Comparative effectiveness of prophylactic therapies for necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants: a network meta-analysis of randomizedtrials

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common and serious intestinal disease among premature infants. It happens when tissue in the small or large intestine is injured or begins to die off. This causes the intestine to become inflamed or, in rare cases, develop perforation. It is associated with significant mortality and morbidity in preterm neonates. Current literature on prevention of NEC lacks direct and indirect comparisons of available therapies. Using state-of-art methods (e.g. network meta-analysis) I intend to compare relevant preventive therapies and find out if there is any difference among them considering patient important outcomes. The partner has relevant expertise in a number of our interventions of interest, including formula milk with arginine, glutamine, prebiotics and probiotics. We will work with them to generate our nodes to be included in the network meta-analysis, particularly for out interventional analysis (formula with and without arginine, glutamine, prebiotics, probiotics) and class analysis (formula vs mother’s milk).

Faculty Supervisor:

Bradley Johnston

Student:

Partner:

Nestle Canada Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

McMaster University

Program: