Neonatal Med.  2017 Aug;24(3):116-122. 10.5385/nm.2017.24.3.116.

Decreased Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis after Introduction of Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding in a Single Neonatal Intensive Care Center

• Cho H
• Shin J
• Yun HR
• Kim J
• Choi CW
• Jung YH
• Kim BI

• KMID: 2388975
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2017.24.3.116

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the effects of exclusive breast milk feeding (BMF) on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.
METHODS
All newborn infants, born at <32 weeks of gestation and weighing <1,500 g, admitted to the neonatal intensive care center at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital during the study period, were included. The study was divided into period I: pre-exclusive BMF (January 2010-March 2014) and period II: exclusive BMF (April 2014-December 2016).
RESULTS
A total of 374 infants were enrolled in this study, with 174 in period I and 174 in period II. The incidence of NEC was 11.5% in period I and 3.4% in period II. As the mean gestational age and birth weight were significantly greater in infants in period II, the difference in the incidence of NEC between the two periods was adjusted by gestational age. After adjustment, the incidence of NEC in period II was significantly lower than in period I (P=0.024).
CONCLUSION
Exclusive BMF significantly reduced the incidence of NEC in a single neonatal intensive care center.

Keyword

Preterm infants; Very low birth weight infants; Exclusive breast milk feeding; Necrotizing enterocolitis

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Breast*
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing*
Gestational Age
Humans
Incidence*
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Intensive Care, Neonatal*
Milk, Human*
Pregnancy
Seoul