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Probiotics and Preterm Infants: Do We Need More Research or Action?

Program Date: 11 October 2022

Publication Date: 13 April 2023

Continuing Education Units: Nurse Contact: 1.0; Dietitian CPEU: 1.0

Course Description:

In this course, Stefan Johansson, MD, PhD and Adam Baker, PhD will compare and contrast the safety and manufacturing of probiotic products; describe the principles of evidence-based practice and preclinical data; review current probiotic research; and discuss outcomes from a real-world implementation of probiotics in the NICU. Originally presented as a live webinar on October 17, 2022.

Course Objectives:

• Compare and contrast the safety and manufacturing of probiotic products.

• Describe the principles of evidence-based practice and preclinical data and how this relates to the infant microbiome and probiotics.

• Review current probiotic research and ESPGHAN and AAP position statements about probiotics in the preterm infant.

• Discuss outcomes from a real-world implementation of probiotics in the NICU.

CDR Level: 2
Performance Indicators: 8.1.1, 8.1.4, 8.1.5
Run Time: 43

Course Instructor Bio(s)

Stefan Johansson, MD, PhD

Consultant Neonatologist, Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital

Associate Professor, Clinical Epidemiology Division

Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden

Stefan Johansson is a Consultant Neonatologist and Associate Professor and has a PhD in epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet. He founded 99nicu.org and ebneo.org, and has vast knowledge in research design through several large-scale projects.

Adam Baker, PhD

Director of Science, Human Health

Christian Hansen Human Health

Hørsholm, Denmark

Dr Baker leads the Human Health and Microbiome Research and Development team who is responsible for the research of current and next-generation probiotics, and the development of technical in vitro and in vivo discovery platforms for mode of action research. Prior to Chr. Hansen, he worked as the VP of Diagnostic Product Development at Exiqon A/S in Denmark for 5 years and the Head of New Technologies in deCODE Genetics in Iceland. Both roles focused on the development of new insights and therapeutics to support the clinical treatment of complex diseases. In addition, Dr Baker has held positions in Vancouver, Canada and Boehringer Ingelheim in Vienna Austria.

Karyn Wulf, MD, MPH

Medical Director, Pediatrics

Abbott Nutrition Products Division

Columbus, OH, USA

Dr Karyn Wulf joined Abbott Nutrition as Pediatric Medical Director in 2018 after working clinically for 16 years as a general pediatrician in emergency medicine. She maintains her clinical activities on a part-time basis. She attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with a dual degree in Medicine and Public Health in 1999. She completed her internship and residency in general pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2002. During her clinical practice, Dr Wulf was actively involved in medical education and taught medical students, residents, and faculty and held faculty appointments at Baylor College of Medicine (2007-2009) and The Ohio State University School of Medicine (2009-2018). Her research interests include pediatric malnutrition screening and mentoring best practices for women in medicine and science.