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Not yet recruitingNCT06810154Updated Feb 5, 2025

Multi-strain Probiotics to Prevent Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Very Preterm Infants

A Phase 3 interventional study of Multi-strain probiotics in Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), sponsored by University of Calgary. Not yet recruiting at 4 sites in Canada. Open to participants aged 0 Hours to 72 Hours. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-02-05.

Sponsored by University of Calgary · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
2,170
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
0 Hours to 72 Hours
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether multi-strain probiotics of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium can prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does the use of a multi-strain probiotic combination reduce the incidence of NEC in preterm infants?
  • Are there any adverse effects associated with the administration of this probiotic combination?
Read the detailed description

Researchers will compare outcomes between two phases:

Control Phase: No probiotics will be administered, and outcomes will be recorded to establish baseline NEC rates.

Intervention Phase: Participants will receive a daily multi-strain probiotic combination (0.5 g sachet) starting within 24 hours of enteral feeding initiation.

Participants will be:

  • Preterm infants born at \<32 weeks' gestation and \<1500 g birth weight.

The study uses a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) design, where neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) transition from the control phase to the intervention phase at pre-specified intervals. Individual consent will be obtained for probiotic administration and data collection during the intervention phase, and data collection-only consent will be sought during the control phase.

This trial is designed to provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of probiotics in preventing NEC in preterm infants.

02

Conditions studied

  • Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

Keywords

  • Probiotics
  • Necrotizing enteroclitis
  • preterm infants
03

In context

Enterocolitis, Necrotizing

228 studies on the registry are indexed under Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; 44 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 2,170 is above the median of 103 across 127 interventional studies indexed under Enterocolitis, Necrotizing.

Browse Enterocolitis, Necrotizing studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Calgary is the lead sponsor of 703 studies on the registry; 196 are open to participants now.

Of its 10 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (20%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
0 Hours to 72 Hours
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Infants born between \<32 0/7 weeks gestation.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Major congenital or chromosomal abnormalities
  • Conditions affecting gastrointestinal systems that prohibit infants from starting on feed in the first 72 hours after birth.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Sequential assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
2,170 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • No intervention
    Control

    Infants will not receive any probiotics.

  • Experimental
    Multi-strain probiotics

    Infants will be started on probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lacticaseibacillus) within 24 hours of commencing enteral feeds.

    Biological: Multi-strain probiotics

Interventions

  • BiologicalMulti-strain probiotics

    Infants will be started on probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lacticaseibacillus) with enetral feed.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC

    NEC defined in CNN according to modified Bell's criteria.

    Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of 34 weeks corrected gestational age or or date of death from any cause, whichever came first

Secondary outcomes

  1. Survival

    Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of 34 weeks corrected gestational age

  2. Late-onset sepsis

    Culture proven late onset sepsis

    Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of 34 weeks corrected gestational age or or date of death from any cause, whichever came first

  3. Growth anthropometrics at 36 weeks corrected gestation

    Z scores of weight and head circumference

    Time frame: at 36 weeks corrected age or discharge from level III NICU whichever occure first.

  4. Time to achieve full enteral feed

    Defined by reaching 140 mL/kg/day sustained for three consecutive days

    Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of 34 weeks corrected gestational age or or date of death from any cause, whichever came first

Other outcomes

  1. Probiotic sepsis

    Culture proven sepsis by one of the probiotics products

    Time frame: birth to discharge from level III NICU or 34 weeks corrected age whichever comes first

07

Study locations

4 sites
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 5, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06810154
Responsible party
Belal Alshaikh (Principle investigator, University of Calgary) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 5, 2025
Start date
Jun 1, 2025 (estimated)
Primary completion
May 30, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
May 30, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Feb 5, 2025

Study contacts

Belal N Alshaikh, MD, MSc
Contact
balshaik@ucalgary.ca
+1 403 956 1588

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jan 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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