Preterm Infants

The trial defines extremely preterm infants as infants born before 28 weeks' gestational age. Preterm infants are rapidly colonised by bacteria after birth. Extremely preterm infants born at gestational age of 28 weeks or less, or with birth weight below 1,500 g, are at particular risk for IVH. Extremely preterm infants account for about three quarters of neonatal morbidity and mortality. IVH survivors create profound burdens on affected individuals, families, and healthcare systems due to long-term neurological sequelae. Preterm-born infants are vulnerable after neonatal unit discharge because lung disease can be worsened by frequent respiratory viral infections. UK record-linkage data found substantially higher lower respiratory tract infection incidence in preterm infants than in term-born controls. Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia have reduced later-life forced expiratory volume according to evidence cited in the protocol. Within days after birth, nearly all infants have Gram-positive bacteria on the skin, especially Staphylococcus species. The COS is intended for all preterm infants with gestational age under 37 weeks, applicable across randomised controlled trials, ob…