Bovine Lactoferrin and Neonatal Survival in Low Birth Weight Babies.

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2020-05-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Pakistan has the third highest number of neonatal deaths worldwide. During the last two decades (1990-2013), neonatal mortality rate in the country has declined by only 1.0% per year. Severe infection is the second most leading cause of neonatal mortality, account for 28% of all deaths in Pakistan. Majority of neonatal deaths occur in infants who LBW (birth weight <2500g) and LBW comprises of both preterm / small for gestational age newborns. Breastfeeding helps protect infants from infections by serving as a source of nutrition uncontaminated by environmental pathogens. The protection is due to the multiple anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and immuno regulatory factors transmitted through milk including secretory antibodies, glycan's, Lactoferrin, leukocytes, cytokines & other components produced by the mother's immune system.

Reduction in neonatal infections and deaths is the aim of this study. The study is being conducted at the Aga Khan University in collaboration with University of Sydney.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Aga Khan University
• Collaborators: United States Agency for International Development (USAID); University of Sydney
• Treatments: Lactoferrin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Neonates with:

birth weight ≤ 2500 g and ≥ 1000 grams. gestational age ≥ to 28 +0 weeks to 36+6. family planned on staying in the study area for at least 1 month • parents/ caretaker willing to provide consent. newborn initiated enteral feeding via (gavage feeding with expressed breast milk or formula, direct breast feeding or cup and spoon feeding at or within 48 hours of birth.)

Exclusion Criteria:

Neonate with congenital anomalies. early-onset sepsis. birth weight less than 1000 g. gestational age less than or equal to 27weeks+6 days. history of Chorioamnionitis or maternal group B streptococcus colonization. Reversed or absent end-diastolic flow on maternal umbilical artery Doppler where available.