Reevaluating the FDA's warning against the use of probiotics in preterm neonates: A societal statement by ESPGHAN and EFCNI.

The recent advisory issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration, cautioning against the routine administration of probiotics in preterm neonates, has sparked a lively debate within the scientific community. This commentary presents a perspective from members of the Special Interest Group on Gut Microbiota and Modifications within the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and other authors who contributed to the ESPGHAN position paper on probiotics for preterm infants, as well as representatives from the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants. We advocate for a more nuanced and supportive approach to the use of certain probiotics in this vulnerable population, balancing the demonstrated benefits and risks.

Effects of liberalising visiting policy and staff education on parental visiting duration in the neonatal unit.

AIM: The effect of different neonatal unit access hour policies on parental visiting duration is unknown. Therefore, we analysed the effects of access hours policies and parental education on parental visiting duration. METHOD: This prospective longitudinal cohort study was carried out in a level III neonatal unit from October 2020 to May 2022. Three cohorts were compared. The baseline cohort included 51 preterm infants with restricted visiting hours (October 2020 to May 2021). Cohort 1 comprised 35 preterm infants after liberalisation of visiting hours (June 2021 to November 2021). Cohort 2 consisted of 26 preterm infants after an educational program was implemented (December 2021 to May 2022). The primary outcome was the mean daily parental visiting duration. RESULTS: Mean maternal visiting duration was 172 (standard deviation, SD ± 49.2), 195 (SD ± 64.4.), and 258 (SD ± 71.1) minutes/day at baseline and in cohorts 1 and 2 (significant increase from baseline and cohort 1 to cohort 2, p < 0.001). Mean paternal visiting duration did not change significantly across the cohorts: 133 (SD ± 47.2), 135 (SD ± 83.5), and 165 (SD ± 71.3) minutes/day. CONCLUSION: Liberalisation of access hours did not increase parental visiting duration. Parental and staff education significantly increased maternal but not paternal visiting duration.