Effect of Lactoferrin Supplementation on Urinary Tract Infections in Infants.

Effect of Lactoferrin Supplementation on Urinary Tract Infections in Infants: a Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on Urinary Tract Infections in neonates and infants. Fifty-five patients with urinary tract infection were randomized to receive either bLF (n = 27) or an identical placebo (n = 28) for 4 weeks. The patients were assessed clinically and laboratory.

This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial at a single university medical center. Participants were neonates or infants with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) admitted to the Neonatal and Infant Pathology Department of Children's University Hospital in the period from July 2015 to December 2017. The intervention was bovine lactoferrin at a dosage of 100 mg/day for a period of 4 weeks compared with placebo in a control group.

During hospital treatment, laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the activity of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 levels and white blood cell count).

Fifty-five patients heve been included in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Neonates and infants with symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection.
• Active infection at enrollment, confirmed and documented in medical record.
• Children with Urinary Tract Infection treated according to current recommendations.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unconfirmed Urinary Tract Infection.
• Critical illness and/or hemodynamic instability.
• Allergy or sensitivity to lactoferrin or bovine derived proteins or bovine milk.
• Children whose parents/guardians decline to participate.