probiotic

10/184 placebo

>1500 g

>1500 g

3/196 probiotic

5/194 placebo

Rougé, 2009 [50]

Not stated

45 probiotic

2/45 any stage

1/49 any stage

49 placebo

Roy, 2014 [58]

Not stated

56 probiotic

2/56 any stage

2/56 any stage

56 placebo

Saengtawesin, 2014 [48]

Not stated

31 probiotic

1/31 stage ≥2

1/29 stage ≥2

29 placebo

Samanta, 2009

Not stated

91 probiotic

5/91 stage ≥2

15/95 stage ≥2

95 control

Sari, 2011 [34]

Approx. 32 % (death or NEC)

110 probiotic

6/110 stage ≥2

10/111 stage ≥2

111 control

4/110 stage 2

7/111 stage 2

2/110 stage 3

3/111 stage 3

Serce, 2013 [27]

17 %

104 probiotic

7/104 stage ≥2

7/104 stage ≥2

104 placebo

Stratiki, 2007 [39]

Not stated

41 probiotic

0/41 stage ≥2

3/34 stage ≥2

34 control

Totsu, 2014 [46]

Not stated

153 probiotic

0/153 stage ≥1

0/130 stage ≥1

130 control