Antibiotic regimens for the empirical treatment of newborn infants with necrotising enterocolitis

Abstract

Although the exact aetiology of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) remains unknown, research suggests that it is multifactorial; suspected pathophysiological mechanisms include immaturity, intestinal ischaemia, disruption of intestinal mucosal integrity, formula feeding, hyperosmolar load to the intestine, infection and bacterial translocation. Various antibiotic regimens have been widely used in the treatment of NEC. To compare the efficacy of different antibiotic regimens on mortality and the need for surgery in neonates with NEC. Searches were made of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2012), Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, MEDLINE (1966 to February 2012), EMBASE (1980 to February 2012) and CINAHL (1982 to February 2012). All randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials where antibiotic regimens were used for treatment of NEC. Eligibility of studies for inclusion was assessed independently by each review author. The criteria and standard metho