Prevention
Several strategies, such as oral immunoglobulins supplementation
with IgA and IgG, enteral antibiotics, polyunsaturated
fatty acid supplementation, arginine and
glutamine supplementation, have been tried in reducing
NEC, but failed when applied in practice. Currently
available strategies for primary prevention of NEC include
antenatal glucocorticosteroids, cautious feeding strategy,
fluid restriction, breast milk feeding and probiotics. Interventions
which are promising, but have inadequate
clinical data, include erythropoietin (EPO) and lactoferrin.
We briefly reviewed the strategies for primary prevention
of NEC, in the context of the current understanding of the
pathogenesis of the illness in preterm neonates