The Cross Contamination (Cross Colonization) Phenomenon of Probiotic Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Putative Mechanisms and Clinical and Research Implications

Abstract

In studies of probiotic use in neonates the phenomenon of cross contamination (cross colonization) of the control group neonates with the probiotics administered to the study group was observed and a hypothetical reanalysis of the presented data after statistically controlling this phenomenon unveils significant benefits resulting from probiotic therapy. This article discusses the putative pathogenesis of this phenomenon and its clinical and research implications.