Assessment of the role of probiotics in prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates

• VAP is a common and serious nosocomial infection in mechanically ventilated neonates, associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality • Current VAP preventive strategies focus on infection control and supportive care measures • In neonatal care, probiotics have shown efficacy in reducing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis incidence in preterms What is new: • Probiotics have shown potential in enhancing mucosal barrier function, competing with pathogenic bacteria, and supporting systemic immune responses. Therefore, probiotic supplementation could have clinical efficacy in the prevention of VAP in NICUs.