Introduction

The NEC focus group is interested in prevention and management of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) in newborn infants. These are both serious conditions mostly affecting premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit and are associated with high mortality as well as risk for neurodevelopmental impairment. However, there is variability in management of NEC both within and among various centers nationally.

Accomplishments

Members of the NEC focus group have worked on multiple projects as listed below:

1. Consensus for use of probiotics for prevention of NEC.
2. Description of variability in antibiotic treatment for medical and surgical NEC and impact of antibiotic duration on time to full feeds and length of hospital stay.
3. Laparotomy versus peritoneal drain for management of surgical NEC.
4. Laparotomy versus peritoneal drain for management of SIP.
5. Survey to understand pattern of lipid use in infants with NEC.
6. Development of cholestasis in infants with NEC and associated complications.
7. Development of consensus definition of NEC totalis.
8. Development of educational material as well as consensus guideline for management of NEC.

Abstracts:

1. Consensus for use of probiotics for prevention of NEC.
2. Description of variability in antibiotic treatment for medical and surgical NEC and impact of antibiotic duration on time to full feeds and length of hospital stay.
3. Laparotomy versus peritoneal drain for management of surgical NEC.
4. Laparotomy versus peritoneal drain for management of SIP.
5. Survey to understand pattern of lipid use in infants with NEC.
6. Development of cholestasis in infants with NEC and associated complications.
7. Development of consensus definition of NEC totalis.
8. Development of educational material as well as consensus guideline for management of NEC