Effect of Bovine Colostrum On CD 25 – T cells, Prevention of Late Onset Sepsis and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Abstract

ate onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis are major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm neonates mainly due to immaturity of their innate and adaptive immune system. Bovine Colostrum is the first milk that mammals produce after parturition, it contains antimicrobials such as lactoferrin and lactoperoxidases, immunological and growth factors. Our study aimed to asses effect of oral bovine colostrum in prevention of late onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis when used as gut priming in premature neonates as long as neonate can tolerate oral intake. Our study was conducted on 51 premature neonates below 34 weeks gestational age, Mean gestational age 31.98 ± 2.04 weeks, admitted at Ain shams university NICUs. The enrolled patients were subdivided into three groups; breast milk group are infants with exclusive maternal breast milk initially then predominant (maternal breast milk more than 75% of the total), bovine colostrum group are infants with exclusive bovine colostrum then added with infant formula, and infant formula group are infants with artificial formula initially then predominantly artificial feeding (maternal breast milk less than 25% of the total).